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Swapping HDD's (16 posts)

Dallas Connor Posted 3 years, 10 months ago Joined: 12 years, 5 months ago

Hello, I am upgrading my computer and want to know if I can use my HDDs (All except the one with the OS, which I will have to format) in my new system without having to reformat those drives. Thanks

Regards Dallas

Chris Burrage Posted 3 years, 9 months ago Joined: 12 years, 5 months ago

Re: Swapping HDD's

Yes. Provided you have the ports to connect them. If they are IDE, your new system may run SATA disks and have just one (or no) IDE ports. If only one and it has an IDE CD/DVD drive, then that will limit you to one drive only.

In any event, old drives are bad news for long term data storage. Sell the old system and use the cash to buy a new 1 terabyte drive (about $250). Everything you have on the old system and much more will fit on this.

If you are building the system yourself don't install the data drives until after you have set up the new OS, or you risk corrupting the data. Preferably back up everything prior to making changes.

Chris B

ALAN ROSCOE Posted 3 years, 9 months ago Joined: 12 years, 5 months ago

Re: Swapping HDD's

It all depends on whether they're EIDE or SATA drives. There are adapters you can purchase which allow connection of either type of HDD but it's an extra expense.

You didn't say if your other drives were external USB drives or internal. In any event the drives won't have to be reformatted, whether they're formatted FAT32 or NTFS.

Edward O'Grady Posted 3 years, 9 months ago Joined: 12 years, 5 months ago

Re: Swapping HDD's

That depends what is on these disks. If you have personal files not a problem. Applications will need to be reinstalled. Please give more details of what you are trying to achieve.

San Mai Posted 3 years, 9 months ago Joined: 12 years, 5 months ago

Re: Swapping HDD's

The short answer is yes.

The long answer is all programs located on the existing hard drives must be reinstalled for the new Windows to access them Data files such as photos, word docs etc will remain accessible.

Do you really need to format the OS Drive ? Just reinstall Windows on top of the existing directory - refreshing it will be sufficient.

Start windows with safe mode, reinstall all drivers associated with the new Mainboard and graphic card - restart Windows - voila !

Mais

Greg Bartlett Posted 3 years, 9 months ago Joined: 12 years, 5 months ago

Re: Swapping HDD's

Your hard drive can be placed in the new system without reformatting. Use the other as the boot drive and there should be no problems.

Charles Knox Posted 3 years, 9 months ago Joined: 12 years, 5 months ago

Re: Swapping HDD's

Yes, so long as your new motherboard has sufficient ports that suit the drives.

Many (most?) new boards are now coming with only one IDE port, which limits you to only two ATA/IDE drives (older boards normally have two such ports) plus one for each SATA (Serial ATA) port on the board.

This can make life difficult for upgraders, but fortunately new SATA drives are now cheap, and older IDE drives can always be used in an external USB housing for storage.

Bruce Cannon Posted 3 years, 9 months ago Joined: 12 years, 5 months ago

Re: Swapping HDD's

Hi Dallas, yes you can add the old drives to the new system provided that they have compatible connectivity e.g. if IDE, you have enough IDE connections available on the motherboard (similar rules apply for serial ATA connections). Regards Bruce

vikki kerrington Posted 3 years, 9 months ago Joined: 12 years, 5 months ago

Re: Swapping HDD's

As long as the secondary HDDs do NOT have programs installed and only have data, they should work fine.

I use mobile trays that have winxp pro installed on several HDDs and still use the same slave drives without having to do anything to them.

Good Luck

Errol Gray Posted 3 years, 9 months ago Joined: 4 years, 10 months ago

Re: Swapping HDD's

Hi, no need to format any drives unless they have an operating system on them.

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