Swap HDD to new PC

Dolby

Dolby

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As I mentioned in another thread, my PC just died so I'm looking for a cheapy ... I've found matrix have a pre build i5 for 3899 or something - but the guy said I can remove the RAM and HDD making it about R3000.00 for the box.

Am I able to simply unplug the HDD from my old and plug it in the new PC? Someone said it won't work due to drivers and ID being for the old?
 
Windows will look for the previous motherboard, try to install drivers for the current board and then will probably crash with a blue screen about you having "recently made a hardware change". Even if it doesn't crash, you most probably have to activate Windows again.

The only other option I know of is to reset the Hardware Abstraction Layer, the bit in windows that is unique to you hardware, back to default so that Windows thinks its being started for the first time on a new machine. Here's a link explaining more:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/249694


Best way would be to backup important files, wipe the drive and install Windows from scratch.
 
You'll just pull your hair out every time you turn on that PC. Like vino says its best to just backup and reinstall
 
Dolby said:
As I mentioned in another thread, my PC just died so I'm looking for a cheapy ... I've found matrix have a pre build i5 for 3899 or something - but the guy said I can remove the RAM and HDD making it about R3000.00 for the box.

Am I able to simply unplug the HDD from my old and plug it in the new PC? Someone said it won't work due to drivers and ID being for the old?
Click to expand...

Why would you remove RAM?

Have you looked at one of these:

http://www.pcint.co.za/pcs.php
 
Just plug it in. I've done it a few times and you just have to install all the new drivers and reactivate Windows the first time you start it up. If that doesn't work, then format it and reinstall everything, but like I said, I have never had a problem just plugging it in.
 
Just got myself Windows 8 System Builder under the personal use license, and want to do this at the end of the month. Hope it works.

The license says I can do it but need to remove the OS from the old system. But fails to explain exactly what they mean by remove
 
I'd never recommend doing this. You'll run into problems I rate. With a new PC I ALWAYS reinstall Windows. Hell, I reinstall Windows every 2 months anyways.
 
AlmightyBender said:
Just got myself Windows 8 System Builder under the personal use license, and want to do this at the end of the month. Hope it works.

The license says I can do it but need to remove the OS from the old system. But fails to explain exactly what they mean by remove
Click to expand...

They mean deactivate Windows first. Since its one license, you can't have it running on two machines at the same time.
 
To deactivate Windows 8, press Windows key+R and type in slmgr.vbs /rearm

This will only work if Windows was activated in the first place.
 
I think I'll go with the Esquire version ... R3988.86

i5 3570 3.4ghz
4GB DDR3
1TB HDD
450w PSU

I'll upgrade to 8GB and install Windows 7 on that drive ... so won't need to swop out the HDD
 
Dolby said:
I think I'll go with the Esquire version ... R3988.86

i5 3570 3.4ghz
4GB DDR3
1TB HDD
450w PSU

I'll upgrade to 8GB and install Windows 7 on that drive ... so won't need to swop out the HDD
Click to expand...

Where did you see this special? I am looking on the website but can't seem to see it? Or was it a mailer special?
 
The e-catalogue works for me. Here's a screenshot of that PC:

8a56fd705109adac27d0c52de5c4ecbf.jpg
 
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