Would it be possible for me to take my current slave drive, make it the master drive, install XP onto it, and then use my current master drive as slave and run programs and games from it? or would I get a bunch of error messages?
what i mean is, if i just switched the master and slave position of my current harddrives (and installed XP on my slave as new master), could i use my CURRENT master as slave and would the program's on it still run?
2007-12-03 23:59:05 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Other - Hardware
Umm, no. You can't switch master/slave and expect the programs to function exactly the same. The original harddrive is set master for a reason. All programs and how Win XP runs points to the master drive. You can, however, install programs on your slave drive and run them there, providing that you have enough space on your master for some essential pieces of the software that must be on the master.
XR
2007-12-04 00:13:04 · answer #1 · answered by XReader 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sure, you can swap the two drives by just switching the wide grey ide cable iside the case. The last plug is the master, The little jumpers on the HDD next to the power plug need to be on the CS pins for cable select.
The technical answer is your programs on the slave won't work, but actually half or more will!Some will look for installed components on your new C: and not find them. Nothing bad will happen, it just won't run. You can
(re)install programs onto the new slave when you run install from the new c: master. That directs the program to look on the new d: slave and it will run.
BTW there are programs that allow you to 'move' programs over to another drive. They copy all the parts needed and basically reinstall them in the new location.
Make sure the PC is unplugged when you mess with HDD wires. A spark can fry the hard drive!
PS- Why make the swap?
2007-12-04 08:21:14 · answer #2 · answered by Jo s 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can swap the drive, make sure that you change the jumper on the drive when you do that.
Many programs on your current master drive need to be reinstalled to make them work unless you know how to transfer and modify the registry after swapping. All links and icons to the programs will also be gone after you install the new xp.
2007-12-04 08:12:59 · answer #3 · answered by Por 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sure. I put Xp on one drive and left 95 on the other. Strapped them appropriately for which one I wanted as the master and slave. Then depending on which OS I need I interrupt the boot up to the master and force it to go over to the slave.
Just get the owner manuals for the hard drives so you strap them correctly. That is the only way I could see you having problems.
But one thing. I don't try to access the non-booted drive. If I need that drive then I re-boot and force it to boot up. I didn't want to risk it.
2007-12-04 08:10:33 · answer #4 · answered by Dawn 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you can do the swop, and install the OS..
No, The installed applications on the other hard drive will not just work unfortunately ... The applications will need to be reinstalled on the new copy of windows so that it can create the necessary registry keys, etc ...
Just be careful not to format the wrong drive :)
2007-12-04 08:12:53 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes sir... very possible to do the way you've stated. As mentioned above; check the manufacture website to configure the jumpers appropriately.
Good luck.
2007-12-04 08:08:34 · answer #6 · answered by runFunning 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
just set the jumper accordingly
2007-12-04 08:06:39 · answer #7 · answered by deqwanbiz 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋