Help please... add C:/ to C:/ :]

ALienBC

ALienBC

ALienBC

Associate
Joined
16 Jan 2003
Posts
170
I have a Windows 7 OS drive from a dead PC. I want to add it to a working PC (also Win 7) so I can

a) recover the data

b) potentially set up a dual boot across the existing drive and the old one


When I've done this in the past I have either had complete success, without any sort of preparation... or the MBR has become borked (or something) and I've ended up with no access to one or both OS installs.

Both drives are SSD, though I'm not sure that matters.

How do I go about this, safely - i.e. so I don't bork the existing working install?




(in case you're wondering... yes, I'm aware the old PC's config will be radically different to the new one's. As I posted a while ago... I can't fix the old PC, and the mobo is so old I can't really replace it. I'm hoping that Win 7 is clever enough to sort out the mobo drivers etc. Failing that, at least I'll have access to the data)


Thanking you kindly :)
~abc
 
I'd imagine it's as simple as throwing in the dead pc hard drive into your working one.

Boot from your main drive, and the other drive should show up in Computer, where you should be able to get your data from it.

If you want to boot up into the other drive, change the main boot drive in the bios to the other one.
 
I would imagine that too, but as I said.. I have done this before, and ended up with no bootable OS.

For sure, I can d/c the working drive, plug the old one in, and see what Windows makes of it. It's just that crunch point where you hook up two OS drives and see what happens when you turn it on...

2006 eh? Another old timer :) (Me, I'm from the 90s, but there was a big forum change many years ago and I had to recreate the account :)
 
If you put both drives in the best thing to do is when you switch your PC on press the function key that goes to the boot menu (usually F12) and then select your working drive to boot from. It will then boot to this leaving the old one to appear as D: or whatever.
 
I went for it, and all is well. As I said, last time I tried this it all went pear shaped... all good this time. Thanks all...
 
In these instances you are always best to use an external caddy, boot into windows then add the second drive via USB.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom