Hard Drive Swap - to clone

[Daltex]

I bought 4 identical computers when setting up my network. One computer has bad caps and I'm waiting for the new ones to arrive to attempt to repair it. OS is XP pro.

I need to put the data and functionality of the down computer back in the network asap.

Would it be possible to just swap the hard drive out of one of the identical computers with the one I need?

All of the searching I have done is returning questions about swapping to different setup computers or new HDD to existing computer.

Thanks in advance!

[digge]

Re: Hard Drive Swap - to clone

As long as the hardware is exactly the same it shouldnt be a problem. In worst case scenario you get a bluescreen but nothing bad should happen to the contents on the disk.

[Daltex]

Re: Hard Drive Swap - to clone

I'll give it a shot. Thanks for the quick reply. I'll post back the result.

[acstech]

Re: Hard Drive Swap - to clone

Windows might detect hardware changes and request to be reactivated. Or it might not. It depends on how many hardware changes it had previously. Other than that, if all the hardware is the same it should work.

[Daltex]

Re: Hard Drive Swap - to clone

Thanks acstech- I may wait until I get the new caps and just leave the hard drives where they were. If the swap knocked out another computer, I'd be up a creek.

Thanks for the advice!

[Krankshaft]

Re: Hard Drive Swap - to clone

I believe XP uses the MAC address and some info from the bios to determine if it's the same PC. If those don't sync up it will ask you to reactivate. It may give you 30 days or it may not allow you to log on and require immediate reactivation before you can use the OS.

If you have a Retail version it will reactivate on the new comp and deactivate the old comp you can do this as many times as you want.

If you have an OEM version it's locked to the old machine and can't be used on another machine. That's why retail versions cost more than OEM versions.

If it's a volume license as long as it's the same brand PC it won't bother you at all with activation. For example Dell had special XP Pro install discs which were volume licenses and only automatically activated (no need for an Internet connection) on Dell PCs.

[kc8adu]

Re: Hard Drive Swap - to clone

if these are truely identical get 3 more kits.you will be better off to fix them at a time of your choosing rather than theirs.

[Hondaman]

Re: Hard Drive Swap - to clone

A link:

http://www.helpwithwindows.com/Windo...ctivation.html

another link:

http://aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.php

Write down the Volume IDs for the various drives at the time you activate each copy (look in the partition table). You could even make the Volume IDs the same on every disk before activation, I suppose.

I had to re-activate my 32-bit XP (online) when I turned on the RAID feature of my BIOS (I think that counted as a drive controller change). (Not sure why I did this, I don't use RAID.)

I forgot to write down the Volume ID before I reinstalled 64-bit XP (twice in the last 6 months, same exact hardware) but I re-activated online with no problems.

[digge]

Re: Hard Drive Swap - to clone

Usually reactivating even OEM isnt a problem. Just tell them you reinstalled it from the disk delivered with your computer. At least ive never had them turn me down at microsoft when calling them asking for activation.

[Per Hansson]

Re: Hard Drive Swap - to clone

The trick for OEM is your are allowed to replace the mainboard if it failed (not if you upgrade)

So if you need to call for activation remember to tell them your old mainboard failed and you got a new one on warranty or whatever

[Daltex]

Re: Hard Drive Swap - to clone

I think my new caps should arrive today so I think I will just recap the bad board and forgo the hard drive swap.

I really appreciate all of the input recieved of this project.

If my soldering skills are up to par, I'll recap the other 3 boards. I've already pulled the cover on one and the 2200/6.3's under the hard drive are bulged of course.

Thanks again and I'll keep you posted of the results.

BTW: If you are new to this recapping stuff- Badcaps.net is the best for getting your caps. Most excellent customer service!!