Transferring WinXP to new HD?

T

TheOrteganator

New Member
I currently have an IDE hard drive, but plan on upgrading my motherboard and processor soon to make my current computer moderately powerful until I build a complete new one in a few months.

Since it will be a new motherboard, it will have SATA capability. I would like to get a new hard drive to have more storage space and the better SATA connection, but I have no WinXP disc. The computer was purchased new with XP already on it, but it came with no disc. Is there a way to simply transfer XP over. I'm willing to lose the other data, but I just need to transfer the OS. Can this be done? Thanks.
 
This will cause a lot of problems because of the different Hardware, I strongly recommend to reinstall windows on the new hardware.
 
TheOrteganator said:
I currently have an IDE hard drive, but plan on upgrading my motherboard and processor soon to make my current computer moderately powerful until I build a complete new one in a few months.

Since it will be a new motherboard, it will have SATA capability. I would like to get a new hard drive to have more storage space and the better SATA connection, but I have no WinXP disc. The computer was purchased new with XP already on it, but it came with no disc. Is there a way to simply transfer XP over. I'm willing to lose the other data, but I just need to transfer the OS. Can this be done? Thanks.
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Unfortunately without the restore CD's you will have a problem. You would actually need to buy the discs.

If the computer you previous owns had XP on it, and there is no recovery disc, you have to buy the CD in order to install the OS.

If your new motherboard has the same chip set on it, and the only thing really new is the SATA connectors - you can plug the existing drive into the system without using S-ATA and it would work. But, to put it unto the new S-ATA drive, you will need the discs I'm afraid.
 
Alright, thanks anyway. I guess I'll just have to spend a little money buying XP again.

My uncle has mentioned before some way of burning a recovery disc off of the computer. Is that possible?
 
Xp

TheOrteganator said:
Alright, thanks anyway. I guess I'll just have to spend a little money buying XP again.

My uncle has mentioned before some way of burning a recovery disc off of the computer. Is that possible?
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If the recovery is on the hard drive, you probably can... but unfortunately there are two factors that may push against you...

The first: The recovery may only work if the drive is bootable in the system it's suppose to work with. If you can boot from that drive, and install the recovery unto the new drive... it may.

And second: Usually the recovery files are geared to work with that particular computer in questioned. If it's an HP/COMPAQ.Toshiba/SONY etc... it is only designed to work with that machine. Being, the drivers, the chip set in questioned. Things like that.

I have software for sale here: http://buyitpc.com/osc/index.php/cPath/2_166
and if you only want a know about getting XP (I can help you if you PM me! ONLY!)
 
Yes, you can use something like Norton Ghost for that.
It takes an image of your hard disk and you can restore it anytime.
 
Recovery disk woudlnt matter becuase you will have a new mobo and hardware the hdd you have not wont work and will have lots of errors.
 
First of all the cloning method can only be used on identical drives and systems. Second XP was designed to wrap itself around the hardwares on the current machine. You need a partitioning tool along with an installation disk capable of a full install of a fresh copy of Windows on a new drive alone being of a different type and size. The only time cloning works is for temp use. The XP installer also loves a fresh partition to go on. Answer? Buy a full version OEM and you then have a Windows installation cd. problem solved.
 
PC eye said:
First of all the cloning method can only be used on identical drives and systems. Second XP was designed to wrap itself around the hardwares on the current machine. You need a partitioning tool along with an installation disk capable of a full install of a fresh copy of Windows on a new drive alone being of a different type and size. The only time cloning works is for temp use. The XP installer also loves a fresh partition to go on. Answer? Buy a full version OEM and you then have a Windows installation cd. problem solved.
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Exactly!

Let me know if I can be of any assistance to you?
 
mattsprattuk said:
do you have friends with PC's?
borrow theirs
(its allowed because he's using the same license)
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Hey a good point. Use a friend, a neighbors...

If you have the product key, that should do it! Just register it again, if you have to call them... tell them the system crashed and you needed to replace some components... they'll be alright with it.

All you need is the media if you can find it. If not, let me know. I'll see what I can do help you.
 
OK, I do have a friend's disc that I can borrow. It's from a completely different computer, but is an identical version of XP (XP Home SP2). So if I just use that with my serial number that's on the sticker on my case, it will work?
 
TheOrteganator said:
OK, I do have a friend's disc that I can borrow. It's from a completely different computer, but is an identical version of XP (XP Home SP2). So if I just use that with my serial number that's on the sticker on my case, it will work?
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Should... give it a try. The number is to allow you to install the software. It's the registration that might give you some trouble.

Go for it!
 
what brand is the computer? you might be able to goto the manufacturers site and order recovery discs to restore the pc to how it was when you first bought it.

i've had no trouble in the past by copying an os over manually. open both drives in My Computer, turn on 'show hidden files and folders' and disable 'Hide protected operating system files'. then, from the C drive, highlight EVERYTHING and drag it over to the new drive. it'll take a few hours, but it works just as well as any other copying method if you get every file.

or, you can use the motherboard upgrade as an excuse to upgrade to Vista :P
 
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