Moving my HDD

Riley Melgoza

Riley Melgoza

New Member
Hello. I'm new so please don't hate on my stupidity so. I purchased an older Alienware desktop to run some business software that requires good graphics. The guy I bought it from does professional Windows Os installs so the os I nice and other stuff on the boot hhd. Sadly I was expecting to upgrade to windows 10 but I ran into road blocks and found that my Amd Athlon 64 processer and corisponding motherboard were the reason I can't upgrade. So I've been searching for another Alienware case the has a better motherboard and Intel i7(3rd gen) cpu. But my question is will I be able to get take my boot HDD and put it into the new computer. I'm not an expert but shouldn't it just boot the same "computer" but using the new computers components?
 
No it won't boot up because of different hardware. You will need to do a fresh install of windows. If its an OEM license then it won't reactivate.
 
johnb35 said:
No it won't boot up because of different hardware. You will need to do a fresh install of windows. If its an OEM license then it won't reactivate.
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It the os is a legit Windows 7 pro. So I can't just get another key code or something? Or some type of re install or repair install disk that allows for it to boot up.
 
And wouldn't upgrading the motherboard and cpu be the same thing. "Changing the hardware" cuz I don't know a lot but those are a large part of the hard ware. Ps I don't want to question your expertise hair asking questions. So thanks for your response
 
Pro OEM or Pro retail license? If retail then you can move the OS to a different machine. But with motherboard, cpu being different hardware, you would still need to do a fresh install.
 
johnb35 said:
Pro OEM or Pro retail license? If retail then you can move the OS to a different machine. But with motherboard, cpu being different hardware, you would still need to do a fresh install.
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Say I put the Hdd in the new computer and power it on, will it boot, notice the hardware is different and ask for an os install? I'd have to believe it is retail pro, the guy I bought the computer from says he does os and other computer stuff like retrieving lost Hdd data for living. If I had to guess Id say he buys the Oses from Microsoft and installs them. I don't know what you would call that maybe retail
 
Could be OEM as OEM is cheaper then the retail version. When you turn it on, one of either 3 things will happen.

1. Will boot loop due to different hardware installed.
2. Will blue screen due to different hardware installed.
3. Will boot to windows and notice different hardware installed and may freeze up or something else. Problem here is that you are going from AMD to Intel, so option 3 most likely won't happen. So you would be left with either 1 or 2.
 
johnb35 said:
Could be OEM as OEM is cheaper then the retail version. When you turn it on, one of either 3 things will happen.

1. Will boot loop due to different hardware installed.
2. Will blue screen due to different hardware installed.
3. Will boot to windows and notice different hardware installed and may freeze up or something else. Problem here is that you are going from AMD to Intel, so option 3 most likely won't happen. So you would be left with either 1 or 2.
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Will any of these outcomes hurt the computers. Would I be better off buying the better Alienware computer, taking it to a computer store or frys and having them take the motherboard and CPU out of the newer one and into the older ones case. Or will I run into similar problems. As you can tell I'm trying to avoid a new install. I really like the computer I've been running and wish to just move it into a different case so I can get windows 10. Am I better off just sticking with 7. My current graphics aren't bad and I could buy another gpu and run Sli. Just kinda want windows 10:)
 
The only thing you can try doing is while the drive is still attached to the old system, uninstall all motherboard driver software such as sound, chipset, onboard graphics, lan, wireless. Attach the drive to the new motherboard and try booting up. You MAY get lucky and it will boot up, but again not sure since you are going from AMD to Intel. You will most likely have to call the automated phone number to reactivate 7. If its been a while since you have reinstalled 7 fresh you just might was well do it so you get the best performance. Why not add and SSD drive to the mix if you don't have one already?
 
johnb35 said:
The only thing you can try doing is while the drive is still attached to the old system, uninstall all motherboard driver software such as sound, chipset, onboard graphics, lan, wireless. Attach the drive to the new motherboard and try booting up. You MAY get lucky and it will boot up, but again not sure since you are going from AMD to Intel. You will most likely have to call the automated phone number to reactivate 7. If its been a while since you have reinstalled 7 fresh you just might was well do it so you get the best performance. Why not add and SSD drive to the mix if you don't have one already?
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The current computer has a 50gb Hdd with the os and other essentials. Then there is a secondary hard drive that the seller left empty and said that anything that I decide to put on the computer put into that drive because if the boot drive is small and has only the os and some other things the computer will run faster. I don't know if that's what you mean ssd because I'm not familiar with solid state drives and there functions. And I think if I do go forward I will try what you have suggested. Since I plan on upgrading to 10 I think just having it reinstalled instead of fresh is a better idea cuz it will be replaced regardless right?
 
Are you sure there are 2 drives and just not 1 drive with 2 partitions? I bet you have 1 drive with 2 partitions. Note: Reinstall is the same as a fresh install. You could get a 120gb SSD and then use what you have as a storage drive.
 
What reason is it giving you that you cant upgrade to start with? Said you had a Athlon 64. Windows 10 only needs to have a 1ghz processor, 16GB hardrive and a directX 9 video. You said it was CPU and Motherboard related.

Edit:

Did he give you a Windows disk with this computer?
 
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johnb35 said:
Are you sure there are 2 drives and just not 1 drive with 2 partitions? I bet you have 1 drive with 2 partitions. Note: Reinstall is the same as a fresh install. You could get a 120gb SSD and then use what you have as a storage drive.
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Like I said I'm not sure just that there are 2 storage devices one with the is and Microsoft office stuff and an empty 500gb one. Could check later thought. But while I'm here let's assume u are correct in what I have what would be the next solution.
 
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StrangleHold said:
What reason is it giving you that you cant upgrade to start with? Said you had a Athlon 64. Windows 10 only needs to have a 1ghz processor, 16GB hardrive and a directX 9 video. You said it was CPU and Motherboard related
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When trying to upgrade I was told my network driver where no compatible but they work and are compatible. I tried everything and after some research found the back when windows 8.1 rolled out anyone using any Amd Athlon or later Amd processer couldn't get that update ever thought they had windows 8 and then windows came out with a statmens about it. I assume that why I can't get 10. And my mother board is made for Amd Athlon therefore I would need a new cpu and motherboard. That I know:)
 
johnb35 said:
Are you sure there are 2 drives and just not 1 drive with 2 partitions? I bet you have 1 drive with 2 partitions. Note: Reinstall is the same as a fresh install. You could get a 120gb SSD and then use what you have as a storage drive.
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So would I Be able to move the stuff on my primary drive to a ssd and move that from computer 2 computer.
StrangleHold said:
What reason is it giving you that you cant upgrade to start with? Said you had a Athlon 64. Windows 10 only needs to have a 1ghz processor, 16GB hardrive and a directX 9 video. You said it was CPU and Motherboard related.

Edit:

Did he give you a Windows disk with this computer?
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No, but I've used it and it works. Under my computer it says it's good and has service pack one. But I have had trouble with printer and printing things even thought when I plug it in the computer searches and installs the correct drivers. Could I just have a bad os
 
Riley Melgoza said:
Like I said I'm not sure just that there are 2 storage devices one with the is and Microsoft office stuff and an empty 500gb one. Could check later thought. But while I'm here let's assume u are correct in what I have what would be the next solution.
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If you can verify that you actually have 2 physical drives then that means the 60gb drive is pretty old and needs to be updated to something newer. Unless that 60gb drive is an SSD drive, which it could be. But to be safe, I would for sure do a reinstall of windows on the new system. I wouldn't want to take a chance of something screwy happening.
 
johnb35 said:
If you can verify that you actually have 2 physical drives then that means the 60gb drive is pretty old and needs to be updated to something newer. Unless that 60gb drive is an SSD drive, which it could be. But to be safe, I would for sure do a reinstall of windows on the new system. I wouldn't want to take a chance of something screwy happening.
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That might be the case. It might be the original drive because it is an older Alienware. So should just buy another newer used one and cut the one I have as a loss? Well except the gpu and empty hhd
 
In other words, there is no LAN driver for anything above 7? Did you get a Windows DVD with your computer?

The big thing here is if your Windows is a retail or OEM.
 
StrangleHold said:
In other words, there is no LAN driver for anything above 7? Did you get a Windows DVD with your computer?
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Nope. This other gentlemen John and i have discussed the origins of the os. we believe it is oem because the man i bought it from does os installs and hard recovery for a "living". Of course i could have gotten screwed
 
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