HD swap from one pc to another different pc works, why?

[garycolman04]

I pulled an ssd from a hp pc to put in a dell. totally different mobo, cpus etc. I planned to install windows in the dell with the ssd installed. Before i could boot from usb the dell pc booted on the ssd that had windows 10 already installed. Freaked me out a little that its working, I didn't know that was possible, surely lots of drivers would be missing?

 

[USAFRet]

I pulled an ssd from a hp pc to put in a dell. totally different mobo, cpus etc. I planned to install windows in the dell with the ssd installed. Before i could boot from usb the dell pc booted on the ssd that had windows 10 already installed. Freaked me out a little that its working, I didn't know that was possible, surely lots of drivers would be missing?

Sometimes it works. Win 10 is better than previous versions.

Swapping a drive like that has 3 possible outcomes:

1. It boots up and 'just works'
2. It fails completely
3. It boots up, but you find lingering issues later.

You have found 1 or 3.

 

[garycolman04]

Well, thats cool. I was looking forward to a fresh windows install though. Small win

 

[USAFRet]

Well, thats cool. I was looking forward to a fresh windows install though. Small win

Next time you try this, don't count on this result being the norm.
I've seen all 3 outcomes.

 

[jaslion]

Well, thats cool. I was looking forward to a fresh windows install though. Small win

I would still do a fresh install since it almost always goes to a 3 shortly after the transfer.

 

[william p]

I would go to Dell support and let them scan your system for driver updates. Make a System Restore point and load the right drivers.