Re: moving harddisk to another computer

John Smith wrote:
I have my XP on the D: drive. I am thinking of moving the drive to
another computer. How do I make the XP to work with a different
computer? Thanks.



Normally, and assuming a retail license (many factory-installed OEM
installations are BIOS-locked to a specific chipset and therefore are
*not* transferable to a new motherboard - check yours before starting),
unless the new motherboard is virtually identical (same chipset, same
IDE controllers, same BIOS version, etc.) to the one on which the WinXP
installation was originally performed, you'll need to perform a repair
(a.k.a. in-place upgrade) installation, at the very least:

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/directory/article.asp?ID=KB;EN-US;Q315341

Changing a Motherboard or Moving a Hard Drive with WinXP Installed
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/moving_xp.html

The "why" is quite simple, really, and has nothing to do with
licensing issues, per se; it's a purely technical matter, at this point.
You've pulled the proverbial hardware rug out from under the OS. (If
you don't like -- or get -- the rug analogy, think of it as picking up a
Cape Cod style home and then setting it down onto a Ranch style
foundation. It just isn't going to fit.) WinXP, like Win2K before it,
is not nearly as "promiscuous" as Win9x when it comes to accepting any
old hardware configuration you throw at it. On installation it
"tailors" itself to the specific hardware found. This is one of the
reasons that the entire WinNT/2K/XP OS family is so much more stable
than the Win9x group.

As always when undertaking such a significant change, back up any
important data before starting.

This will also probably require re-activation, unless you have a
Volume Licensed version of WinXP Pro installed. If it's been more than
120 days since you last activated that specific Product Key, you'll most
likely be able to activate via the Internet without problem. If it's
been less, you might have to make a 5 minute phone call.



--

Bruce Chambers

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Relevant Pages

  • Re: MOBO-CPU Replacement
    ... Normally, and assuming a retail license, unless the new motherboard is virtually identical to the one on which the WinXP installation was originally performed, you'll need to perform a repair (a.k.a. in-place ... WinXP, like Win2K before it, is not nearly as "promiscuous" as Win9x when it comes to accepting any old hardware configuration you throw at it. ... On installation it "tailors" itself to the specific hardware found. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support)
  • Re: Upgrade help needed
    ... Normally, and assuming a retail license, unless the new motherboard is virtually identical to the one on which the WinXP installation was originally performed, you'll need to perform a repair (a.k.a. in-place ... WinXP, like Win2K before it, is not nearly as "promiscuous" as Win9x when it comes to accepting any old hardware configuration you throw at it. ... On installation it "tailors" itself to the specific hardware found. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: new motherboard
    ... Normally, and assuming a retail license, unless the new motherboard is virtually identical to the one on which the WinXP installation was originally performed, you'll need to perform a repair (a.k.a. in-place ... WinXP, like Win2K before it, is not nearly as "promiscuous" as Win9x when it comes to accepting any old hardware configuration you throw at it. ... On installation it "tailors" itself to the specific hardware found. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Move WinXP Hard Drive to New System ??
    ... Should a repair installation leave all my 3rd party ... I have a full WinXP Pro license, ... and assuming a retail license (many OEM installations ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support)
  • Re: New system + XP =???
    ... Normally, and assuming a retail license, unless the new motherboard is virtually identical to the one on which the WinXP installation was originally performed, you'll need to perform a repair ... WinXP, like Win2K before it, is not nearly as "promiscuous" as Win9x when it comes to accepting any old hardware configuration you throw at it. ... On installation it "tailors" itself to the specific hardware found. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
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