Replacing a Hard Drive

arandom · Apr 26, 2014

So I had this hard drive in my PC before.
And I replaced it with this hard drive.

But when I boot up the PC it says "Your computer was unable to start. Attempting repairs" and you know, I waited an hour, and it didn't do anything.

Both hard drives look pretty similar, so I am not too sure why the one I replaced it with didn't work.

spooky2th · Apr 26, 2014

What are your PC specs? OS, MB, memory or model of PC? I assume you loaded windows on the new drive after install?

Emerald · Apr 26, 2014

did you clone or do a fresh install?

arandom · Apr 26, 2014

Should I wipe the hard drive? It pretty much has all the stuff that a regular PC would have on it. (e.g. Program files (x86), Users, Windows, etc.)
Its a hard drive I took out from a computer I don't use anymore.

Emerald · Apr 26, 2014

Did you copy the files from the original to the new drive? Or did you use a cloning software to transfer the data?

arandom · Apr 26, 2014

Emerald :

Its a hard drive I took out from a computer I don't use anymore.
Does it have to be the same files that were on the original hard drive?

jimpz · Apr 26, 2014

If you just took the HD out from another system, Iy's OS was configured with all the drivers for the OTHER system. If it was also a prebuilt OEM (DELL, HP etc) it's OS is an OEM OS and is tied to the original motherboard.

If it IS a retail OS you bought & installed yourself, you will need to do a clean install for the 'new' system.

arandom · Apr 26, 2014

I want to install Linux Ubuntu on it.
So from what I understand, I just need to wipe it and install Linux on it and it should work?

jimpz · Apr 26, 2014

Yes, you're best bet would be to boot from a Linux live CD & do a clean install from that.

arandom · Apr 26, 2014

Here's a problem.
How do I manage to wipe it if the PC doesn't want to really turn on?

jimpz · Apr 26, 2014

You will have to boot from a CD (Linux, if thats what you are going to install). If you don't have one, you'll have to use another PC to download & make one.

spooky2th · Apr 26, 2014

jimpz, is correct. Boot up with Linux install disk or USB drive and Linux will wipe the drive before install.

arandom · Apr 26, 2014

Ehem, sorry for the nooby question.
Do I just put/burn the ubuntu.iso on the USB or CD?

jimpz · Apr 26, 2014

You download an 'iso' file, this needs to be burned to the cd (not copied), you can find free iso burning software at www.filehippo.com (trust worthy site)

arandom · Apr 26, 2014

Okay, thanks a bunch to everybody for helping me out.
I think I can figure it out from here.
Again, thanks!

jimpz · Apr 26, 2014

Good luck!

spooky2th · Apr 26, 2014

Windows 7 and 8 will burn ISO files to disks. No extra software needed.

Replacing a Hard Drive

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