Transferring hard drive to different laptop

gnolan

I've got a laptop running XP Pro that keeps bluescreening and is unusable at the moment. I also have another laptop with no hard drive in it. I'd like to get the latter up and running to use as my main Windows laptop.

What's the best way to do this while retaining all the information on my hard drive? Thanks.

JonathanAnon

The second laptop more than likely wont boot off the hard drive.. because of the hardware differences.. My first step would be to get an external drive enclosure and back up your information to another PC...

bonzodog2

I think if you have the XP install CD, and install Xp to the disk, in the 2nd laptop, it will create a second XP installation in a new directory(c:\windows.0 IIRC) and will create new profile directories under C:\Documents and Settings, and add an entry to boot.ini.

Obviously back up anything important !

Or you could shrink the c: partition and make a new one to install to.

XP has created these directories for me before, but I haven't tried using the older installation, so its at your own risk !

Firblog

AFTER BACKING UP YOUR DATA

Put the Hard Drive in the 2nd laptop

Boot from Windows XP Pro CD

At first options screen you will be asked if you wish to press r to repair, ignore this and select install, disc will then check if there is any existing version of xp on the drive. If it finds one it should then offer you the option of repairing that install, select this; all your files and programs should be ok, xp will install new files that it requires to boot your machine.

you may need to activate xp again (if 2nd laptop is different manufacturer to 1st you'll need to have xp pro key for that manufacturer)

xp may revert to service pack 2 (depending on your install cd)

You'll prob have to get some drivers

riclad

When instaling xp,use option,USE existing file,format,
ie DO NOT format drive,it,ll make folder,windows old,
your old files will still be there.
I,M assuming theres approx, 4 , to 5gig free space on drive.
Safer to use caddy backup up drivers,and files to a pc first.

FSL

Why is the laptop blue screening? The code on the screen should give you an idea as to whether it's software or hardware related.

If it's because the OS has been corrupted then try repairing it from the CD.

If it's because the drive is faulty then putting it in a different laptop or caddy is not going to make any difference.

Try to boot the laptop from a bootable USB pen drive and check the disk.

gnolan

Sorry for taking ages to get back to this thread.

Regarding the bluescreening, i've tried to figure it out for last couple of years. I'm pretty sure it's a CPU problem. Unfortunately the bluescreen doesn't provide a code and won't dump a bluescreen log. The error message is about NMI PARITY CHECK MEMORY PARITY ERROR. I've tried replacing the RAM, reinstalling the OS, replacing the harddrive. No matter, i'm resigned to losing the laptop, it's around 7 years old at this stage now i think.

I should have mentioned, the laptop that i want to use has been using Vista and has the official product key printed on the underside. So, ideally, i'll be able to find a copy of Vista and use that product key. Is installing onto my hard drive from USB an option?

JonathanAnon

Last couple of YEARS!!!!

If the laptop was in my care I would do the following:
- Backup all of your information. Also take note of what software needs to be reinstalled on the laptop and make sure you have all those CDs.. Once you are sure you have everything you need then this frees you up to do whatever you want with the hard drive and operating system.
- Format the hard drive and reinstall Windows Vista (using the code on the bottom of the laptop).
- See if the problem persists..

This is bypassing the problem, by not attempting to solve the blue screen.. But generally it is a good idea to reinstall the O/S once every year or two, as it helps things run more smoothly and this sounds like a good opportunity..

(Obviously if the problem persists after reinstalling the Operating System, then you will have to take a look at the hardware)

bette

JonathanAnon wrote: »

Last couple of YEARS!!!!

If the laptop was in my care I would do the following:
- Backup all of your information. Also take note of what software needs to be reinstalled on the laptop and make sure you have all those CDs.. Once you are sure you have everything you need then this frees you up to do whatever you want with the hard drive and operating system.
- Format the hard drive and reinstall Windows Vista (using the code on the bottom of the laptop).
- See if the problem persists..

This is bypassing the problem, by not attempting to solve the blue screen.. But generally it is a good idea to reinstall the O/S once every year or two, as it helps things run more smoothly and this sounds like a good opportunity..

(Obviously if the problem persists after reinstalling the Operating System, then you will have to take a look at the hardware)

Laptop 1 = bluescreen
Laptop 2 = no HDD

He cannot do as you suggest.

His best option is to find someone with a caddy or HDD docking and copy all his stuff to another disc. Then he can fool around with either machine

riclad

You could try running a livecd, from the dodgey laptop, eg mint linux, runs from cdr. download imagefile ,burn image to cd,use imgburn or similar program.
IF it runs ok, then your laptop is working ok.get cd version 32bit mint linux.
it runs from cd ,can be used to backup any file, any windows doc, any hardrive.
blue screen could be a virus, try hold f8,reboot, Directory service restore,
Use arrows,up,down, enter to navigate safe mode ,menu.
enter= confirm, select, eg select vga mode, last good configuration.
or just install windows from cd, choose DO NOT FORMAT DISC,in setup,menu.
use existing drive state.