Should I just transfer files from my old hard drive or try to install it as a second hard drive?

Question

My old computer (an HP) quit working and I got a new one (a Dell). There are a lot of files and programs on the old one I really want. What's the easiest way for an electronic clutz to go? (And if you answer, speak plain English.)

Answer 1

Its pretty easy to just add it to your new puter... Should be a "plug and go deal...

BUT !!! when you get the old one out look for jumpers.. You may have a row of pins with a jumper across them.. It will say on the drive what jumper setting you need to set that drive as a "SLAVE DRIVE"..

For mine all I had to do was remove the jumper.. Worked great...

Good Luck

Answer 2

You cannot use the programs, but you can retrieve the data.

You will either have to install the hard drive as a second hard drive, or buy an adapter to use it as a remote (removable) hard drive.

The primary consideration when using it as either is the jumpering. Hard drives usually have a jumper (or two) to tell the computer it is a master (primary) or slave (secondary).

If you jumper it correctly, installation as a second hard drive should be easily accomplished with nothing more than a screwdriver.

Be cautioned that not all hard drives are compatible with each other, but most are.

And, as a minor issue, if the bus speeds are different, they will operate at the slower speed. But, you probably won't notice the difference.

Good luck.

Answer 3

I have found it easier to install it as a second drive

then you can transfer files at your leisure and even have duplicates of critical files

then, if one drive fails, you replace it and you still have continuity

the installing of a second drive is pretty straightforward

last time I did it I bought a drive at walmart and the instructions that came with it were sufficient

their are websites that will also provide installation instruction (including the Dell site)

of course, if the failure on your first computer was related to your hard drive, then its probably all hopeless

Answer 4

The loose way: get rid of the old hardchronic, put in the hot one, boot off you homestead windows CD and enable it installation homestead windows on the hot hardchronic. Then positioned the old hardchronic in as a 2d hardchronic (plug it in quite than your CDchronic). Boot the computer and also you'll take care of to work out both not easy drives. reproduction the information you want. The no longer loose way: purchase a disk cloning application like Norton Ghost orchronic image. installation this technique on your contemporary hardchronic. installation the hot hardchronic as a 2ndchronic (plug it in quite than your CDchronic). Run the cloning application and it's going to stroll you by ability of making an exact reproduction of the old hardchronic (homestead windows, classes, information, song, pictures, etc) on to the hot hardchronic. replace the old hardchronic with the hot hardchronic and also you're performed. (word: only copying each and every thing from the oldchronic to the newchronic gained't artwork. homestead windows can no longer reproduction itself to the newchronic, and it gained't reproduction boot sector and different start up coaching. So the newchronic does no longer boot)

Answer 5

If you are an electronic klutz you might want to get yourself some help with this one.

It is not hard to take the disk out of the old computer, but it may not be simple to put it in the new one. There has to be a place to put it, and the cable types may be different.

There is a gizmo you can buy to externally connect a disk via a USB port, That would be good enough to get your stuff off.

Answer 6

You cannot put or transfer programs from one computer to another...they have to be reinstalled.
Your data on the other hand is another story.
I would install the hard drive as secondary and copy to new drive.
Then remove the drive you probably don't need the extra storage.

Answer 7

I have installed an old HD as second HD. It is not easy, because config is usually different on a different machine, but it is possible to boot to either one by changing BIOS settings.

And, with it as second HD, you can at your leisure move any files to the new HD. it is really easy to think you have all your files moved, then discover to your dismay that you can't find a rarely used but important URL in your bookmarks, and that HD is gone.

Also, if you tend to run out of HD, any unused space on second HD is available for storage.

Answer 8

Either way, you will still have to hook it up and install it on your new Dell.

It really depends on whether you need the extra diskspace, or whether you just want things to be together one a single hard disk...

If you transfer your stuff over from the old hard drive, you'll have a spare hard disk which you can probably sell for a bit of money. :)

Answer 9

The best thing to do would be to install it as a slave but remember if there are programs installed on it some will not work but you will have access to all the files.