Help with Old Harddrive in New Computer?

[Lumina]

Wondering I have an old harddrive it is not that old it is a SATA it can plug into my new computer I just finally got it. Well I tried plugging it in but when I start I get a message saying so and so file is missing, computer thinks it is the main harddrive.

Questions are
1. Will a Hardrive configed for Windows XP work on Windows 7 without losing data on it? Or will it work just like that plug in wam?

2. How would I get the computer to start up and not consider it the main hardrive? It has all my toys and whissles on it I'd love to keep it all. It does not have any windows installed on it, since it's a multimedia hardrive only stuff I have on it is files, data, music, videos, some games which do not require registery stuff old stuff, some modded stuff which is a pain to mod over again like Red Baron 3D from 1998.

[Nanny de Bodemloze]

do you have an OS installed on that old drive?

[Lumina]

do you have an OS installed on that old drive?

thought I said that I did not, just in a weird way, no I do not have an OS installed, it was my multimedia harddrive on my old PC, I had oddly 3 hardrives, a main, backup, and multimedia, which was the largest, the main was the only with an OS installed.

Just wondering since when I hook it up the new computer I assume wants to start off the old hardrive and not the one that came with it which has windows 7 installed.

[Nanny de Bodemloze]

configured for XP, and having XP installed on that particular HDD is not the same thing mate.

What was the format...NTFS or FAT32?

[Lumina]

configured for XP, and having XP installed on that particular HDD is not the same thing mate.

What was the format...NTFS or FAT32?

I do not know what format it is...

[Ishan]

SATA=Serial Advanced Technology attachment.
So in your Mobo SATA ports are in 1-2-3 order make sure the new one that has Windows 7 is first that will be the master drive and the old drive should be in next port that will act as the slave.

[Simetrical]

Wondering I have an old harddrive it is not that old it is a SATA it can plug into my new computer I just finally got it. Well I tried plugging it in but when I start I get a message saying so and so file is missing, computer thinks it is the main harddrive.

Questions are
1. Will a Hardrive configed for Windows XP work on Windows 7 without losing data on it? Or will it work just like that plug in wam?

It will work fine.

2. How would I get the computer to start up and not consider it the main hardrive? It has all my toys and whissles on it I'd love to keep it all. It does not have any windows installed on it, since it's a multimedia hardrive only stuff I have on it is files, data, music, videos, some games which do not require registery stuff old stuff, some modded stuff which is a pain to mod over again like Red Baron 3D from 1998.

You can try just switching the data cables, that might be simplest. Alternatively, go into your BIOS setup and change the boot order so that the drive you want is first.

[Lumina]

SATA=Serial Advanced Technology attachment.
So in your Mobo SATA ports are in 1-2-3 order make sure the new one that has Windows 7 is first that will be the master drive and the old drive should be in next port that will act as the slave.

How do I know which is 1 - 2 - 3 ? I don't see numbers next to them?

It will work fine.

You can try just switching the data cables, that might be simplest. Alternatively, go into your BIOS setup and change the boot order so that the drive you want is first.

Ya but I'm awful at that... very awful... insanely awful, took me like forever to install windows XP on my old computer as I could not get it to boot from CD drive for like ever.


This new liquid cool thing is annoying the fan is insanely loud.

[Nanny de Bodemloze]

How do I know which is 1 - 2 - 3 ? I don't see numbers next to them?

If you don't still have your mobo paper installation instructions, look them up online with the exact make and model. In those docs, you'll find a schematic of your mobo, telling you which SATA port is 1/2/3 etc. Although, if you open the case, they are usually numbered (in tiny lettering...get a flashlight if you must) in the mobo itself right next to the jacks...but it doesn't sound like yours are numbered.

Are you overclocking from your bios? I only ask because of your cooling system...not pertinent to the HDD problem, but just curious.

[Lumina]

overclocking? nope... no idea. Doubt it.

GTA IV/ETW are beautiful now I can now fly through a windshield with class and grace.

PS the Hardrive works... I just jumped it to the second row... this motherboard has 6 SATA plugin spots. xD

Installing Fallout 3, I have to see how nice this game runs next. Hehe so used to the screen being jumpy even with most everything medium or low. I was shocked when GTA IV actually slowed down, the night time shadows are amazing... I want to cry... it's so beautiful, I never saw a game with nightime shadows which changed because of street lights and car headlights.. xD

[Ishan]

How do I know which is 1 - 2 - 3 ? I don't see numbers next to them?

Like Nanny said the MOBO manual tells you that otherwise it's also written on the MOBO if you look carefully something like SATA_0, SATA_1 etc.

Ya but I'm awful at that... very awful... insanely awful, took me like forever to install windows XP on my old computer as I could not get it to boot from CD drive for like ever.


This new liquid cool thing is annoying the fan is insanely loud.

You have to get used to it if you want to make it work.