Building new computer and want to use old hard drive.

Rottenwing · Mar 1, 2015

I'm building a new computer because my old one died. I want to know if I can use my old hard drive how it is in the new computer or what I would have to do to get it to work.

wolffex · Mar 1, 2015

I have never tried it. I think it should work but you would have to manually remove drivers and install new ones since your hardware will differ.

Rottenwing · Mar 1, 2015

wolffex :

Would it auto detect stuff like the processor and mobo? Or would I have to uninstall that too? Also how would I uninstall the drivers if my old computer does not work?

boosted1g · Mar 1, 2015

You can use the old hard drive just fine. You however cant use the windows install on the old hard drive. This will not only at best be unstable to worst flat out not work, but it will also be against Microsoft license agreement.

So in short you can take your old hard drive, put it in the new computer, wipe it and install the windows OS you bought.

Rottenwing · Mar 1, 2015

So I would have to install a new os to the hard drive and then I can use it? So I would lose all my stuff on it?

boosted1g · Mar 1, 2015

Well you can copy the files to another drive, or a flash drive or dvd or something.
Programs on the other hand would all have to be reinstalled with the new OS. You cant just transfer a program as the program has files spread throughout the hard drive and many registry keys in windows. Even if you could get a list of everything from the OEM, it woudl take you 10x as long to transfer all the files and create all the registry keys.

Rottenwing · Mar 1, 2015

boosted1g :

Ok. So since my old computer doesn't work I can use a hard drive dock, take off what I want to keep like movies, pics, music etc. obviously other things like programs I wouldn't be able to keep and then wipe the HD and then install the new OS and it should work from there with all the new hardware? I just want to make sure I'm thorough and don't miss anything I need to do and mess it up.

boosted1g · Mar 1, 2015

That is correct.

A clean drive is a clean drive, your windows install does not care that the drive is used or that it used to have a different copy of windows on it

Rottenwing · Mar 1, 2015

boosted1g :

Ok. Thank you very much. Also would I be able to wipe it from the dock?

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