Can you relocate a old, fresh installed hard drive to a new computer?

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figgytaste

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Jun 3, 2013
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I just built a new computer and so far everything is working fine. The computer has a windows 7 OS on the new hard drive. What I want to know is, can you move over a old hard drive from a preexisting computer. The old drive has windows XP that was clean installed, without any drivers updated or installed. It is just a hard drive that had the OS installed then left in that condition. Can you move it over and just plug it in to the sata ports to have a dual boot pc, or will the computer eventually end up showing the BSOD?
 
Solution
RetiredChief
If you want to dual boot with the old HDD, it would be best to reinstall windows XP on it. Windows installed default drivers based on the previous MB.

When install windows XP on the "old"drive", DISCONNECT Win 7 HDD first.

Reconnect when XP installation is completed.

Set Boot priority to win 7 HDD.

Want to boot XP, just hit the Hot Key during Post that brings up the Boot menu and select the XP HDD. This does NOT change Bios Boot priority. On my Gigabyte MB it is F12, but on mu Asrock MB it is F11.
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RetiredChief

RetiredChief

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Feb 22, 2007
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If you want to dual boot with the old HDD, it would be best to reinstall windows XP on it. Windows installed default drivers based on the previous MB.

When install windows XP on the "old"drive", DISCONNECT Win 7 HDD first.

Reconnect when XP installation is completed.

Set Boot priority to win 7 HDD.

Want to boot XP, just hit the Hot Key during Post that brings up the Boot menu and select the XP HDD. This does NOT change Bios Boot priority. On my Gigabyte MB it is F12, but on mu Asrock MB it is F11.
 
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R

ram1009

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Jun 28, 2007
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Unless your new computer is identical to your old one you will need to format the old drive thus losing any data. If you like you can then install XP as a dual boot configuration. Be aware that HDDs don't last forever. Personally, I replace mine every 3 years when the warranty expires.
 
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C

c3h8

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Aug 8, 2008
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@RetiredChief is (mostly) correct. You’ll NEED to re-install Windows XP as it doesn’t support that level of hardware change- it’s a feature that didn’t begin to surface until Windows 7. You will need to disconnect ALL hard drives except the destination drive for your XP install to preserve your Windows 7 Install.
Take the proper measures to record your serial numbers before reinstalling XP.
Once installed, reconnect both drives and ensure Windows 7 is the default OS. From here, you can use software configuration-I recommend EasyBCD (free)-to modify your boot menu so that you may choose your OS from the boot-up menus. BOOTMGR (Win7) can chain-load NTLDR (WinXP) but not the reverse.
 
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RetiredChief

RetiredChief

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Feb 22, 2007
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Quote
From here, you can use software configuration-I recommend EasyBCD (free)-to modify your boot menu so that you may choose your OS from the boot-up menus. BOOTMGR (Win7) can chain-load NTLDR (WinXP) but not the reverse.
End quote.

Not a lover of Software boot managers - one drive can hose up both OSs.
Much simplier to just use the built in "hot Key" to select which OS to Load.
 
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