how do i move a hard drive from one pc to another?

Question

one is a dell and one is a compaq. i keep seeing these things about slaves? i just want it in there temporarity to transfer a massive amount of data. please give LOTS of details.

thanks!

Answer 1

Take the hard drive with the data out of the system, change the jumper on the back from CS or Primary (it will be one or ther other) and move it to Slave (this really depends on what the other computer had it's Hard Drive set at). If the other computer is set to CS, you have two options, keep the original HD on CS or Set the receiving computer to Primary and the Temporary hard drive to Slave (doesn't really matter). Install it on the available IDE cable that the other computer is using, turn on computer and transfer.

If you didn't know this, I would purchase USB transfer cable and do it that way...then you will not have any issues.

When you are done (hard drive swap) be sure to put the source HD back in place with the correct jumper settings.

Answer 2

O.K., be sure to take note of where the cables go in the hard drive. One should go to the power supply, while the other goes to the mobo (motherboard). Unplug the hard drive, take it out, and situate it into the other computer. Look for the same type of connector on the power supply and plug it into the hard drive. Then take a SATA/IDE cable (whatever plugged it into the mobo of the first computer) and plug it in, also. Now, THIS IS IMPORTANT! Go into your BIOS (F8 on start-up) and make sure that one drive is set to Master and the other is set to Slave. After that, the computer should recognize both hard drives and be able to transfer a massive amount of data to the one for the other computer. Hope this helps!

Answer 3

If you are wanting to copy the OS from one machine to another, I wouldn't necessarily recommend it unless the machines are identical. Even then it's risky. You are probably better off to reinstall what you want on the new computer. If you are just trying to copy the data, then there are several ways to do it depending on what you have available. CD/DVD are good options or if you can network the computers together, then you can just share the C drive on the source computer and the map a drive to it on the other computer and then copy what you want. There are ways and utilities that may help you as well

Answer 4

First open computer and confirm "old" ide drive, if wide ribbon cable (2-3 inches wide) continue, if only a quarter inch (about) wide, skip to wayyyy below

Easy (expensive):

Buy a IDE to USB cable, open computer, remove large connector from back of drive, insert USB to IDE cable (wide connector again), place case within reach of new computer and copy away.

Hard (cheap):

Remove harddisk from old computer, open (usually both sides), locate harddrive, remove cables, remove screws and remve drive.

Open new computer, check if hard disk and cd(dvd) drives are on 1 cable (one HD and one DVD Drive). If so, get IDE cable from old computer, plug into mother board empty slot (red line on cable needs to have the same orientation as other cables in box) and drive, attach power and copy.

If multiple drives, unhook the single cd(DVD) drive and plug cable in HD attach power and copy. If both removable drives are on one cable unplug both and do as above.

Wayyy below

IF narrow flat cable to drive, confirm empty connector on new computer, remove drive and cable and plug into new computer.

If the computer boots from old drive copy all files after removal and reboot everything should go back to normal. If any files don't copy, find out which program uses them terminate the program and copy anyway. If it is windows, don;t worry, those files won't do you any good on your new computer anyway.

Alternatives:
Buy a crossover cat 5 cable and setup a network between the 2 computers, slower, but safer ($20 tops if you get ripped off)

Buy computer migration software, usually comes with cables, again slower but safer. (expensive $80 or more depending on vendor)

Good luck.

PS. Make sure the hard disk does not fall into the computer