Can you move the primary drive to another computer and simply boot up ?

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johnston96

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Nov 21, 2014
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So basically i have a new system on its way and the only components i could not afford this month are RAM and Storage so i am planning on taking these from my old PC, i know that the RAM will work but i can not find out if im able to just move the hard drive to my new system and be ready to go ?
 
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Boogieman_WD
Hey johnston96. You could try booting with it, but just as @vrumor said, the chances are that it will not boot because of the different hardware and drivers mismatch. You could do a fresh install of Windows if it is on a separate partition from your other data, e.g. C: drive for your OS and D: for your other stuff. This way you could format only the C: partition and make a fresh install of Windows.

Hope that helps.
Boogieman_WD
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johnston96

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Are you able to do a clean install of an OS without loosing the data on the drive as i do not have a replacement drive as of yet ?
 
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Boogieman_WD

Boogieman_WD

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Hey johnston96. You could try booting with it, but just as @vrumor said, the chances are that it will not boot because of the different hardware and drivers mismatch. You could do a fresh install of Windows if it is on a separate partition from your other data, e.g. C: drive for your OS and D: for your other stuff. This way you could format only the C: partition and make a fresh install of Windows.

Hope that helps.
Boogieman_WD
 
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johnston96

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Nov 21, 2014
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unfortunately my drive isn't partitioned, i think im going to have to use my 64GB usb 3.0 memory stick as a boot drive(however painful that may be) for a while until i get another drive thank you for the quick response
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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That won't work either. Windows won't install on an external drive without a LOT of prep work.
And even if you do get it running, it will be extremely slow.
 
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johnston96

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i installed a version of linux last night, im not worried about speed for now i just need to check all the parts work as it will probably be a month before i can get another drive and any "warrantys" would have expired
 
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