New hardware, old install

Any chance of this booting?

[encyclo]

I have an elderly PC running Windows XP Professional which is having various hardware failures. However, the hard disk is almost brand new and Windows is running fine.

If I were to order a totally new PC without a hard disk from a local supplier, and then take the hard disk from the old machine and simply fit it in the new one, how likely is it that the new machine will boot successfully, recognize the new hardware, and avoid the need for doing a complete reinstall? Does this sound like a feasible plan?

[rmccollom]

Maybe...just try it. Sometimes it will work and other times it won't. The problem with XP is identifying all the drivers, hardware, etc.

I've had a lot of success with this, and a lot of failures.

I still can't get my new machine (old hard drive) to recognize my wireless card.

Yeah, I know this is an ambiguous answer...

[vkaryl]

I just did this a couple weeks ago on two machines, encyclo. One worked perfectly, one was a right mess - and required a complete wipe/reinstall *sigh*.

You want to know the kicker? They were identical machines - spec-wise. One is branded Dell, the other is a no-brand homebuilt. The drives are both Maxtor, one 80gb, one 120gb, with XPPro SP-1 working installs....

50/50 *shrug*. Flip the coin, bro.

[Edit: be VERY sure you get the bios set up right though! If you're building the new machine yourself, fine; but if you're ordering a "one up from barebones" without the hdd, the bios will most likely need tweaking.]

[encyclo]

Thanks for the feedback: the most important thing is that the idea is not hopeless. I've got nothing to lose in any case, and the disk is partitioned so I could always just wipe C and reinstall if needed without losing any data. However, if it boots, then I'll be saving myself hours!

[vkaryl]

Hey - let us know what goes, okay?

[dom86]

I did this a couple of months ago. I took out my hard drive and put it in my new machine didn’t work. Just a mess!

Backup your data
Take out your hard drive and put it in your new machine
Wipe the drive
And Install windows
NO MESS fresh start
Remember windows likes to be awkward!

[The Contractor]

Tried this also with WinXP Professional and had no luck. It died before ever showing the windows logo (I forget the message). I'm sure it has to do with the copy protection.

You may be able to hook up the drive and boot from the WinXP CD and re-install over it without losing any settings/software installs. I didn't even try it (formatted and re-installed everything).

[moishe]

I have done this succesfully a number of (read 50 or so) times. Do this:

Boot XP into safe mode on your old PC, go into hardware device manager and remove all drivers, exit and shut down.

Put drive into new PC and let it boot, have driver disks ready for new hardware.

[SEOMike]

I second Moishe. This is how I have done it and have had pretty good success. BUT, it is a coin toss and if you have nothing to loose, good luck!