Hard Drive Swap with XP

I'm thinking of buying a new computer just to swap out some components between it and my "old" 2003 computer (the old computer has a better processor/MB/RAM/Video card...etc.). I will make the new one into the Kids machine - but I want to take the new HD, DVD burner and Flat panel display before I gve it to them.

The new computer comes with an XP OS (same as the old computer), this on a 160GB HD ultra ata/100. Can I install the 160GB as a slave to my 20GB HD in the old computer, copy some program files/drivers from the 20GB HD to the 160 GB, and then take the 20GB HD out, and have the 160GB work as the primary - without having to re-install XP or anything else? Can I then put the 20GB into the new computer and expect it to boot up without having to do any other changes? Will both machines then boot up as if they didn't know they trade HDs?

I would really appreciate some guidance here before I do something stupid.
Thanks -

 

You might get it to work a little, very little, but all the drivers on both computers would be different & you will end up in a big mess.

You will probably have to put the new drive in, format it & reload. Put some files onto it from the other drive, take it out, format that drive.

Might be easier just too swap them over & format both & start fresh.

Make sure your drivers for both machines are available & backup to cd all your docs, email stuff, favourites, etc.

 

Hipster's right, XP integrates itself to the motherboard and when you change the drive to the other machine, XP will get upset and likley not even boot. There are usually just too many hardware differences.

 

I figured it wouldn't be as easy as I thought. The problem I have is the old computer does not have a CD copy of XP - just some lame recovery software - so I can't re-install XP on the old drive when I switch it.

Anyway, thanks for the quick response!!! I will go for plan B, which is by seperate components.

Thanks again!

 

M$'s hardware ID is based on a hardware hash based on info found in your (both) computers hardware. The specific devices are:

Video card
SCSI adapter (if applicable)
IDE adapter
Network adapter MAC address (if applicable)
RAM amount range
Processor type
Processor serial number.

Change / swop, any of these and M$ XP installation might object. Best bet might be to contact M$ before commencing and tell them what you are attempting to do. Make sure you have the 25 character CD keys for both PC's. They can look them up, etc., and hopefully give you the blessing to proceed. Bazza

Just rereading your post I note that one CD copy is missing. Use a program like
Winkey Finder. www.majorgeeks.com/Winkey_Finder_d4501.html
"Win keyfinder" retrieves your windows Xp, win 2000, windows me, 98, 2003 and .NET Product keys from the registry and display it for you.
Usually the keys are encoded and stored in the registry it decodes it and also allows You to change Windows XP, 2003, and .Net Product Keys just press of a button. It is simple and easy to use.

Here are some key features of "WinKeyFinder":
· 1 View/change XP Key
· 2 View/Change MS office Key
· 3 View Win98 Key
· 4 view Win2000 Key
· 5 View .Net Key
· 6 View Win2003 Key
· 7 Back up WinXP Activation
· 8 Save Your Product Key By Encrypting It
· 9 Generate Unique Passwords By Entering your Combination of KeyCode
· 10 Now Support MS office 2000 Key Viewing and Key changing but only if MS office Service Pack 2 has been installed.

Might help convince M$ if need be. I use Produkey (36 mbtyes) available form MG.

MG/google link
http://www.google.com/custom?domains=MajorGeeks.com&q=product+key&sitesearch=MajorGeeks.com&sa=Search&client=pub-6960825562757852&forid=1&ie=ISO-8859-1&oe=ISO-8859-1&cof=GALT%3A%23008000%3BGL%3A1%3BDIV%3A%23336699%3BVLC%3A663399%3BAH%3Acenter%3BBGC%3AFFFFFF%3BLBGC%3A336699%3BALC%3A0000FF%3BLC%3A0000FF%3BT%3A000000%3BGFNT%3A0000FF%3BGIMP%3A0000FF%3BFORID%3A1%3B&hl=en

will provide different product keyfinder programs. Hope this helps. Bazza

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Thanks for the info. I will give it a try based on your advice. Thanks!!!!!!!