Hi Evereyone!
I’m building a new computer, Asus P4P800-E MB. Using XP Pro on the
old computer. Everything is backed up but I don’t want to format if
I don’t have to. So.... Has anyone had any luck moving an exsisting
HDD into a new computer without losing Data?

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"Namasteshiva" wrote:
> Hi Evereyone!
> I'm building a new computer, Asus P4P800-E MB. Using XP Pro on
> the old computer. Everything is backed up but I don't want to
> format if I don't have to. So.... Has anyone had any luck
> moving an exsisting HDD into a new computer without losing
> Data?

You will at least have to repaire install windows, it is rare that a
OS will work with a motherboard that it was not installed "on".

Hi,

...........Has anyone had any luck moving an existing
HDD into a new computer without losing Data?


I've had about a 20% success rate with moving hard drives and doing a
repair in the hopes of getting it running in the new environment, W2K.
I've had 100% success at not losing data in the process though. I always
have a current clone of my drive available just in case.

Formatting is the last option I'd consider too. I favor a parallel
install into a new folder first. Get things running from there, then
worry about cleaning out the remnants of the replaced OS. I normally
keep a copy of the programs I have installed right on the HD so I never
have to go looking for CDs and their numbers. Makes a reinstall of my
software click around easy. Others do what works for them, this method
works well for me.

Count on your mileage varying.

---==X={}=X==---

Jim Self
AVIATION ANIMATION, the internet's largest depository.
http://avanimation.avsupport.com

Your only internet source for spiral staircase plans.
http://jself.com/stair/Stair.htm

Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA)
Technical Counselor

"PA20Pilot" <PA20Pilot@faa.gov> wrote in message
news:%23dZ820cDGHA.740@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> Hi,
>
> ..........Has anyone had any luck moving an existing
> HDD into a new computer without losing Data?
>
>


Nope. Man I bet your computer is buggy. And although I don't know how many
programs you have installed, I bet reformatting and reinstalling is far more
faster than your time-consuming method.

I cannot be too harsh on your method though. I guess I am going to have to
look into your method because I have now had two companies cut me off
through their activation process because they said I have reinstalled too
many times. I have also activated XP three times over the phone now with
Microsoft. I wonder how much longer before they cut me off too? They always
ask me if it is the first time I have "installed XP on this computer


> I've had about a 20% success rate with moving hard drives and doing a
> repair in the hopes of getting it running in the new environment, W2K.
> I've had 100% success at not losing data in the process though. I always
> have a current clone of my drive available just in case.
>
> Formatting is the last option I'd consider too. I favor a parallel install
> into a new folder first. Get things running from there, then worry about
> cleaning out the remnants of the replaced OS. I normally keep a copy of
> the programs I have installed right on the HD so I never have to go
> looking for CDs and their numbers. Makes a reinstall of my software click
> around easy. Others do what works for them, this method works well for me.
>
> Count on your mileage varying.
>
> ---==X={}=X==---
>
> Jim Self
> AVIATION ANIMATION, the internet's largest depository.
> http://avanimation.avsupport.com
>
> Your only internet source for spiral staircase plans.
> http://jself.com/stair/Stair.htm
>
> Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA)
> Technical Counselor

http://www.bay-wolf.com/ghostclone.htm


"PA20Pilot" <PA20Pilot@faa.gov> wrote in message
news:%23dZ820cDGHA.740@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> Hi,
>
> ..........Has anyone had any luck moving an existing
> HDD into a new computer without losing Data?
>
>
> I've had about a 20% success rate with moving hard drives and doing a
> repair in the hopes of getting it running in the new environment, W2K.
> I've had 100% success at not losing data in the process though. I always
> have a current clone of my drive available just in case.
>
> Formatting is the last option I'd consider too. I favor a parallel install
> into a new folder first. Get things running from there, then worry about
> cleaning out the remnants of the replaced OS. I normally keep a copy of
> the programs I have installed right on the HD so I never have to go
> looking for CDs and their numbers. Makes a reinstall of my software click
> around easy. Others do what works for them, this method works well for me.
>
> Count on your mileage varying.
>
> ---==X={}=X==---
>
> Jim Self
> AVIATION ANIMATION, the internet's largest depository.
> http://avanimation.avsupport.com
>
> Your only internet source for spiral staircase plans.
> http://jself.com/stair/Stair.htm
>
> Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA)
> Technical Counselor

Hi, maxblast4 for windows will clone any HD to another, and it is free, see
here
http://www.maxtor.com/portal/site/Ma...&downloadID=58
ChrisC
"MixMasterJ" <tata@fake.com> wrote in message
news:7Sptf.23856$Lb1.205@bignews3.bellsouth.net...
> http://www.bay-wolf.com/ghostclone.htm
>
>
> "PA20Pilot" <PA20Pilot@faa.gov> wrote in message
> news:%23dZ820cDGHA.740@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
>> Hi,
>>
>> ..........Has anyone had any luck moving an existing
>> HDD into a new computer without losing Data?
>>
>>
>> I've had about a 20% success rate with moving hard drives and doing a
>> repair in the hopes of getting it running in the new environment, W2K.
>> I've had 100% success at not losing data in the process though. I always
>> have a current clone of my drive available just in case.
>>
>> Formatting is the last option I'd consider too. I favor a parallel
>> install into a new folder first. Get things running from there, then
>> worry about cleaning out the remnants of the replaced OS. I normally keep
>> a copy of the programs I have installed right on the HD so I never have
>> to go looking for CDs and their numbers. Makes a reinstall of my software
>> click around easy. Others do what works for them, this method works well
>> for me.
>>
>> Count on your mileage varying.
>>
>> ---==X={}=X==---
>>
>> Jim Self
>> AVIATION ANIMATION, the internet's largest depository.
>> http://avanimation.avsupport.com
>>
>> Your only internet source for spiral staircase plans.
>> http://jself.com/stair/Stair.htm
>>
>> Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA)
>> Technical Counselor
>
>

"PA20Pilot" <PA20Pilot@faa.gov> wrote in message
news:%23dZ820cDGHA.740@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> Hi,
>
> ..........Has anyone had any luck moving an existing
> HDD into a new computer without losing Data?
>
>
> I've had about a 20% success rate with moving hard drives and doing a
> repair in the hopes of getting it running in the new environment, W2K.
> I've had 100% success at not losing data in the process though. I always
> have a current clone of my drive available just in case.
>
> Formatting is the last option I'd consider too. I favor a parallel install
> into a new folder first. Get things running from there, then worry about
> cleaning out the remnants of the replaced OS. I normally keep a copy of
> the programs I have installed right on the HD so I never have to go
> looking for CDs and their numbers. Makes a reinstall of my software click
> around easy. Others do what works for them, this method works well for me.
>
> Count on your mileage varying.
>
> ---==X={}=X==---
>
> Jim Self
> AVIATION ANIMATION, the internet's largest depository.
> http://avanimation.avsupport.com
>
> Your only internet source for spiral staircase plans.
> http://jself.com/stair/Stair.htm
>
> Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA)
> Technical Counselor

Jim
I'm not sure if you're the one raising this query (I note the "Re: in the
Subject box) or if you're simply responding to someone who raised the query.
So let me respond to both of you, if indeed there are two of you!

First, let me clearly understand what you're saying. Are you saying that in
only roughly 20% of the cases where you transferred a HD from one XP system
to another XP system and ran a Repair install, the Repair install failed,
i.e., you were unable to establish a bootable functioning HD in the new
system? Wait...

I just realized that you were referring to that situation in a W2K
environment, yes? So I guess you're asking whether you would have similar
problems, i.e., a high failure rate, in an XP environment. Is that it?

If that's what you're asking, the answer is that you shouldn't have that
degree of trouble. There are some variables here (aren't there always?), but
by & large, moving a HD to another HD in an XP environment can be safely &
effectively done. I'd provide you with more details about the process, but
I'm leaving shortly on a one-week trip and don't have the time.

Do a Google search on "moving hard drive xp" or some such, and you'll be
pointed to a number of sites that contain step-by-step instructions for
doing so.

BTW, one of your responses recommended that you should consider cloning the
HD in question so that you have a complete backup of the entire contents of
the drive. Always a wise & prudent thing to do.
Anna

Hi Anna,

My box runs sweet!

My reply to the OP was just my take on where the user may end up going.
Using the repair install option in W2k hasn't done a lot of good for me
over the years, probably because I rebuild a lot of ancient computers
for giveaway and the hardware in them is too old for W2K to deal with
properly.

...........you shouldn't have that degree of trouble. There are some
variables here (aren't there always?), but by & large, moving a HD to
another HD in an XP environment can be safely & effectively done.

The variable for me has been the vintage of the hardware I'm playing
with. Usually, I can get things going again, but it's not an easily
traveled road expecting your OS to move in and be happy right off
without jumping through some hoops first.

Some of the hard drives I encounter have been "scrambled" by the people
parting with them thinking they were destroying their info. Occasionally
they just delete folders until they won't boot any more. I actually like
the challenges I run into getting these things running again. As long as
OSes are cheap ( http://www.pricewatch.com/prc.aspx?i=182&a=11599 )it's
easy to replace when necessary, but saving things before the no brainer
reformat route is good to know too.

.........So I guess you're asking whether you would have similar
problems, i.e., a high failure rate, in an XP environment. Is that it?

I don't fool around with XP except on my daughters machine. I've never
had the need to "call home" and sort of like that aspect of W2K over XP.
The 20% may have been a tad too pessimistic, but the user I responded to
should be aware that things can, and often do, get worse before they get
better.

..........BTW, one of your responses recommended that you should consider
cloning the HD........Always a wise & prudent thing to do.

Saved me more than a few times. Rebuilding these old boxes often
requires taking steps backwards and having a clone makes it almost
painless and about a ten minute process.

When's the last time you booted a clean install of Windows 3.1 and
played with it? It's blindingly fast, even with only 8 MB of ram!

---==X={}=X==---

Jim Self
AVIATION ANIMATION, the internet's largest depository.
http://avanimation.avsupport.com

Your only internet source for spiral staircase plans.
http://jself.com/stair/Stair.htm

Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA)
Technical Counselor