Can I get my data back easily?

[myriad]

I have a new motherboard, the old one failed. I am installing Windows on a new hard drive, but the previous hard drive has data on it that I would like to get back. Both are obviously C drives that are bootable, however the old drive has drivers for the wrong motherboard. What is the best way of getting my data back?

If I plug both drives in and boot up, select my new drive as first in the boot list, I assume that that the old drive will be assigned a new drive letter, the drive will no longer be bootable as a result (doesnt bother me) and when I get into Windows I will be able to transfer my data across from the old hard drive to another hard drive. Am I correct? I don't really want to nuke my nice fresh installation or lose the data on my old drive.

 

[Minstadave]

If I plug both drives in and boot up, select my new drive as first in the boot list, I assume that that the old drive will be assigned a new drive letter, the drive will no longer be bootable as a result (doesnt bother me) and when I get into Windows I will be able to transfer my data across from the old hard drive to another hard drive. Am I correct? I don't really want to nuke my nice fresh installation or lose the data on my old drive.

You are correct

The second drive will still be bootable I believe, even after booting with a new drive.

 

[myriad]

Ah cheers, I thought it would probably work that way, but its always best to here it from the hourses mouth.

 

[Larnica]

Thanks also

I was just about to make a similar post

 

[Trigger]

The second drive will still be bootable I believe, even after booting with a new drive.

Yep, it will. You may have to take ownership of the file though to see them if you are using a different computer name, username or password. To do this, you need to disable simple file sharing under folder options from the tools menu and then open the security tab on the properties dialog box of the folders/files