I took a drive out of a recently crashed desktop computer which I now want to install in another desktop to access old but important data. How can I add a drive without formatting? I really need the info on this drive.
2006-10-27 08:27:48 · 5 answers · asked by John Doe 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Other - Hardware
Set your primary drive to master if its set to cable select. Set your old drive to slave. Connect the drive and boot up. You should then see it in "My Computer". If the drive isnt mechanically defunct anyway.....
2006-10-27 08:30:29 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You simply need to write down the identification number on the top of the hard drive and when you turn your computer on, follow any instructions to enter BIOS set up. Some computers require you to hold shift during the initial screen, some tell you to hold CTRL, etc. Once you're in set up, find the part where it says you can enter your hardware information. I can't remember the exact wording. When you find it, enter that number where it asks for it. This will tell the computer to recognize the HD. Save all changes and exit.
2006-10-27 15:32:04 · answer #2 · answered by Rockstar 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Make sure you have the old drive set appropriately to be the master or the slave. Your motherboard should recognize it. When you boot up again, the drive should be accessible without you having to format it.
2006-10-27 15:36:32 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you add it as a secondary (slave) drive you should be able to access it providing the file allocation tables are the same as the new machine.
2006-10-27 15:31:01 · answer #4 · answered by Bladerunner (Dave) 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
YOU CAN TRY TO PARTITION THE HARD DRIVE.THAT IS THE FIRST STEP,BEFORE YOU WOULD EVEN FORMAT A HARD DRIVE.
2006-10-27 15:31:11 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋