moving a HD to another computer

[kavern]

I am on holiday now and i took out my HD from a computer so that it can be installed in my another computer at home as most of my work is in the HD. I am using windows xp pro.
Is this possible in windows xp since both computer have different hardware configurations? Will it boot up and run?

Thanks.

[whoops]

I'm not sure XP will be too happy about that as you're only supposed to have it installed on a single system. If you intend to replace the drive in the original computer it came from at a later date, it's probably not going to be a good idea. If, however, you intend to keep it in the second computer, you might be able to register it as an upgrade if the systems are that different and XP complains.

[Paul Komski]

You will need to re-activate the installation since it will be on new hardware; registration is optional.

You will probably need to repair the winxp installation (http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm) so that it is happy with the new hardware; you will need the winxp cd and the product key to achieve this.

And do this all over if you bring the hdd back to where it is now.

[ErnieK]

Whoops
I hope I am not out of line by proposing the following. If I am would a moderator please remove this suggestion.

If this is going to be a temp measure why don't you make a ghost image (or any drive imaging software) of your drive in its original place.

Follow the previous instructions and when HDD re-inserted into original computer just run ghost image to resume normal usage. You could also make ghost image of the drive in your home computer for future use if needed.

By working this way you would only have to follow previous instructions once.

[Fruss Tray Ted]

If you have a working computer at home, consider attaching the work/XP harddrive as slave to the 'home' one. If you have the necessary programs installed onto the master HDD, you should be able to read the data maybe not change it but copy paste to your home pc and work with that. Then what you have altered could be put on cd or floppy and updated at work.

Is the work one in NTFS? If so the home one would need to be also.

Just an idea ;)

[Paul Komski]

I don't see anything particularly wrong with that Ernie as long as you are only using one installation of XP on one computer at any one time - and assuming that is what your EULA states.

There is nothing to stop one from installing winxp from the same CD onto different hardware (without ever imaging anything) and reactivating it - its then between you and microsoft as to whether they activate the second installation or not and to consider what happens when you visit windows update and the like for patches or service packs for both of the installations from the same installation cd with the same cdkey.

I have migrated one installation of WinXP twice onto upgraded motherboards and reactivated that installation twice with no problems. The redundant motherboards were sold off so there was no problem with having two concurrent installations. I still have image files of those old systems - but they are essentially just coasters now.

A similar bit of 'spying' goes on for those who update win2k to sp4 - just read its EULA - though it went up a gear with winxp.

[whoops]

Yes, Paul is entirely correct. 'Re-activate' NOT 'register'.

Sorry.