I have 2 computers. One which runs Windows XP and the other runs Windows Vista. I want to know if I swapped the harddrive from my Windows XP computer to my Windows Vista computer and the harddrive from Vista to the Xp if I would have XP on my Vista system? This may sound confusing but I cant really explain it any better because I fail at life lol. Anyway the reason I want to do this is because I only have wireless internet (again) and my wireless card is only XP compatible. I want to put it onto my Vista computer because its a beast.
People will tell you it's impossible but I've done something similar. I upgraded a computer with a new motherboard, processor, video card, PSU and RAM without reformatting the hard drive. I just threw in the HD from the old computer with all the new hardware, installed the necessary drivers, and it's still running over 2 years later on the same install of Windows.
However it is likely that you will run into some minor problems as I did (i.e. unusually long OS load time with a black screen for 5 minutes before it gets to the Windows loading bar). Bottom line - yes it's possible, but it is not advisable due to some bad side effects you may (or may not) run into.
However it is likely that you will run into some minor problems as I did (i.e. unusually long OS load time with a black screen for 5 minutes before it gets to the Windows loading bar). Bottom line - yes it's possible, but it is not advisable due to some bad side effects you may (or may not) run into.
Yeah, Spike said it,
It's possible, but not advisable, I doubt either of the Harddrives'll get fried, but Both installs will automatically Unactivate themselves, and they may or may not boot. And if they do, side effects are imminent.
It's possible, but not advisable, I doubt either of the Harddrives'll get fried, but Both installs will automatically Unactivate themselves, and they may or may not boot. And if they do, side effects are imminent.
Let's clarify something. Don't call your computers a XP system of Vista system. For now, call them Hardware A and Hardware B.trex1210 wrote:
Anyway the reason I want to do this is because I only have wireless internet (again) and my wireless card is only XP compatible. I want to put it onto my Vista computer because its a beast.
Hardware A has Vista installed on the hard drive.
Hardware B has XP installed on the hard drive, as well as the XP compatible WNIC.
If you were to swap your hard drives:
Hardware A would have XP installed on the hard drive.
Hardware B would have Vista installed on the hard drive, and an incompatible WNIC.
For your intents and purposes, this would be a waste of time. Get a Vista compatible Wireless Network Interface Card, WNIC.
Ok since its not advisable which I totally understand then what if I just put the hard drive from "HARDWARE B" to "HARDWARE A" (see last post) as a second one. Will I be able to use XP as my main OS and will my "WNIC" work? I have looked for Vista compatible cards and they are about $100-$160 for VISTA 64bit and I well only be using this for about a month or two so in my mind its a waste of $100-$160 for me since I am tight on money. I just need this to work so that I dont have to keep going to my parents house just to use the damn Internet.
Yes. If you want to put the XP hard drive and the WNIC card in Hardware A, the one you've been using with Vista, then you'll be running XP with an XP compatible WNIC on hardware you say is beastly.trex1210 wrote:
Ok since its not advisable which I totally understand then what if I just put the hard drive from "HARDWARE B" to "HARDWARE A" (see last post) as a second one. Will I be able to use XP as my main OS and will my "WNIC" work? I have looked for Vista compatible cards and they are about $100-$160 for VISTA 64bit and I well only be using this for about a month or two so in my mind its a waste of $100-$160 for me since I am tight on money. I just need this to work so that I dont have to keep going to my parents house just to use the damn Internet.
If at all possible, I would recommend just reformatting the Hardware A drive so it has XP instead of Vista, and putting the WNIC in there as well. You wouldn't really have a use for the second one though, so you may some other preferences as to what happens here.
Though, cash permitting, it may be easier to get a Vista WNIC so then both systems have wireless and you don't have to fiddle with swapping hardware and the ensuing driver problems.
Freezer wrote:
In most cases, you can't just swap hard drives like that without some ugly hacks. Both XP and Vista load chipset-specific drivers on boot, and they're not just to go to the control panel and uninstall. I say, just reformat both computers to your desired OS.
I have a laptop wich runs with Vista, but if i try to install Battlefiel2 it says : 'cant install battlefield2, try again from the beginning' at 70% of the installation
i <3 necromancing
(check if your disk is alright, no scratches etc.)
(check if your disk is alright, no scratches etc.)
I did this exact thing, I took my HDD from my old Dell, and figured "What the hell, I'll see if it even boots." It loaded up fine (XP did, Vista would BSOD instantly), so I uninstalled drivers and had everything working.
...But, not that long ago, I was getting BSODs and NVIDIA driver errors (not because of the HDD transfer, but because of my video card), so right now it's on a freshly installed version of Vista--runs perfect.
...But, not that long ago, I was getting BSODs and NVIDIA driver errors (not because of the HDD transfer, but because of my video card), so right now it's on a freshly installed version of Vista--runs perfect.
That was extremely relevant to the topic and wasn't at all an old post.*=]AD[=*Pro_NL wrote:
I have a laptop wich runs with Vista, but if i try to install Battlefiel2 it says : 'cant install battlefield2, try again from the beginning' at 70% of the installation
This thread did take an unusual twist...
I have a question about this HDD swapping also. I know that reformatting would be better, but sometimes if you're in a rush it might be handy to do it this way (eg mobo shat itself so you want to use an old one).
As for the chipset driver issue that Freezer mentioned, would it be possible to get around this by booting from the Windows CDROM and use the repair an installation option to install different drivers? (I've never used that option so I'm not sure what it can and can't do)
I have a question about this HDD swapping also. I know that reformatting would be better, but sometimes if you're in a rush it might be handy to do it this way (eg mobo shat itself so you want to use an old one).
As for the chipset driver issue that Freezer mentioned, would it be possible to get around this by booting from the Windows CDROM and use the repair an installation option to install different drivers? (I've never used that option so I'm not sure what it can and can't do)