Thread: Two Computers

Here's the situation: we have two computers in the same room. One of them my sister's, the other is mine. My sister's computer is far superior to mine and I want to know whether I can switch the Hard drive from my inferior computer to the better one and vice versa. Both computers are running XP and are connected to the same internet connection.

1) Is it possible?
2) Will I lose any information if I switch them?
3) Will I have to install anything again?
4) If someone knows how to do it will they give me clear instructions?

1) Is it possible?

Yes

2) Will I lose any information if I switch them?

Probably not (see 4.)

3) Will I have to install anything again?

Probably not (see 4.)

4) If someone knows how to do it will they give me clear instructions?

Make sure you have an XP installation CD to hand (you'll need it)
swap the drives over

boot up either machine and they'll blue screen on you
as they have different components (hard disk - of course, but also motherboard, graphics, sound, processor, etc. - basically everything will be different) and so won't work at all

boot up with the XP installation CD into the recovery mode (or repair mode, or whatever it's called)
from here XP should scan your hardware, make any changes and reboot

Do this with both machines

if all works OK, you'll have 2 working machines with the disks swapped over

You may have to reactivate both XP's as well
maybe - don't know - be prepared to do so in any case

Re: The need to reinstall applications

95% of software will work fine
but some apps (high end stuff, usually) won't
as they record hashes of your hardware and send them to the company to prevent piracy
different hash = different hardware = pirate copy = cripple software

I'm talking about things like CAD packages, 3D modelling, proprietary server apps, that sort of thing
it's probably not an issue at all, but just thought I'd mention it

What do you mean by reactivate?

Originally Posted by goldney

What do you mean by reactivate?

XP may put you back on the 60-day trial
as the hardware will have changed (see above Re: hardware hashes)
so you may have to reactivate XP over the net

And how would I reactivate?

Originally Posted by goldney

And how would I reactivate?

it'll guide you through it, but essentially
goto windows update, click the button, and pray it likes you