Using an HDD in another computer?

Question

The computer (where the hard drive came from), is right now in a not working state.

What I want to do is boot this drive on a different computer to look through critical programs, so I can mark them down.

I'm aware I can use another computer to look through files, but I'd rather boot Windows Vista to look through.

What I'm thinking of is when, for example, you plug a Windows 8/8.1 drive into a new machine - it installs the new hardware, and starts right up. I don't want Vista to BSOD on me.

Does anyone know if this is possible?

Answer 1

The computer (where the hard drive came from), is right now in a not working state.

What I want to do is boot this drive on a different computer to look through critical programs, so I can mark them down.

I'm aware I can use another computer to look through files, but I'd rather boot Windows Vista to look through.

What I'm thinking of is when, for example, you plug a Windows 8/8.1 drive into a new machine - it installs the new hardware, and starts right up. I don't want Vista to BSOD on me.

Does anyone know if this is possible?

Hi,

Besides the Licensing problems, you will in all probability not be able to Boot that Hard Drive in another Computer, due to the fact that that Hard Drive from the damaged Computer has all Drivers, etc installed on it for the old failed Motherboard.

This is all you can do:

Saving your files:

You can pull the Hard Drive and put it in a USB Hard Drive Enclosure > plug it into another Computer > and attempt to read and copy over your Data that way.

Or you can install it as a slave drive inside the other Computer to read the Data.

Cheers.

Answer 2

That wouldn't matter, the old computer is getting junked anyways.

Answer 3

It breachesyour license unless it's a retail version.

Answer 4

Well, yeah.

 

Don't worry about the install new hardware message. It's the same driver as your other drives. Only if something is really, really, really wrong with the drive might it cause a blue screen. If it does, unplug the drive.

 

However you'll have problems accessing files. You don't have permission (the security manager is on the non working computer). So you have to use special administrator powers to access the files.

 

Giving oneself control is a two step process. Taking ownership and then giving oneself permissions.

 

Ownership of a file allows the owner to change permissions even if they don't have permission to do so. This is the only thing that ownership does. The person that creates an object owns the object. For admins, objects created are owned by the Administrators' group not the individual.

 

The administrator's most common and most powerful special power is to take ownership of objects they don't have permission to.

 

You need to start Explorer as an Administrator by Start - All Programs - Accessories - right click Windows Explorer and choose Run As Administrator.

 

So you need to right click folders/drive you're interested in - Properties - Security - Advanced button - Ownership tab - Edit button - tick Replace Owner On Sub Containers and Objects - select a user (should be Administrator's group or yourself) - then Ok your way out.

 

Now give yourself permission to access the files.

 

Right click folder again - Properties - Security - Advanced button - Permissions tab - Edit button - select the account - tick both checkboxes - Add button - Advanced button - Find Now button - select yourself or the group your want to have access - Ok button - tick Full Control in the list. Ok your way out.

Well that's all fine and dandy, but that's not what I'm looking for.

What I want to do is boot the Vista hard drive in a different computer. The two computers don't have the same chipset, so it would cause a BSOD. I want to make it so I can boot Vista with no errors.

Answer 5

Well, yeah.

Don't worry about the install new hardware message. It's the same driver as your other drives. Only if something is really, really, really wrong with the drive might it cause a blue screen. If it does, unplug the drive.

However you'll have problems accessing files. You don't have permission (the security manager is on the non working computer). So you have to use special administrator powers to access the files.

Giving oneself control is a two step process. Taking ownership and then giving oneself permissions.

Ownership of a file allows the owner to change permissions even if they don't have permission to do so. This is the only thing that ownership does. The person that creates an object owns the object. For admins, objects created are owned by the Administrators' group not the individual.

The administrator's most common and most powerful special power is to take ownership of objects they don't have permission to.

You need to start Explorer as an Administrator by Start - All Programs - Accessories - right click Windows Explorer and choose Run As Administrator.

So you need to right click folders/drive you're interested in - Properties - Security - Advanced button - Ownership tab - Edit button - tick Replace Owner On Sub Containers and Objects - select a user (should be Administrator's group or yourself) - then Ok your way out.

Now give yourself permission to access the files.

Right click folder again - Properties - Security - Advanced button - Permissions tab - Edit button - select the account - tick both checkboxes - Add button - Advanced button - Find Now button - select yourself or the group your want to have access - Ok button - tick Full Control in the list. Ok your way out.