Tom's Hardware > Forum > Storage > Hard Disks > Can you use a Hard drive from a Dell and put it on a custom build?

Can you use a Hard drive from a Dell and put it on a custom build?

Forum Storage : Hard Disks - Can you use a Hard drive from a Dell and put it on a custom build?

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Can i take a hard drive from my friends computer and use it in his new custom build or this cannot be done? He wants to save money off another OS so if he sticks his current hard drive in a new build will it work? If it will what will he have to do.

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Actually, if you have an additional CD of whichever Windows OS your friend is going to use, he can always just reinstall the OS from that CD and just use the activation code listed on the Dell PC. He may have to call Microsoft to verify activation, but as long as he is using another OEM installation that is perfectly legal.

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Reply to njalterio

njalterio wrote :

Bump. Yes you can but you will have to reinstall/format, losing your files. More than likely I bet you don't have an actual Windows disc though. Probably some recovery discs or a separate partition on the hardrive itself. Finding a disc shouldnt be too difficult...

Reply to doormatderek

No, If you are using a Dell build of Windows it is tied to a Dell PC; don't know about Vista, but the Dell build of XP looked for a Dell BIOS and refused to run/install without one.

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Reply to MrLinux

MrLinux wrote :

No, If you are using a Dell build of Windows it is tied to a Dell PC; don't know about Vista, but the Dell build of XP looked for a Dell BIOS and refused to run/install without one.

This is true, but since he is still using the same hard drive it may still be a "Dell PC". Not sure if the Windows OS is tied to the motherboard or the hard drive.

I know from personal experience that if he tries to install the OS from the Dell re installation CD then it will not work, but if he uses a generic OEM disk then all is good.

------------------------------ Take my love, take my land, take me where I cannot stand.
I don't care, I'm still free you can't take the sky from me.
Reply to njalterio

Since i completed my build already, Can i use my installation disc from my Windows Vista Home Premium 64 bit and he uses his product key?

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Reply to vouslavous

If his product key is also for Vista Home Premium 64 bit. Why do I suspect that it is not?

Reply to jsc

vouslavous wrote :

Since i completed my build already, Can i use my installation disc from my Windows Vista Home Premium 64 bit and he uses his product key?

that's perfectly legal. the disc is just a disc. technically all you're really paying for is the license key. so provided that his key is legal (legal being the key word there), then it'll work without a problem.

Reply to Nik_I

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