[HandleX]

If i pull out a perfectly fine operating system running hard drive out of computer A. And connect it as the only hd in Computer B. Will it work fine, or is there a means as to why it will not work?

I was a little confused by this today, in the past when i have done so. I think it worked some times and then didn't others. I was just looking for an answer/explanation.

[Triple6]

It likely will NOT work as the hardware is different - unless the hardware is identical. If its similar tehn it may boot up and you will just need to install the drivers fromteh new hardware. Windows XP will usually bluescreen if the hard drive controller gets changed on it.

Even Windows 98 would redetect the hardware when it was moved.

You can however get it to work by doing a Repair install of Windows XP, but to move it back to the original system you'd have to do the repair install again.

[kilowatt1]

It depends. The problem with doing as you state is that unless the mother board in the computer you are moving the drive to is exactly like the computer you are moving it from, then you will have conflicts with the mobo drivers that are installed on the hard drive during the initial install of computer "A". In addition, Windows will scream and pitch a fit because other hardware (sound or graphics cards, CD/DVD, modems, etc.) is trying to use drivers that are not correct for them. Now, if the operating system happens to be WinXP then you will have even more difficulties because the authentication process WinXP utilizes will detect different hardware parameters which will cause you to have to do a clean install (or at the very least) a repair install and obtain a new activation code from Microsoft.


Hope this helps.

Kilowatt