I have two laptops, one with Windows XP home and the other with Pro. I want the bigger hard drive in the machine i use more. Can I just switch the two or will windows have problem with this? i know i will have driver problems, but that i can solve with time.
2006-09-04 10:09:39 · 10 answers · asked by goat_the_snail 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Laptops & Notebooks
Windows won't allow it because the hardware will have changed from its perspective. It will want a new license key if you do this. You can try calling Microsoft and see if you can convince them to give you a new one if you really wanted to do this. However, I do not recommend doing so, it will end up being more pain than it is worth.
2006-09-04 10:13:45 · answer #1 · answered by conradj213 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The best thing to do is try to boot the new drive with safe mode first, remove the drivers from the previous computer setup in device manager, then reboot and windows will find most of the drivers for the new laptop setup. The only thing you may run into is an activation problem, though this isn't always true. It depends on what type of copy of windows you have. I've noticed not all windows will try to look for a activation. You could also de-activate windows activation process, and never have to worry about that again.
2006-09-04 10:22:52 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe you can. When the hard drive gets into the new computer, it will have to detect any differences in hardware. Most of the time it can do that just fine. But not always.
Also, should Windows crash and you have to reinstall it, you may run into activation problems. The serial number will not like the hard drive being in a different computer.
2006-09-04 10:18:50 · answer #3 · answered by dewcoons 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It wont work , the hardware is deferment, all the drivers are deferment
but you could try this start in a safe mode go to drive manager disable the processor driver the video driver and exit then boot up normally see what will happen.
2006-09-04 10:33:16 · answer #4 · answered by Adnan Sallam 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
From experience, i've only been able to this on machines running XP Pro Corporate, any other version either hangs when booting, or requires activation.
2006-09-04 13:34:43 · answer #5 · answered by Ian B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the OS can only be used on one motherboard.you can use the drive as a data storage between two machines just cant use the OS
2006-09-04 11:01:44 · answer #6 · answered by WowCrafter 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you could substitute the difficult drives AND the information would be intact however the structures won't boot wisely using fact the CPU's would be distinctive the GUID would be distinctive etc. To lead them to run you will could desire to re-set up the OS with the hardware in place.
2016-10-01 07:40:33 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
physically is possible, but ...
1. without reinstalling xp - if they have the same motherboard
2. with reinstalling xp - if they have different motherboards
note : some hard drivers (HDDs) are on SATA, SATA II or normal
2006-09-04 10:21:24 · answer #8 · answered by dANNDy 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
use a Usb drive to transport files, it's the easiest way
2006-09-04 10:16:05 · answer #9 · answered by Unbekümmert 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you can but you cant, if you do it Microsoft will require you to do an activation of the os, if you own both copies then dont worry about it, but if you dont then worry
2006-09-04 10:14:25 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋