Swapping PC

Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 4:09 pm

I have a DAW that I've been running.
It's pretty old now..but I changed the HD about a year ago.

But I have a new case with a new processor that I scrounged up.
Can I just take my hard drive from the old machine and pop it into the new machine, plug it in and expect it to boot up?

Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 5:20 pm

It may work, but for the best performance I would recommend starting from scratch. My understanding is that every mother board has different drivers that are tied deep in the operating system. While the OS may try to repair itself for the new hardware you will have a smoother running system if you reinstall everything. Think of it as a time to screen all your software and install just what you actually use. That's the way I do it about once a year, and my DAW runs like a champ.

Or maybe that is just computer folk lore. Any computer junkies want to debunk the myth?

Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 10:08 pm

dkatayama wrote:

Can I just take my hard drive from the old machine and pop it into the new machine, plug it in and expect it to boot up?

Yes, you can expect it to boot up. Do not hold yer breath.

I think the first error, if you get one, will be "NTLDR is missing", but don't quote me. Seems like you then have to locate the OS install disk(GET ONE) and press F8 and then do a restore? It's crazy :)

Even if it runs properly, windows will be crippled up from lack of mother board resources due to the change. That can be fixed if you have Internet access and or the mother board utility disk.

Long hours and it really doesn't produce much unless your keeping notes :) Do a clean install like gecko suggested and save your hair.

edit: if the myth is that you should do a clean install every 365 days of your operating system or whenever a person thinks their computer is running slow, whichever comes first, as far as I am concerned, it is still a myth ;)

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 8:10 am

I would just like to add that if you "do" just transfer over the hard drive to the new computer (Im guessing without a harddrive already in it) and repair it and get everything working right that space mentioned. The speed will be slower because of the windows registry. Addressing will be added to the registry, more then likly without removing the old, and slow the computer performance way down. It may very well be slower then the old computer because of this.

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 5:17 pm

Better yet, buy a new hard drive. Install the OS onto it. This way this new install of the OS will have only the drivers for the devices in the new system...not drivers from the old and new.

Then install your current hard drive into the new computer as a slave. This way you will have a clean OS with the proper drivers, but still have all your old data.

In doing this you should also install/re-install all your programs onto the new hard drive.

Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 5:30 pm

Yes you can do this, OP.

Yes, folks, it will slow you down.
I've hopped a lot and the difference after formatting is unbelievable. XP boots up in under 90 seconds, including all the junk that's already accumulated.

Ofc, you might even have boot problems depending on your current and intended setup.

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