Laptop Hard Drive in a new build PC.

[JS90]

Hello,
I'm in the process of building a new computer and would like to be able to install my 250gb windows 7 laptop hard drive in addition to a new 1 tb samsung hard drive and I'd basically like to know if this is possible and if so what the correct process is.

 

[daswilhelm]

your "windows 7' hard drive will need a format and reload, so if you're thinking of using it because it already has an O/S on it, forget it. you can however use the old drive, you would just need a fresh copy of windows for it.

 

[Soda-88]

It's possible, you just need to plug it in same way you'd do with a normal 3.5" desktop HDD. If you don't have 2.5" mounting brackets, you can get them for cheap.

your "windows 7' hard drive will need a format and reload, so if you're thinking of using it because it already has an O/S on it, forget it. you can however use the old drive, you would just need a fresh copy of windows for it.

Not true. You can sysprep the installation from different PC to remove all the system-specific data.
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc721940(v=ws.10).aspx

 

[JS90]

Okay, I've got a case which converts it from 2.5" to 3.5" which is great I just need to know what will happen if I connect both the hard drives to the motherboard with sata cables when I turn it on for the first time. Will it just ask for the OS software straight away and ignore the hard drives?

 

[daswilhelm]

It's possible, you just need to plug it in same way you'd do with a normal 3.5" desktop HDD. If you don't have 2.5" mounting brackets, you can get them for cheap.



Not true. You can sysprep the installation from different PC to remove all the system-specific data.
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc721940(v=ws.10).aspx

if its a laptop, then its an oem version, and it would be tied to his motherboard no? i doubt he would be able to activate windows at that point.

 

[Chicano]

Okay, I've got a case which converts it from 2.5" to 3.5" which is great I just need to know what will happen if I connect both the hard drives to the motherboard with sata cables when I turn it on for the first time. Will it just ask for the OS software straight away and ignore the hard drives?

That's right... just connect the Hard Drives in the order you want them... the main HD on the No 1 SATA Header of the Motherboard.

How to Install Laptop Hard Drive to Desktop Computer
http://www.liutilities.com/how-to/install-laptop-hard-drive-to-desktop-computer/

2.5" to 3.5" HD mounting brackets.
http://www.newegg.com/SSD-HDD-Accessory/SubCategory/ID-43
http://www.frozencpu.com/cat/l3/g43/c12/s906/list/p1/Case_Parts-OEM-Misc_Case_Parts-25_HDD_Adapters-Page1.html

Connecting 2.5" SATA Disk to Desktop Internal SATA
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/245289-32-connecting-sata-disk-desktop-internal-sata
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/255397-32-connect-sata-desktop

 

[JS90]

That's perfect thanks a lot.