Just curious. Is it possible to take a hard drive loaded with XP out of a computer, Put another in with Vista and have the computer work with either one. I have a Dell 8300 that had a hard drive with XP. Now it is running that same Drive with Vista loaded.
Just wondered if it would function alternately with either program.
Why would I want to do that? Donno. Just a thought.
XP & Vista
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Ken Lang
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XP & Vista
heavily medicated for your safety
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Dickie Whitley
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Ken, I do run a setup maybe similar to what you're asking. I have my hard drives setup to boot to Win7 (32) and Win7 (64) and and another with XP. I simply go into "Setup" and choose the drive I want to be the boot and go from there. There are other ways to do the same thing.
If you put each drive in separately and have each one as the "boot" drive with the OS, then just connect the drive with the OS you want, then I see no problem other than the hassel of changing the drive.
If you put each drive in separately and have each one as the "boot" drive with the OS, then just connect the drive with the OS you want, then I see no problem other than the hassel of changing the drive.
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Jack Stoner
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If the two drives were configured for the same PC it will work. But, if the two drives were originally configured for different computers it will not work.
For example, if you installed XP on a hard drive for the Dell 8300 and had XP activated on that PC that would be a legitimate setup. If you had another hard drive with Vista 32 bit that was installed on a different PC such as a Dell 8400 or an HP desktop and activated (with Microsoft) for that PC you couldn't use it on the 8300 and it probably would not boot up.
On the other hand, if you have XP on one hard drive and Vista 32 bit on another hard drive and both were "installed" on the same computer, such as your 8300 then they will both work. But, Dell does not support Vista on that model, only XP and DOS, and thus there are no Dell device drivers available and with the Dell proprietary and custom motherboard you will need Dell drivers for at least some of the hardware devices. We see this on the Dell users forum quite a bit, someone will want to install an operating system on a PC that is not supported by Dell and either it will not install or they cannot find drivers for all the hardware devices and they wind up with devices that do not work. The Sound Card is one specific device that on older systems (such as the 8300) was Dell specific and non-Dell drivers do not work.
For example, if you installed XP on a hard drive for the Dell 8300 and had XP activated on that PC that would be a legitimate setup. If you had another hard drive with Vista 32 bit that was installed on a different PC such as a Dell 8400 or an HP desktop and activated (with Microsoft) for that PC you couldn't use it on the 8300 and it probably would not boot up.
On the other hand, if you have XP on one hard drive and Vista 32 bit on another hard drive and both were "installed" on the same computer, such as your 8300 then they will both work. But, Dell does not support Vista on that model, only XP and DOS, and thus there are no Dell device drivers available and with the Dell proprietary and custom motherboard you will need Dell drivers for at least some of the hardware devices. We see this on the Dell users forum quite a bit, someone will want to install an operating system on a PC that is not supported by Dell and either it will not install or they cannot find drivers for all the hardware devices and they wind up with devices that do not work. The Sound Card is one specific device that on older systems (such as the 8300) was Dell specific and non-Dell drivers do not work.
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Ken Lang
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Thanks. Maybe I will play with that.
Jack. I know you say running Vista will not work, on my 8300.
Here's what happened to me. In April of this year I had my 8300, with XP and a 1 TB drive shipped to NY. Wouldn't work when I got there, so I took it to a local shop. When I got it back they had loaded Vista on it. Said it needed Vista for such a big hard drive. It does work, and works well.
As I keep my files on an external drive, I realize I don't need such a big hard drive. So I'm again debating on a smaller hard drive and XP. I'm not taking it back to CA with me, so maybe it's a moot point at tis time. And, they snuck one by as it says it's not a verified copy, so it won't accept any Microsoft updates. I know I will eventually have to do something.
Jack. I know you say running Vista will not work, on my 8300.
Here's what happened to me. In April of this year I had my 8300, with XP and a 1 TB drive shipped to NY. Wouldn't work when I got there, so I took it to a local shop. When I got it back they had loaded Vista on it. Said it needed Vista for such a big hard drive. It does work, and works well.
As I keep my files on an external drive, I realize I don't need such a big hard drive. So I'm again debating on a smaller hard drive and XP. I'm not taking it back to CA with me, so maybe it's a moot point at tis time. And, they snuck one by as it says it's not a verified copy, so it won't accept any Microsoft updates. I know I will eventually have to do something.
heavily medicated for your safety
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Jack Stoner
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I don't know what they used to get all the Dell hardware working since Dell does not have Vista drivers and for example the XP sound driver is not compatible with Vista (or Win 7) as some sound functions are handled differently in Vista/Win 7.
They must of used some hacked driver for the sound.
Having the large drive in there, even though you don't use it won't hurt. It uses the same physical space and PC power that a smaller drive would.
They must of used some hacked driver for the sound.
Having the large drive in there, even though you don't use it won't hurt. It uses the same physical space and PC power that a smaller drive would.
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John Floyd
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Somebody gave Joe Casey an Old Dell Dimension 3000. He already had a Dell 19" LCD Monitor and a 320 gig WD drive.
I just Got Thru Helping Joe Install Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit, Upgraded Ram To 2 Gb and installed a new Video Card to get the resolution required to Run Win 7. 640 X 480 doesn't quite cut it. The Built in Video is the main problem on the older Dell's.
We Spent many hours on the phone(I'm in N.C. and Joe is in Fla) and we did it sucessfully thanks to our magic jack phone service. Joe nows knows more than the Average Computer Tech in a store.
The only real Problem we had was Getting the correct Network card drivers installed since it wasn't getting an internet connection initially,Someone had told him his ethernet port was dead. So Much for uninvited opinions. but we managed by using a USB port instead, found the correct ethernet driver later and BTW Win 7 found the correct Sound Card Drivers on its own once we got this one on the internet, No Hacking Necessary. All the other Dell Drivers are on their Website, including pretty good owners and service manuals.
Sometimes a good fast P4, 2.9 ghz processor is just fine for just surfing the net and normal use. Joe said this one is really fast Now. I think he had to spend $162 total for parts and now this one has some life left in it. When He gets a Wide Screen Monitor he can get 1920 X 1080 Resolution each on Dual monitors.
Windows 7 is really great when it comes to finding the Correct Drivers, I don't know about Vista, I never wasted my time on it or my money.
I just Got Thru Helping Joe Install Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit, Upgraded Ram To 2 Gb and installed a new Video Card to get the resolution required to Run Win 7. 640 X 480 doesn't quite cut it. The Built in Video is the main problem on the older Dell's.
We Spent many hours on the phone(I'm in N.C. and Joe is in Fla) and we did it sucessfully thanks to our magic jack phone service. Joe nows knows more than the Average Computer Tech in a store.
The only real Problem we had was Getting the correct Network card drivers installed since it wasn't getting an internet connection initially,Someone had told him his ethernet port was dead. So Much for uninvited opinions. but we managed by using a USB port instead, found the correct ethernet driver later and BTW Win 7 found the correct Sound Card Drivers on its own once we got this one on the internet, No Hacking Necessary. All the other Dell Drivers are on their Website, including pretty good owners and service manuals.
Sometimes a good fast P4, 2.9 ghz processor is just fine for just surfing the net and normal use. Joe said this one is really fast Now. I think he had to spend $162 total for parts and now this one has some life left in it. When He gets a Wide Screen Monitor he can get 1920 X 1080 Resolution each on Dual monitors.
Windows 7 is really great when it comes to finding the Correct Drivers, I don't know about Vista, I never wasted my time on it or my money.
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Joe Casey
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What John said is true..Windows 7 searched for the correct drivers and I have to tell you this puter honks..John Sent me a hard drive that was twice as good as the one in the Dell and spent time locating the right Video Card and memory to order..But prior to that Windows seven went in like a bolt and recognized everything I installed..I never needed to get the drivers it did that automaticly.Whoever put cable internet and Technicians in the same sentence needs to rethink that..A tech on the phone told me that the ethernet port was not functioning and the reason I could not get online...Also one came from Brighthouse to my house and said the same thing..Once I installed windows seven as John said windows 7 located the port and the rest is history...