Could I Put My Old Hard Drive in a New Computer?

It's new computer time and I've had my current one for 8 years, so there's a lot of data files I want to keep. Instead of trying to copy and reload all my files, would it be possible/practical to simply install my current hard drive as a second one in a new computer, transfer the files, and then reformat it to use as a data drive or extra space? Is there anything special in the way of cables/controllers?

Thanks in advance.

Aunt Pat

 

Not a problem aunt pat, (I have two aunt pats so bare with me)

Ok its easy and fun to do, first pull the cover and look for an open 3.5" drive bay, then pull the old hard drive out of the old computer, and set the jumper to slave. you can go to the mfg website to find out how, or it is usualy listed on the label or on the circut board in between ide pins and the power molex conector. Then make sure the new drive is set to master it almost always is. Use the ide cable that goes to the new drive, usualy there are two connectors on it plug it in and boot it up, windows should see the new drive, if not you will need to go into bios to set it to.


This should work