HELP i really need it (Boot up and storage)

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
B

bingo90654

Honorable
Feb 7, 2014
41
0
10,530
OK i'm building a gaming PC and i have a 1 year old 1 TB HDD with an operating system from an older computer. Can i use that as a boot drive? Or do i need to buy another operating system for my PC. I Really don't want to but if i have to i will. i will take a risk.
 
Solution
geofelt
I would try to boot, but I think you are 90% likely to fail.
Your old build will not have the necessary drivers.
To do a clean install, you need a bootable windows dvd.

You might be able to download a windows iso that you can use your old activation code.
I think you will be better off to simply buy a new copy of windows.
Sort by date Sort by votes
J

jakjawagon

Distinguished
Aug 28, 2010
374
5
18,965
You can reuse the drive, but you will probably need to reinstall the operating system. If it's a retail copy, you can probably reuse the license key, but if it's OEM (was pre-installed on the old computer) then you'll need to buy a new OS.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
geofelt

geofelt

Titan
Oct 9, 2006
54,388
4,186
174,240
You can try.
If your new motherboard chipset is similar to your old motherboard, there is a fair chance that you will be able to boot into windows using your old "C" drive. If you can, then you need only to install the motherboard drivers that come with your new motherboard cd.
If the motherboards are too different , like going from amd to intel, then you will not usually boot because your old windows does not have the correct drivers.

Here is a procedure that might work, but I have not tried it:
http://www.dowdandassociates.com/blog/content/howto-repair-windows-7-install-after-replacing-motherboard/

If you need to do a clean install, it would be an opportune time to upgrade to a ssd.
To prepare, use windows easy transfer to export your settings.
Disconnect your hard drives so windows does not try to put a hidden recovery partition on them.
After the clean install, you can reattach your hard drives and import your old settings.
Since you have a new clean registry, your programs will need to be reinstalled.

If your windows is OEM, you technically need a new license. But, MS is surprisingly lenient about letting you reactivate with a new motherboard.
They mainly want to be assured that you are not a pirate and that this copy of windows is not used anywhere else.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
B

bingo90654

Honorable
Feb 7, 2014
41
0
10,530


Is there any other way around it? BTW it was pre-installed

 
Upvote 0 Downvote
B

bingo90654

Honorable
Feb 7, 2014
41
0
10,530


Im upgrading from an old browsing computer to a killer pc. from amd to intel...

How do i do a clean install or is that only if the were similar...
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
geofelt

geofelt

Titan
Oct 9, 2006
54,388
4,186
174,240
I would try to boot, but I think you are 90% likely to fail.
Your old build will not have the necessary drivers.
To do a clean install, you need a bootable windows dvd.

You might be able to download a windows iso that you can use your old activation code.
I think you will be better off to simply buy a new copy of windows.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Solution
B

bingo90654

Honorable
Feb 7, 2014
41
0
10,530

Ok can i still use it for storage?


 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom