Possible to install old HDD and boot from it in different laptop?

I wasn't able to back up my old laptop HDD. So I am thinking to stick into my new laptop and boot from it to back up data and uninstall/deregister programs and windows itself.

Would this work and if it does could/will it damage the new computer due to different hardware etc

Thanks

 

If Windows 7 was installed on your old laptop it may work. It depends what type of disk it is. If the the old and new laptop use the same interface, AHCI or IDE, than there's a great chance.
Another option is, buy a cheap external USB2 enclosure, put the HDD in and save your data.
Why do you want to deregister/uninstall?

 

Why not just stick it into your new laptop and keep using it? I've done this with the SSD I have since 2009 and it's been through 3-4 different laptops. Just reactivate Windows.

 

I could see driver issues arise if you do not boot into safe mode. Aside from that,you should be able to do it. Considering that 2.5" SATA enclosures (if your drive is SATA) are dirt cheap, why not get one and transfer the data that way. You'll even have a backup drive for the new one. I'm pretty sure IDE enclosures cans till be found too.

 

Unless it is Vista/7 I do not recommend it. Most of the time XP will not boot. If you are lucky it will BSOD. In any case I recommend a fresh install as Windows could still be unstable.

 

What is it you really want/need to do with your old drive? Clearly you want to recover data.

But is it really necessary to leave the OS load on the drive in a bootable condition? Or could you simply wipe the drive after you capture your data?

 

The drive is a Hitachi 7k500 500GB. It is sata II both laptops use sata but the asus c90p ran in IDE mode and I guess the clevo in my sig runs AHCI. Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit is installed

I don't want to leave it bootable. Preferably I want to back up a little data (just a little music) everthing else is already backed up. Also I want to deregister and uninstall, AVG, powerdvd 10 and anydvd so that when I re-install them later on the new computer the license keys will work immediately. I had issues once before and had to ring some hotline to tell them I was running on a new HDD and that I owned the licenses...

Then I want to deactivate windows and wipe the HDD completely so I can sell both the HDD and windows separately.

If windows will work no problem and driver issues are not apparent then I see no problem continuing on with the hitachi. There isn't much difference between the 7k500 and the XT anyways. Also I always kept a very clean and tidy ship with the HDD practically empty.


So if it boots and the driver issues are manageable (I can uninstall incompatible + unnessary drivers and then clean the registry) I might just save myself the trouble of a re-install!

What do people think best....
1.) Back up, deregister/uninstall and wipe HDD and then install Momentus XT and install Windows ultimate (or do same with Hitachi)
2.)Keep Hitachi and don't wipe just clean up etc don't bother upgrading to 7 ultimate..

 

New computer, new windows 7 install. Backup, wipe and install, i'd use the momentus for the Clevo and use the hitachi in the 2nd drive bay (if you have one) or put in an enclosure to use as an external. If yo want to sell it, go ahead though, especially with the HDD prices right now.

 

You think the XT is better than the Hitachi. I can't test yet as the laptop is still in the post lol but I read the XT can be noisy and vibrate. Is this true?

I don't think the Clevo has 2 drive bays as it is only 15.6". There isn't enough space. The optical drive I need for bluray use. So it is either XT or 7k500..

I use 2TB externals as backup drives so I have no use for a 500GB notebook drive on the side.

 

anyone who works on their own machines should really have a USB adapter cable to connect to hard drives. Cost is about $30-, connects up to desktop/laptop PATA and has a SATA port as well. Includes a power supply for the drives too.

 

Indeed, i have one and it works like a charm. does IDE, laptop IDE and SATA + supplies external power to the drive. It came in handy when my old M40 died on my this summer.

 

Well peeps. I booted with the hitachi and it worked fine. Going to back up my data this evening I made a mistake on the HDD it is a seagate momentus 7200.4 I think I will certainly use the Hitachi instead.