Compatible hard drives

Gerrit
Gerrit Member Posts: 3 New User
in 2014 Archives

I have an acer aspire 5552-3706 hard drive that is fully imaged and I just want drop it into another notebook. Which acer products can I do this with my hard drive without formating or other time consuming issues?

Answers

  • miguel69
    miguel69 Member Posts: 54 New User

    windows won't let you do this, as you  install windows it builds driver and other files reflecting the exact hardware configuration of the machine.  Also if you do get it running Microsoft servers might bounce you as having a duplicate/unauthorized copy of windows, users already run into that problem if they have to change a fried mother board and have to call support to get their system re-authorized.

  • Gerrit
    Gerrit Member Posts: 3 New User

    Windows will allow you to change hardware and will Plug and play new devices. Is it the serial numbers on the chipsets of the motherboard that restricts the change?

    I should be able to buy the same notebook and put my old harddrive in it.

  • Gerrit
    Gerrit Member Posts: 3 New User

    I have an acer aspire 5552-3706. I have taken the time to create a full ghost image backup to insure that I can restore should it crash. My motherboard and screen broke leaving the now out of warenty notebook garbage. I have bought a new laptop and hate it. I want to use my hard drive with the image on an aspire but need to know if it will work.

  • miguel69
    miguel69 Member Posts: 54 New User

    True, windows does let you upgrade components & add new ones but if the changes are too great you might get bounced.  you might have to do the changes in increments (e.g. upgrade HDD, run system to settle in, upgrade graphics, run system to settle in that change, etc.). But the problems you can get from a MOBO change (major change) are many.  You might have to call M$ to explain and re-authorize the OS, also a lot of times OEM copies of an OS are locked to a specific MOBO ser. no., if you can find the product key that went with your salvaged MOBO that might help.  A new system would come with  it's own copy of windows and product key, if you are scavenging 2 or more broken units to make a good one (e.g. one has a fried MOBO, and the other a bad HDD) they should be the same model  and you should use the product key that went with the MOBO you used.  

    In your case you can try using the drive in the same model unit but no guarantees it will work. try asking a microsoft expert in windows OEM copies.

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