[londonkj]

hello GTG people!

I have an older computer, HPz600 with a 2 TB hdd in it with all my photos, as the drive is not so old, I would like to move the entire drive to my new shiny desk top computer and would like to know if its possible and what steps I should take to do it safely!

 

the drive is a WD-2TB Desktop SATA Hard Drive - OEM - Green

the old computer is W7 and the new computer is W10 OS.

 

is it as simple as disconnecting the drive and plugging it into the new? I would rather not have to transfer all the files.... :-)

 

thanks in advance!

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Best Answer

Hello londonkj,

 

is it as simple as disconnecting the drive and plugging it into the new? I would rather not have to transfer all the files.... :-)

 

 

Depends on a couple of things: Is there a spare drive bay in the new computer chassis and is there a free SATA port available on the MB.

 

Regarding the data on the drive, music, photos and videos should be ok but any programs may not be, you also have to take into account that you have Windows 7 on the drive so any port that you connect the drive to on the MB should not be boot enabled in the BIOS.

 

Do you have a link to the new computer so we can check the specs.

 

NB: Thinking outside of the box for a moment, you could always get yourself an external USB HDD enclosure or adapter.

[phillpower2]

Best Answer

Hello londonkj,

 

is it as simple as disconnecting the drive and plugging it into the new? I would rather not have to transfer all the files.... :-)

 

 

Depends on a couple of things: Is there a spare drive bay in the new computer chassis and is there a free SATA port available on the MB.

 

Regarding the data on the drive, music, photos and videos should be ok but any programs may not be, you also have to take into account that you have Windows 7 on the drive so any port that you connect the drive to on the MB should not be boot enabled in the BIOS.

 

Do you have a link to the new computer so we can check the specs.

 

NB: Thinking outside of the box for a moment, you could always get yourself an external USB HDD enclosure or adapter.

[londonkj]

Hi phillpower2

 

thanks for the reply.

i am pretty sure there is a spare SATA port...

 

the computer is a custom build and the spec is as follows.

 

BitFenix Neos ATX Tower Black/Blue

Team Group Vulcan T-Force 32GB (2x16GB) DDR4 PC4-19200C14 2400MHz Dual Channel Kit - Grey (TLGD432G2

Cougar GX-S 750W 80 Plus Gold Power Supply

Alpenfohn Brocken ECO CPU Cooler - 120 mm

Samsung 970 EVO Polaris 250GB M.2 2280 PCI-e 3.0 x4 NVMe Solid State Drive

Asus PCE-N15 300Mbps 802.11B/G/N Wireless PCI-E Network Adapter

Microsoft Windows 10 64-Bit DVD - OEM (MS-KW9-00139)

Bullguard Anti-Virus 2017 - 1 PC 1 Year **Offer Price**

Gigabyte B360 HD3 Intel B360 (Socket 1151) DDR4 ATX Motherboard

Intel Core i7-8700 3.2GHz (Coffee Lake) Socket LGA1151 Processor - Retail

*Build stock* Asus GeForce GTX 1070Ti Cerberus 8192MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card

[phillpower2]

Hello londonkj,

 

All good, six SATA ports on the board and room for three Xs 3.5" HDDs in the chassis 

 

You are welcome btw 

 

NB: How to fit the drive into the chassis in the case user guide here ( in case you need it   ).

[londonkj]

Thanks again phillpower2,

 

your comment shown below...

 

''Regarding the data on the drive, music, photos and videos should be ok but any programs may not be, you also have to take into account that you have Windows 7 on the drive so any port that you connect the drive to on the MB should not be boot enabled in the BIOS.''

 

could you please explain the BIOS boot enabling thing? then i can do the swap!

 

Cheers.

[phillpower2]

You are welcome 

 

Just fit the drive, reassemble and boot up, if it boots into Windows 10 you are all good but if the computer boots into Windows 7 from the old HDD you will have to restart, enter the BIOS and disable the WD Green as a boot drive in the BIOS, your motherboard user manual will explain how you do this but let us know if you get stuck.