Community Newsletter: Q&A: 9/16/05 Moving your old hard drive to a new computer
- 9/15/05 5:27 PM
Put in portable USB enclocure
by stanishr - 9/16/05 10:24 AM In reply to: Another Idea - Easier Too by TMGBossI aggree with the above and had to do it for another reason. I had a hard drive 'failure'. I installed a new hard drive and it worked out fine withe the recovery CD's reinstalling the system and applications. My wife wanted the data - documents and pictures on the old HD. The recovery services wanted hundreds of dollars to do their recovery tricks. On a whim I bought an external USB HD enclosure (< $40), installed the old HD and recovered most of the information. I then reformatted the drive and recovered most of the 80 GB space for use as a portable drive or backup.
How about for a laptop
by jbs2005 - 9/16/05 1:39 PM In reply to: Another Idea - Easier Too by TMGBossI am interested in this topic because I have a Toshiba satellite laptop with a defective start button. I have been told that I need a new motherboard to fix the computer. What I would like to do is remove the hard drive and either continue to use it outside of the laptop, or at least extract the data and put it on another computer. I can easily remove the drive, but is there such a thing as a "USB enclosure" that will hold this drive?
laptop solution
by sirzak - 9/17/05 9:30 AM In reply to: How about for a laptop by jbs2005Macally PHR-250A
you can get it here for $17:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817146605
This unit is enclosed, gets it's power through the usb connection. Very easy to use.
You may want to look over other models while at this site.
Really very easy!
by Xerp - 9/16/05 7:09 AM In reply to: 9/16/05 Moving your old hard drive to a new computer by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
There isn't enough information in the question for a fully details answer, as requested. First of all, you don't mention the drive type. Is it SATA? SCSI? Parallel ATA? I'm going to assume its a "PATA" drive, as they are the most common.
I'd also forget about "slave" setting - more trouble than its worth. Move the jumper to the "Cable Select" setting and you'll have a better chance of it working first time. Its not a Dell specific thing at all!
Power up and you should see that you just boot off your new hard drive. Great! If not, you can always change the "Boot Priority" in your BIOS - no need to go back in the case.
Forget about the stripe on the cable - you probably won't have one. More likely, the connector will be notched. This means if you try to connect it upside down it simply won't fit. Easy!
Whilst, in theory, there is no harm in just keeping the old drive there there is one caveat - if the old drive was a slower one (e.g. UDMA 66), then it would be better to transfer the data and remove the old drive altogether. Keep it for your backup machine - you'll have enough bits in no time 
Drive Transfer Issues
by trublubush - 9/16/05 7:50 AM In reply to: 9/16/05 Moving your old hard drive to a new computer by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
It's actually a good idea to move your old computer's drive to your new computer. This way you can continue to keep, protect and use your existing data in conjunction with your new setup. However, the transfer should be done on a slave basis only!!!!! Attempting to use your old drive, especially with XP, as the primary boot source can easily cause an OS ''transplant'' shock. Upon the first-boot registry loading, Windows discovers a different set of hardware has replaced it's familiar legacy setup for which there may or may not be compatibility with Window's existing CurrentControl/Services layout. This could cause a Hardware Abstraction Layer breech and the result would be a failed boot-up. There is one more issue here; one for which most do-it-yourselfers are into complete denial! And that is OEM copyright violations. Without going into detail here, transfering an old primary Dell drive, say, into a new HP, to be used as it's primary boot drive is breaking the law! Just because people do it all the time doesn't make it right. Microsoft is and has been fully aware of this practice for some time and has incorporated special OEM manufacturer-use copyright protection features into it's newer operating systems. An XP system modified for Dell knows right away that a bogus implementation attempt has occurred when it's system-embeded copyright modules discover the ******* HP hardware signatures!
You can, however, do a transfer without problems on custom build computers. That's because there is no copyright protections on generic motherboard and hardware build-ups; thus, the new signatures are not examined by the old custom primary drive's OS as to copyright validity.
Again, your old drive should be transfered to the new computer as a slave only unless you're using custom build!
Moving information of my Laptop Hard Drive to a new PC.
by dexter23 - 9/16/05 9:59 AM In reply to: 9/16/05 Moving your old hard drive to a new computer by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have a big problem!. My toshiba Laptop died afew months ago, and until now I have only just decided to try to remove the information off the Toshiba's Hard Drive.
I have binned the Computer but kept the Hard Drive. I was told to buy a small portable USB 2.0 Device (like a small metal box) that incases my Hard Drive. I plug it in to the PC and then drag and drop my files and folders on to my PC.
But now I have just remeberd that I was attacked by Hacker on the last few days of having that Toshiba. He used one of my file and folder protection software as well as my ZoneAlarm Firewall to attack me with.
He or She changed my passwords to prevent me from moving my files and folders off the comptuter, meaning they could take what ever they want at any time, and I could do nothing to stop them everytime I went on line.
Now I can not drag the information off the hard drive because of this problem..a small box comes up saying access denied.you do not have permission to access these files. I do remeber trying to uninstall the software that was affected but it would not work, so i deleted the software manualy..then making things much worse.
I need to know a way to drag those files and folders off and to put them on to my new PC,and to be able to open them again. Is there any software I could try or any deep down manual way like DOS that I can get to those files and folders?. Both Computers run on Windows XP Pro.
Many thanks if anyone can help me with this.
PS.Please keep it simple if you do :o) thanks.
Move HD with Win Me
by Patience9 - 9/16/05 10:22 AM In reply to: 9/16/05 Moving your old hard drive to a new computer by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have a dell computer which was never se6 up for usb (so can't use external HD and I want to add a second HD for my data. How do I do it with WinMe. I tried putting it in (as master and slave)and it didn't see the drive???
Not a Win ME Issue
by blues-harp - 9/16/05 11:56 AM In reply to: Move HD with Win Me by Patience9I know this may not help much, but your problem is purely at the hardware/BIOS level - it has nothing to do with Widnows ME or any operating system, for that matter. If you know how to get into the BIOS setup on your PC, my guess would be that the primary disk controller is configured so that the primary slave device is not enabled. The terminology may be different, but if you're sure the second disk drive has power (can you hear it spining?), and that the ribbon cable is attached properly (is it fully seated with the red stripe facing the power connector?), then I'd definitely get into the BIOS setup and check the IDE configuration settings.
But, but, but, but, but ...
by blues-harp - 9/16/05 12:11 PM In reply to: 9/16/05 Moving your old hard drive to a new computer by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I don't understand how so many helpful people attempted to answer "Ken J"'s question. when nearly all the information needed to answer it properly was omitted. Mr. Koo, you done us wrong. As an editor, it would have been far more productive to first inquire of Mr. "J" (1) the make, model, and age of both his old and new PC(so we don't have to conjecture about SATA, available IDE ports and drive bays, etc.), and (2) his reasons for wanting to relocate the old hard disk (extra space, transferring old files, both, neither). Withough this information all the responses were wild - if helpful and well-meaning - guesses, and may well have been useless, misleading, or off-topic. As an editor, I would expect you to think more carefully about these things.
I agree 100000000%
by mmccrea - 9/17/05 12:49 PM In reply to: But, but, but, but, but ... by blues-harpI have never seen so many answers that were all over the place, how confusing for new users trying to learn something... I really think there should be much more order to these posts, everybody means well, but in actual fact most of this was really not good advice.
Planted Q&A, IMO
by funkid7 - 9/19/05 7:23 AM In reply to: But, but, but, but, but ... by blues-harpTHis is a possible planted question, as the wording of it hints too. You may also notice it drummed up tons of response, due to it's vague yet serious content. Ken J., has also failed to reappear, in response to the responses. Just My guess.
more on moving your hard drive
by charlieworton - 9/16/05 2:44 PM In reply to: 9/16/05 Moving your old hard drive to a new computer by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hi, everyone! Some wonderful comments and questions.
One of the responses suggested leaving the computer power supply plugged in, in order to eliminate concerns about static discharge. I think this is a really bad idea. Here's why: starting around 1998, the industry moved from the AT power supply to the current ATX. With the ATX power supply, the motherboard is powered up at all times; many motherboards even have a bright green LED mounted right on the board, for the sole purpose of letting the tech know there's still power applied to the board. If you work on a board in this state, there is every possibility that you'll damage it beyond repair. Doing something as simple as plugging in an IDE cable can damage either the controller on the motherboard, or the logic circuitry on the hard drive. It's a really, really bad idea.
But the original concern is valid; for static can also damage a board. So, what should we do?
First, remember there is no such thing as 'absolute' ground; everything is relative. For example, if you have a potential charge of a billion volts in your body but the computer also has the same charge, there will be no static discharge when you touch it, and no damage done. So, the real goal is to get your body to the same ground level that the computer is at, and keep it there. Here's how: First, with the power plug still attached, touch any metal part on the computer. You are now grounded through the computer, power supply, and power cord, and have exactly the same potential voltage as the motherboard. Now, unplug the power cord, and commence to work on the computer. Unless you're wearing silk robes while you work on the computer, you're not going to generate any significant static voltage, and all will be well. Any small amounts of static that you generate will be well absorbed by the metal case, and will do no damage to the components. If you insist on wearing silk robes, periodically grasp the computer metal frame in one hand, and with your other hand touch the little metal screw that holds the plug receptacle cover on (It's right in the middle of the plug cover, on the wall). This screw is connected to the plug box, and the plug box must - by code - be part of the ground system. By doing this, you will periodically be bringing both yourself and the computer to the same electrical potential level as the ground system.
Personally, I'd just ditch the silk robes. But, that's just me...
Re transferring all your old computer programs and data onto the new machine: Data is easily moved, but programs are not. Here's why: when you install a program, the installer module examines your machine and determines what modules need to be installed, based on the specific hardware you have. Those modules are then installed, and unnecessary modules are left on the original installation software.
However, your new machine will be quite different from your old machine; and the net result is that the programs will simply not work well in the new environment, because they're not intended to work with the new hardware configuration.
There's another problem, and that has to do with the windows registry. The programs, when they were installed, made hundreds of entries into the windows registry; and all of those registry entries would have to be re-entered on the new machine. But how? For there is no record kept of what changes were made by a particular installer. You can import a windows registry, the whole thing, in one great big lump; but if you do, you will almost certainly kill the machine. I REALLY do not recommend this.
So, the sad situation is that the simplest way to solve the problem, is to re-install the program(s) on the new machine, from the original installation disks. Data, on the other hand, you can just copy and paste. But programs must be re-installed from scratch.
Re upgrade versus full install operating system disks: I've never been happy with the Microsoft upgrade approach. There are just too many things that can go wrong, and they do, and they result in exactly the problems you describe: flaky, unreliable operation. For this reason, I purchase OEM versions of the operating systems. These sell for about half the price of the full retail version, and they give you the full retail version, but with NO tech support from Microsoft. You are officially on your own. You can purchase OEM software from most dedicated computer stores. However, the store may be required to sell the software only with a hardware purchase, depending on the relationship that the store has with Microsoft. With some stores, a hardware purchase means a new computer; with others, it means a mousepad. Shop around, but make sure that you're getting legitimate Microsoft software - not pirate or counterfeit - and that you're buying and using it in accordance with the license agreement. However, I would always avoid the 'upgrade' packages. I've never seen them work well, and for something as critical as the operating system, you need the very best.
I hope that answers some of the questions out there - take care,everyone, and have a great weekend!
Best wishes,
Charles Worton, MCSE, A+
Constelar Computational
No need to move the hard drive over
by oxtail01 - 9/16/05 4:04 PM In reply to: 9/16/05 Moving your old hard drive to a new computer by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Buy an external hard drive enclosure that's sold for about $30 to $40. Put your old drive in it and you have an external drive that can be used on any XP computer without configuring anything as XP will immediately recognize it.
using old drive externally
by sirzak - 9/16/05 4:40 PM In reply to: 9/16/05 Moving your old hard drive to a new computer by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Those that suggested using your old drive externally to move data is an excellent method. I hook up using USB2 as you probably will also.
A word of advice. Your old drive has in it's boot record ( assuming it was C: )info that tells your pc IT is the main operating system. Under WinXP, if you have this drive connected when firing up, it will try to use the external drive as the main drive (usb connects first)& you will receive an error screen. The solution is easy, don't turn the power switch on ( or plug in) the external drive until your new operating system is up & running. It is also a good idea to turn it off when done, or unplug it after windows shuts down ( this will prevent you from encountering the same problem when firing up & have forgotten that your external is pugged in or turned on).
If your old drive was a secondary drive it would not be a problem as the boot record would know it is not the main drive.
Sirzak
Not quite clear on how that works
by bucksguy14 - 9/17/05 5:40 AM In reply to: using old drive externally by sirzakI have a "dead as a doornail" laptop with info on the hard drive that I'd like to retrieve for my new laptop. I'm running XP and, if I could hook the old "C" drive up externally and transfer the info to my new laptop that would be great. Is it possible to do and if so, how is it accomplished?
| Forum legend: | |
 |
Locked thread |
 |
Moderator |
 |
CNET staff |
 |
Samsung staff |
 |
Norton Authorized Support team |
 |
AVG staff |
 |
Windows Outreach team |
 |
Dell staff |
 |
Intel staff |
