Can I do this?

PinkPunisher

PinkPunisher

New Member
Hi there,

I'm building myself a new computer as my laptop died on me. My question is, is it possible for me to just take my 2.5" HDD from the laptop and use that as the HDD for the new computer? Would I need to purchase a new copy of Windows, or would Windows still work? If I can do this, do I need power adapters or anything like that? Also would I need to format it or anything like that?

Regards!:)
 
You would need a new copy of windows. If you tried booting up it would bluescreen or do a boot loop because of it being a different computer. You wouldn't be able to reactivate an OEM copy of windows on a new build.
 
So in short, I would need to wipe the drive and install a new copy of Windows on it to even be able to use it in the new pc?
 
If you are using laptop HDD in a big desktop PC,you will need the following:

-power IDE or SATA cable (depending on the HDD interface type)
-data IDE or SATA cable (depending on the HDD interface type)

Some desktop computers's power supplies already have power SATA cables so you can use those if your power unit/supply has them.

Also it doesn't matter if your laptop HDD interface type is IDE or SATA.You can always get the converter for both interface types and it will work in any desktop computer.

As for the operating system,it will not work and you will need to reinstall it because drivers,registry,configuration data files and everything else is made for completely different hardware (your laptop) and as your PC has different hardware,it will not work.
Of course there are ways to make it work great without reinstalling anything,but some of the steps are too complicated and some of them simply break this forum rules so unforcenately I cannot tell you how to do it.



Cheers!
 
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