Using same harddisk with same Windows install in new PC?

I have two computers... They are very alike, possibly only difference is the GPU (9600M & 9650M) and CPU (P8400 and P9600), rest of differences being things on the outside.

Since im a lazy one and i got school coming up, i would very much like avoiding having to format my harddisk when i get the new pc back from repairs..

Do anyone here have any experience with just putting harddisk into new PC without formatting? How well does Windows 7 cope with that?

 

I have done it 2x and it worked fine. Just did it with my old M17x and swapped to my new M17x. Same setup-different GPU and CPU. No problems. Just had to update the drivers.

I have done it on a few (like 2) older models with XP and had problems, but they were completely different. Seems to me it should work.

 

Yeah, i think XP handled it worse too.. But good to know, thanks!

 

window 7 will detect you changed it from a system to an other and will reinstall driver and require to reactivate

win XP will result in a BSOD fest

i haven't tested yet with vista

 

I would imagine Vista was something alike 7.

 

Well if it's anything like doing it on a desktop, changing motherboards and attempting to keep the same OS will result in a BSOD every time you try to boot. At least that's what happened to me, twice, on Windows 7.

 

I'm assuming that was on a desktop? If you're not actually changing motherboards, just replacing identical ones, you won't have any issues. What it sounds like the OP will run into is possibly some weirdness with the GPU drivers, but that's about it. He likely will have to re-activate because it hashes the serial numbers and such to identify hardware for authentication, but there should be no problem booting from the repaired machine as long as he has the BIOS settings the exact same between the two.

 

Agreed. What I have done in the past when there was a possibility of GPU issue is to go into device manager, right before the final shut down, and have device manager uninstall the graphics card. After the motherboard swap Windows will either boot up in VGA mode or discover the graphics card on its own and install appropriate drivers.

Gary

 

errr i don't knwo what you guys did to thes HDD but i switched mine from a laptop with a pentium M with and an ati mobility 9600 pro turbo to a desktop with a pentium 4 and a geforce 7300 gt and window just detected the change and made me reactivate