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I am finally getting a new desktop pc. My current pc is about 12 years old and is running windows 10. I am buying a new pc with windows 11 that has two 1 tb ssd drives. My current machine has a 2 tb ssd which is rather new. I would like to get my files off my old pc and was wondering if I could simply remove the second hard drive from the new pc and install the old 2tb drive form my old pc in the the new computer and use it as a secondary drive. My old drive is a little over half full. My old pc still works but has become rather slow and frequently shuts down so I thought it was time for an upgrade. Thanks for the help.
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Hello ! I'm Aymeric, an independent advisor, and I'm here to help !
It's absolutely possible. All you have to do is remove the hard disk from your old computer, then put it back in the new one.
Just make sure your PC can accommodate the hard drive: you'll usually need a SATA port and cable to plug the drive in.
Once connected to the new PC, you'll see the files present on the PC, and be able to browse them as if you were on your old PC.
Please let me know if you have any other question !
The new PC has two 1 tb ssd drives. David
Thanks !
To make it easier for you, just let me know the make and model of your new PC.
I'll look directly at the manufacturer's website to see how to install your hard disk.
Thanks for coming back to me !
You're right : you'll probably have to remove one disk. Do you know the format of your disks in your new PC ? You can have M.2 drives (a small and thin disk) or SATA drive (classic hard drives). Modern PC can be M.2 drives only, or both.
Your new PC will probably detect your old operating system. It should not boot on the old operating system, but if it ever happens, you can change the boot order on the UEFI, and put the old disk at the very bottom of the list.
Let me know if youhave any other questions !
Thanks, I assume I will need to remove one of the new hard drives form the new pc as I think it only has 2 hard drive bays. I won't need to do anything with the operating system that is on my old drive?
