What Enables a Hard Drive To Boot From A Different Computer?

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Casey2016

Casey2016

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May 30, 2016
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I have numerous older hard drives from which I want to extract my license keys. My question is, what enables a hard drive on which I have installed my system partition to boot on a different computer?
When I installed a hard drive on which the system partition hads been restored to the same computer, it booted from it. But when I tried to boot it from a differnt drive, it did not appear on the Master Boot Record.
What happens when I ask to deploy to a different drive than the original that causes it not to boot?
Your replies are greatly appreciated!
Casey2016
 
Solution
Rogue Leader
Most hard drives will not boot when installed in a different computer, because Windows was installed in a certain hardware configuration and thats what its looking for. Your best bet is to connect it as a secondary drive and search the drive from within your functioning PC and try to extract the licenses that way.
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Rogue Leader

Rogue Leader

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Most hard drives will not boot when installed in a different computer, because Windows was installed in a certain hardware configuration and thats what its looking for. Your best bet is to connect it as a secondary drive and search the drive from within your functioning PC and try to extract the licenses that way.
 
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avarice

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There are a few layers of compatibility that will allow a hard drive built on machine A to boot onto machine B. Obviously if they both have the same MB and CPU - you have a very solid chance - as the build from A should be compatible with the hardware in B.

This is generally not the case - but you can also have compatibility between brands of MBs on the same brand of CPU. This had a chance to fail - but should in most cases work. Where you have issues is generally when you go cross brand MB (different chipsets and BIOS) and across the boundary between Intel and AMD CPUs. There are specific aspects of the configuration that can create issues.

A FUN way to test is to pull your current (working) hard drive and replace it with another. If you are worried about how to transfer your keys - simply log into your e-mail and create a draft document with the keys. What this does is it forces your system to accommodate the replacement drive without defaulting or changing boot drive settings.

Good Luck.
 
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