Re: Simple way to explain hard disk issue

> Allen L. wrote:
>> Have a friend that has two Dell computers (only one hard drive in
>> each), each running WinXP. I'm having problems explaining to him that
>> he can't just remove an active bootable hard drive from one of the
>> computers and install the hard drive in the other computer to replace
>> that computer's present hard drive and it will boot up and 'work'
>> with no problems. Both Dell's are the *same* models (4700's - with
>> 'same' brand motherboards). I've tried to tell him the motherboards
>> are really *not* completely the same (BIOS,etc.), and therefore the
>> hard drives are *not* interchangable from one to the other.
>> Can anyone give me a very simple explanation I can tell him, that he
>> would 'kind of' understand? I can't seem to make it simple enough for
>> him.
>> Thank you very much.
>>
>> ...Allen

>In news:O2a%23zMrZFHA.2900@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx,
>kurttrail <dontemailme@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> typed:

> Same model? Then how are you certain they have different BIOS? And
> you can updated the BIOSon both.
>
> If it is indeed the same model, and has basically the same internal
> components, especially mobo chipset, then it is highly likely the you
> could just swap harddrives and boot right up into XP.
>
> With the proper preparation, even two totally disparate computers
> could swap harddrives and still boot up, I know, I this the
> beginning of this year. Went from a mobo with a AMD XP processor and
> Via chipset, to PCIe mobo with Intel processor and Intel chipset. By
> removing the previous mobo chipset drivers prior to the move, xp
> successfully found the new drivers and booted up. It wasn't a
> perfect install though, so a week later I did a repair install and
> have been good to go ever since!
> But in your friends case, with seemingly similar components, he
> probably wouldn't even need to do any prep or a repair install.

In other words, you uninstalled everything in Device Manager on the object
computer for the transfer, and then put the 'new' hard drive (from the other
computer) in and let it find new drivers for the hardware in Device Manager?
What failed later with the install? Some of the installed programs, or
hardware issues?

Thanks,

....Allen



.

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