[SOLVED] Hard Drive works but not in another PC

kungfuturtle · 06-25-2009, 01:09 PM

Basically sister's PC hard drive failed (20GB) so replaced it with a spare 40GB one. Used my PC to install XP, programs etc. Works fine in my PC but when I put in hers it just doesn't work. I have tried reseatign everything, clearing CMOS, removing floppy drive, disk drive, setting Boot order but I just can't fix it. BIOS detects the hard drive correctly and at first I was getting sytem disk error, changed boot order from floppy to Hard drive and instead I get a black blank screen after logo is displayed with nothing except a I which flashes as if I can type - which I can't. After a few presses it just beeps every time I press a key :/ Any ideas here?

**raptor_pa** · 06-25-2009, 01:18 PM

Yep, you can't install and move windows to a new machine, windows builds the HAL ( hardware abstraction layer ) based on the basic hardware that is installed on the system windows is loaded on. Moving to another machine changes that base hardware. Repair install of windows will rebuild the HAL. Insert your windows install CD, on the screen where you are first asked if you want to repair, select the option to load windows, a bit later the install process will identify the windows install on the disk and give ou an option ot repair that windows install. Pick that repair option and it will reload the system files and rebuild the HAL, leaving the registry more or less intact, so any apps you loaded will still function.

usasma · 06-25-2009, 01:18 PM

Have you set the jumpers on the drive properly? With this size drive they are most likely IDE based.

With IDE you generally have 2 channels (and 2 flat cables coming out of the motherboard).
In the old style, the drive at the far end of the cable was the Master (and had to have it's jumper set to master), while the one in the middle of the cable was the Slave (and had to have it's jumper set to Slave).

Newer systems will have a Cable Select setting - which will select the Master/Slave setting based on it's position on the cable.

Don't mix Cable Select settings with Master/Slave settings - it just won't work reliably.

kungfuturtle · 06-26-2009, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raptor_pa

Yep, you can't install and move windows to a new machine, windows builds the HAL ( hardware abstraction layer ) based on the basic hardware that is installed on the system windows is loaded on. Moving to another machine changes that base hardware. Repair install of windows will rebuild the HAL. Insert your windows install CD, on the screen where you are first asked if you want to repair, select the option to load windows, a bit later the install process will identify the windows install on the disk and give ou an option ot repair that windows install. Pick that repair option and it will reload the system files and rebuild the HAL, leaving the registry more or less intact, so any apps you loaded will still function.

Worked a treat! Thank you very much

06-25-2009, 01:09 PM	#1 (permalink)
kungfuturtle Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 61 OS: Windows 7 Ultimate RC	[SOLVED] Hard Drive works but not in another PC Basically sister's PC hard drive failed (20GB) so replaced it with a spare 40GB one. Used my PC to install XP, programs etc. Works fine in my PC but when I put in hers it just doesn't work. I have tried reseatign everything, clearing CMOS, removing floppy drive, disk drive, setting Boot order but I just can't fix it. BIOS detects the hard drive correctly and at first I was getting sytem disk error, changed boot order from floppy to Hard drive and instead I get a black blank screen after logo is displayed with nothing except a I which flashes as if I can type - which I can't. After a few presses it just beeps every time I press a key :/ Any ideas here?

06-25-2009, 01:18 PM	#2 (permalink)
raptor_pa Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 4,777 OS: XP	Re: Hard Drive works but not in another PC Yep, you can't install and move windows to a new machine, windows builds the HAL ( hardware abstraction layer ) based on the basic hardware that is installed on the system windows is loaded on. Moving to another machine changes that base hardware. Repair install of windows will rebuild the HAL. Insert your windows install CD, on the screen where you are first asked if you want to repair, select the option to load windows, a bit later the install process will identify the windows install on the disk and give ou an option ot repair that windows install. Pick that repair option and it will reload the system files and rebuild the HAL, leaving the registry more or less intact, so any apps you loaded will still function. __________________

06-25-2009, 01:18 PM	#3 (permalink)
usasma Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Southeastern CT, USA Posts: 1,591 OS: Vista (x64); Win7 (x32 & x64)	Re: Hard Drive works but not in another PC Have you set the jumpers on the drive properly? With this size drive they are most likely IDE based. With IDE you generally have 2 channels (and 2 flat cables coming out of the motherboard). In the old style, the drive at the far end of the cable was the Master (and had to have it's jumper set to master), while the one in the middle of the cable was the Slave (and had to have it's jumper set to Slave). Newer systems will have a Cable Select setting - which will select the Master/Slave setting based on it's position on the cable. Don't mix Cable Select settings with Master/Slave settings - it just won't work reliably. __________________ aka John MVP Windows - Desktop Experience "There are very few problems in life that can't be fixed by the proper application of high explosives" If I haven't replied in 48 hours, please send me a PM.