View Full Version : Quick Hard Drive Question...
Hi all. I have my hard drive out of my old laptop here and am wondering if i can put it into my new laptop?
hellsbrink
14th Mar 2008, 19:17
Maybe is one answer.
A standard 2.5" drive will fit, but there may be issues with Windows as you have effectively changed the PC and that could mean it needs revalidated.
It will work, but windows might not.
Ah, ok. The old disk is an XP disk wheras this new laptop is Vistaaaaaaaaaa......
Would that matter?
Saab Dastard
14th Mar 2008, 20:15
BRL,
I assume you mean to replace the HDD in the new PC with the HDD from the old PC.
The physical transfer is relatively straightforward, although you will probably find that the disk is installed in a "caddy" that you would need to extract it from to swop over. Possibly tricky and fiddly.
The next problem is that, unless the computers are identical, the chipset, video, network, sound drivers etc. are all going to be for the wrong PC. This really is a big problem, and is effectively almost insurmountable.
You can do a Windows Repair from the original install media (install, repair), which might work, but it is (in my experience) more hassle and less reliable than simply re-formatting and doing a clean install. Obviously you have to have all your data and settings backed up, and access to all the installation media for all the applications you want to install.
The next problem you might run into is a lack of drivers for XP on the PC that currently has Vista. It is a low probability, but possible.
The final problem as hellsbrink points out is to do with Windows validation. The original windows XP installation would see so many changes to the system that it would require revalidation.
The fact that the OS installed on the new PC is Vista has no bearing - as soon as you remove the disk there is NO OS installed!!
SD
gizmocat
14th Mar 2008, 20:38
BRL,
Are you just wanting to transfer the data from your old laptop to your new one, or do you want your new one to "function" like your old one?
Data transfer is relatively easy, but, as SD says, just swapping hds' is like walking into a minefield :=
Thanks for the info guys. I now have a 'Caddy' and have transfered all the porn, I mean personal stuff to my laptop.... :D
I now have the hard drive empty and have just formatted it. Could I simply plug it in now and store digital photgraphs on it, is it as easy as that?
Saab Dastard
16th Mar 2008, 23:23
I now have the hard drive empty and have just formatted it. Could I simply plug it in now and store digital photgraphs on it, is it as easy as that?
If you have it in a USB caddy, then yes!
SD
matt_hooks
16th Mar 2008, 23:50
If the old drive held any personal info, for example bank details, passwords etc. then it would be well worth making sure that all the data is properly deleted. A format doesn't do that, it merely over writes the file allocation table, so that all the data is still there, and recoverable with freely available software.
You can get hold of free software to ensure that all such sensitive data is effectively destroyed, barring a full and expensive forensic search of the areas between the tracks on the disk.
This software:-
Eraser (http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=37015)
does the job nicely, although it will take some time depending on the size of the disk and number of overwrites selected. For a basic level of protection against software recovery one pass should be sufficient.
Saab Dastard
17th Mar 2008, 00:17
matt_hooks,
You are correct - but surely that would only be relevant if he were disposing of the disk?
If he is keeping it then it is not necessary - or at least no more than protecting the data on the laptop itself.
SD
Pontius Navigator
17th Mar 2008, 07:48
matt_hooks,
You are correct - but surely that would only be relevant if he were disposing of the disk?
If he is keeping it then it is not necessary - or at least no more than protecting the data on the laptop itself.
SD
It is not a bad idea for a couple of reasons.
There is a change of use of the drive and its overwriting of data may be less than in its original role.
It is also much easier for someone to steal a usb drive or it could become damaged quite easily.
Eraser is quick and cheap (free?)
Thanks guys, I have formatted it and am now just going to use it as a 40gig photo album... :ok: