Computer Hope
Microsoft => Microsoft Windows => Windows Vista and 7 => Topic started by: martin.11 on August 28, 2011, 05:07:28 PM
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Hi one & all,
New here, I need some advice! My old PC motherboard failed so I took out the harddrive (Sata 160Gb) with Win7 & all my files on it. Am I able to put that HDD into another computer and still use Win7 etc?
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No, the disk will almost certainly not boot Windows in another computer. You can install it in another working computer and get your files off but you would need to reinstall Windows before you could use it as the main drive of a computer.
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Thanks for the tip. I'm disappointed as I don't have a win 7 disc. I do have windows backed up on another HDD & I also backed up windows onto a DVD with some repair/help apps. I might try those and get back back to you.
Thanks again for your reply.
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The problem will be that each installation of Windows is tied to the machine that it was originally installed on. When you run the Windows installation CD or DVD it creates an installation for the hardware that it finds - motherboard, network/display/sound cards, cpu type, etc. If you just take that disk and put it in another computer, there is a very large chance that it will fail to boot because the hardware is different. Eeven if it does boot, you will most likely have Windows activation issues because you are trying to run Windows on a new machine. If your backup of Windows on another HDD is a proper imaged backup of the machine with a failed motherboard, then unless you get an identical motherboard, you are going to have hardware compatibility problems, and even then you would need to reactivate Windows.
How come you had Windows 7 on the old machine but you don't have a Windows 7 install disk?
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Thanks for your reply. I understand what your saying.
I took my old PC to my local repair shop to sort out some driver issues & he said they would install win7 for a very competitive fee. I didn't ask any questions! & said yes!
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Slave Drive Tutorial... (http://www.dtidata.com/resourcecenter/2007/04/23/how-to-slave-hard-drive/)
For data recovery...NOTE the info is for IDE HDD's but the procedure remains the same for SATA HDD's...
Bring us good news.
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I took my old PC to my local repair shop to sort out some driver issues & he said they would install win7 for a very competitive fee.
So this pirate install of Windows has ripped off both you and Microsoft. When you get a new machine you should pay for a legal genuine Windows install disk, which you can use whenever you run into problems and need to re-install.
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You are, of course, quite correct. I will save up & buy one.
I would hate to see a multimillio
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I do apologise, I was being flippant in my last reply. My frustration got the better of me.
I will be buying a 'legit' copy in due course, and as you quite rightly point out it will save problems in the future.
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I do apologise, I was being flippant in my last reply. My frustration got the better of me.
I will be buying a 'legit' copy in due course, and as you quite rightly point out it will save problems in the future.
There is absolutely no need to apologise! In fact it is I who should apologise to you, for presuming to lecture you about piracy. Let me therefore clarify:
1. I do not give a *censored* about loss of revenue to Microsoft. I would be a hypocrite to say that I did, but I am not going to tell you why!
2. This site has a "no help with piracy" policy, probably for practical reasons (not good to have a takedown letter from a software company's lawyers) as much as for moral reasons, although some on here are very strongly in the "piracy is theft" camp.
3. I should have restricted myself to remarking about the practical consequences to the user of using pirated Microsoft OS: lack of access to support and updates, danger of activation problems, possibilty of malware infection on downloaded versions, etc.
So good luck with your computer problems, and I hope we will be able to help you with them.
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Salmon trout, thanks for you reply. I understand your points & thank you for your help.
I will be back, as I have a knack for overestimating my computer knowledge!