Question about transferring hard drives.

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Austin_63

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Aug 13, 2016
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So lets say I have a system that doesn't have an OS on it, and I plug up my current hard drive onto that new system. Would it still be able to run?
 
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Boogieman_WD
Hey there, Austin_63.

In most cases - no. Unfortunately with Windows in most cases where you try to use a try from one system with another, you won't be able to boot to Windows unless the motherboards are pretty similar model and completely the same. And even that doesn't guarantee success. You could always give it a try to see what happens, but chances are that it won't work, since the OS on that drive is already configured for the hardware of the other computer.
The drive HDD, if used as a non-OS drive should be able to run normally without any issues (if it's a healthy drive of course)

Hope that helps. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Boogieman_WD
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Boogieman_WD

Boogieman_WD

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Hey there, Austin_63.

In most cases - no. Unfortunately with Windows in most cases where you try to use a try from one system with another, you won't be able to boot to Windows unless the motherboards are pretty similar model and completely the same. And even that doesn't guarantee success. You could always give it a try to see what happens, but chances are that it won't work, since the OS on that drive is already configured for the hardware of the other computer.
The drive HDD, if used as a non-OS drive should be able to run normally without any issues (if it's a healthy drive of course)

Hope that helps. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Boogieman_WD
 
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Austin_63

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Aug 13, 2016
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Ah, So it more than likely won't work, I ahve a few other hard drives lying around and I am guess I could use those. But even if I do plug in my current hard drive, it won't boot at all correct?

Because I ordered a computer online without an OS or a hard drive, because in my head I was thinking " hey I could just use this one and it should work"

But if I could just get it to boot up I can get a flash drive onto it and download windows 7 and Install it on there. Am I able to do that?
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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You're looking at that backwards.
You need the install USB first, you boot from that, then you install on whichever HDD you want.

You can't 'boot' from a hard drive with no OS on it.
 
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Austin_63

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Aug 13, 2016
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Oh, i see. that sounds easier if I do it like that.
 
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Boogieman_WD

Boogieman_WD

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Yup, here's a tutorial on how to do a clean install of Windows 7: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html. Also here's how to create a bootable installation media (USB/DVD): https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/15088/windows-create-installation-media.

Just a reminder, that it's better to have all secondary drives disconnected from the motherboard during the installation process, in order to avoid future booting issues.

Cheers!
 
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Austin_63

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Aug 13, 2016
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Update: I have found my installation disc for windows 7. So I would have to plug in my hard drive and run the disc correct?
 
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