Moving SATA HDD from one PC to another [SOLVED]

[Hgx]

EDIT: im now facing the SATA HDD port problems that I posted in a comment below, thanks


Hey guys, HGX asking for help today

So, I have my new pc (LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL) but the problem is this, I need to move my HDD from this pc (OLD) to the new one, and I suppose that I need to re-install W7 (so I can install drivers and stuff) but I don't have a CD/DVD reader, so I need to install it using an USB.

Some of my friends told me that I can just plug in the HDD into the new pc, and it will work, but im not sure about that neither.


Some help for this poor basterd plx?

[fawadforlan]

You have to go to the BIOS and make sure usb is your first boot device. If you don't know how to do that then just search for: How to boot from a usb stick. Don't forget to change it back to HDD after instaling windows 7.

Once you have installed windows 7 you computer should be working without problems. And once you have internet access you can start looking for missing drivers.

[.Sup]

I used this guide to put windows onto a thumb drive: http://kmwoley.com/blog/?p=345

Do you have a separate PC where you can do that?

[StarfisherEcho]

Be sure to get it right the first time (no pressure). I just did this with my wife's new laptop, first install worked fine. Then I decided to do it again (don't ask) and all the sudden the USB stick was gone from the boot options without any way to get it back. Freaking annoying. Google reveals that this happens to people sometimes for no obvious reason, and unless you want to go pull the battery off the board and clear the CMOS you're kind of out of luck.

[KoffeinFlummi]

unless you want to go pull the battery off the board and clear the CMOS you're kind of out of luck.

Well, since it's not a laptop in his case, it wouldn't be too much effort.

[Fields]

This utility will allow you to create a boot usb, just follow the instructions: http://www.pendrivelinux.com/
Download the official windows 7 ISOs from microsoft here:
http://en.community.dell.com/support-fo ... river.aspx

[RAGEFACE7]

Why not just plugin in the HDD into the SATA port? You don't need to have a DVD to install it. You canalso use WinFlash (free) to make a bootable USB drive from an ISO.

[expandas]

http://www.reddit.com/r/buildapc/comments/xd44g

[Hgx]

Thanks guys but, im facing another problem now, read below please:

Why not just plugin in the HDD into the SATA port? You don't need to have a DVD to install it. You canalso use WinFlash (free) to make a bootable USB drive from an ISO.

This is what I was going to say now, I tried it, but for some reason, one of my SATA ports is different.

As you may know the sata HDD has 2 ports, 1 smaller that goes to the mother, and another one to the PS.
So... my PS port in the new PC is bigger than the old one (it has something like 1 more cable) and it doesn't fix in the HDD slot.

Any thoughts? I'll try to keep looking for this by my own, but it's getting pretty late here and im busy as heck these last days, almost traveling the whole keek.

Thank you again guys.

[expandas]

Can you provide pictures?

[Hgx]

Images, I apologize for the poor quality:

Spoiler: show

Spoiler: show

That is the bigger conector in my NEW pc, actually I can't take a picture of my OLD one, since I need to use it non-stop for a few hours, but i'll edit one of the .jpg to show you how it looks.

Spoiler: show

What im trying to show you here guys, is that my OLD sata cable has 1 less cable, and like 1 less slot (so it's smaller)

[Necromancer]

windows 7 is pretty good at handling drivers.
on previous versions, if you just moved the HDD to another rig, windows might not load because the hardware changed without installing new drivers (basically, the software - OS - cant talk to the hardware).
it might happen, but i think windows 7 can overcome that, in a lot of cases.
just plug in your old HD, hopefully itll work, without reinstalling windows and loosing a lot of data and time.

what your holding doesn't look like a SATA cable, but a power cable.
about the smaller/bigger connections, couldn't make anything out of your pics.
i see 3 cables in all 3 pics.

SATA cable

Spoiler: show

power cable

Spoiler: show

your PSU should have all kinds of connectors, just go over them. if, for some reason, it doesn't have the one you need, you can get an adapter for like a penny.

[Hgx]

Thank you, I'll give it a try.
Im a total noob about all this stuff, so I could be totally wrong, and I fought I was doing something right

[expandas]

Does your HDD use Slimline or Micro SATA?

http://www.pimfg.com/ifaq/slimline-sata-faq.htm

[Necromancer]

your HD should only be connected by 2 cables (remember how it was on your old PC?)
one SATA cable (wide cable, probably a red one), that connects to your Motherboard.

Spoiler: show

one power cable, coming from your PSU

plug those two, and thats it.
boot to BIOS, see that it recognizes the HD, and set it to boot from there.
then cross your fingers...