Would reusing a hard drive be easy as plug and play?

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MyNameIsDaan

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Jan 7, 2015
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Currently have a system shipping and didnt buy a HDD because I want to reuse my old HDD. Would I need to have to reinstall Windows? Or plug in and play?

Also keep in mind the HDD is OEM from HP i think so would that affect anything?
 
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USAFRet


Did this come with the PC, or was it something you (or someone else) bought and installed?


In any case...you will need...
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mbarnes86

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Sep 16, 2010
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Hi

A HP OEM Windows hard disk will tell you it is no longer activated if started up on a non HP motherboard
even if you can get Windows to start up.

It will probably BSOD due to incompatible hard disk controller chipset on the new motherboard

This can some times be fixed using a utility Fix_HDC on Hirens Boot CD which removes the hard disk controller drivers from the registry
(designed for XP but usually works on latter versions)
http://www.hiren.info/pages/bootcd

A new hard disk is recommended as the HDD is least reliable component in a PC
(unless the current HDD is a recent replacement)
better still a SSD + HDD for new system

regards
Mike Barnes
 
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Eoraptor

Eoraptor

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Nov 26, 2015
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depending on the version of windows you're using, you'll see fewer and fewer degrees of success. as mbarnes86 said, there are programs that MIGHT help, but they generally require some advanced computer knowledge to use.

However, there is a saving grace here. Windows 7 and newer can be reinstalled directly over top of an existing install. so if you have a copy of windows 7 or newer and a legal license for them, you can install it on your old hard drive once it is in the new computer. (just don't delete or reformat it) It will move any older windows installations and all their data into a folder called C:\windows.OLD, so even though your programs may not be intact, you can still save all your data.
 
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MyNameIsDaan

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So I just figured out its not an OEM HP Hard Drive. In order to save a few files and keep it inside the drive after building the system what would I have to do?
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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The physical drive is not the issue.
The OS on it is the problem.

Where did the OS come from? How was it installed?
 
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MyNameIsDaan

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The OS was installed using a disk
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Using a disk...and where did the license key come from?
 
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MyNameIsDaan

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The disk came in a little package and the key was on there
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Did this come with the PC, or was it something you (or someone else) bought and installed?


In any case...you will need to reinstall the OS for your new PC.
Whether you can reuse the license key for that OS is unknown.
 
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