Can I boot from old HDD in new computer?

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
A

Alamist

Honorable
Jun 27, 2013
31
0
10,530
Hello!

First of all, sorry if this is in the wrong forum subsection. I had no idea where to put it.

My Scenario: I have a 5yr old PC running Ubuntu Linux (12.10) on a Western Digital Caviar Blue. I have new computer components coming in the mail tomorrow. Because my dad knows some guys that work at Microsoft, I can get Windows Pro for $40 but won't be able to physically get it for a few more days.
This new computer will have a Samsung 840 120GB for the OS and games, and a WD Caviar Black 1TB for other files. I am also considering dual booting Ubuntu and Windows.

My Question:
Can I plug the old HDD (WD Caviar Blue) into my new computer, and boot into Linux off of that drive? Will I be easily able to switch to Windows later on? (Using my SSD).

Thanks a bunch!
~Mitch - A Guy With Little Patience.
 
Solution
Tom Tancredi
Okay first NEVER run the games, temp files, your My Documents, My Pictures, etc. off the SSD. SSDs have a shorter lifespan the more reads and writes occur on them. You will have to do ALOT of manual "no install on my D drive" all the time or going into setting of applications and set the Log files, Temp files, etc. to D: (the 1TB) if you don't want your SSD to suddenly die.

Second, you don't want to mix OSes like that on a single system too much, especially as Windows is very picky about it and can screw up backups, system restores etc. with multiboot systems. I would HIGHLY recommend that instead run Linux in a Sandbox. If your more comfortable with Linux, you may want to put Windows in a Sandbox, but that comes with limitations...
Sort by date Sort by votes
C12Friedman

C12Friedman

Glorious
Jan 25, 2012
8,966
1
46,965
There should be no issues other than some configuration changes within Linux to accommodate the new hardware. I'd look to get any drivers you may need loaded onto the HDD before loading it the first time (notably graphics and ethernet). Your windows onto SSD shouldn't be affected by that
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Tom Tancredi

Tom Tancredi

Judicious
May 9, 2013
4,999
0
32,960
Okay first NEVER run the games, temp files, your My Documents, My Pictures, etc. off the SSD. SSDs have a shorter lifespan the more reads and writes occur on them. You will have to do ALOT of manual "no install on my D drive" all the time or going into setting of applications and set the Log files, Temp files, etc. to D: (the 1TB) if you don't want your SSD to suddenly die.

Second, you don't want to mix OSes like that on a single system too much, especially as Windows is very picky about it and can screw up backups, system restores etc. with multiboot systems. I would HIGHLY recommend that instead run Linux in a Sandbox. If your more comfortable with Linux, you may want to put Windows in a Sandbox, but that comes with limitations (gaming) as well as not able to direct to hardware contact.

Lastly if you use the old HDD in the new computer your going to be telling Linux about the new setup and confuse things for it later if you 'remove' it. Lastly you just can't 'switch' Windows on, as I mentioned either OPERATING SYSTEM's job is to Operate the PC, so they install with that intention to be installed and make changes to the MBR (main boot area) of the hard drives to say how it (the OS) is operating things, you can't 'switch on and off' OSes.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Solution
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom