Transfering a hard drive to another computer

  • Thread starter Thread starter Chamaman
  • Start date Start date
C

Chamaman

I have an older Dell 266 computer with an 8.4gb HD in it. I would like
to add a 20GB Hd that already has an OS on it. I have tried installing
it but when it boots the first screen shows the HD but soon after it
brings up the safe mode prompt and won't go any farther. I have tried
ever thing I know to do and no luck. I was told that some of the older
motherboards that support 8.4GB HD'S WON'T except anything larger. Is
this correct? Any help will be appreciated.
Thanks,
Chamaman
 
I have an older Dell 266 computer with an 8.4gb HD in it.
I would like to add a 20GB Hd that already has an OS on it.
Click to expand...

Handy if you said which particular OS.
I have tried installing it but when it boots the first screen shows the HD
but soon after it brings up the safe mode prompt and won't go any farther.
Click to expand...

Most likely some of the drivers for the system it
came out of arent appropriate for the Dell 266.
I have tried ever thing I know to do and no luck.
Click to expand...

You should first use a drive type of AUTO and see what happens.

Then if that still doesnt work, try formatting the
drive in the Dell and installing the OS again.
I was told that some of the older motherboards that support
8.4GB HD'S WON'T except anything larger. Is this correct?
Click to expand...

Not that common in systems of that vintage.

Havent bothered to check the Dell specifics tho.
 
Chamaman said:
I have an older Dell 266 computer with an 8.4gb HD in it. I would like
to add a 20GB Hd that already has an OS on it. I have tried installing
it but when it boots the first screen shows the HD but soon after it
brings up the safe mode prompt and won't go any farther.
Click to expand...


It's probably been set up on a completely different computer. So when
you put it in the Dell, the OS on the 20GB drive doesn't find the
hardware it's been set up to use.

Try a repair install with the 20GB drive in the Dell.


Odie
 
It would help if you told us the OS on the two drives.
It's probably been set up on a completely different computer. So when
you put it in the Dell, the OS on the 20GB drive doesn't find the
hardware it's been set up to use.

Try a repair install with the 20GB drive in the Dell.
Click to expand...
Which may not even be Win 2K/XP. Moving OS to older machines is rarely fixable.

Image the old 8G drive to the 20G, or clean install XP if RAM is 128MB+.
 
Back
Top