Computer Help and Support

grumpyduck

(6,650 posts) Tue Nov 19, 2024, 04:17 PM Tuesday

Removing a hard drive?

One of my desktops decided that my user profile doesn't work, and I've spent hours trying to find out what to do about it. There is some software on it that I downloaded and paid for, and I'd rather not have to buy it again.

So, have any of you removed a hard drive and used it as an external drive on another computer? I know you have to buy a case for the drive and do this and that, but what I really want to do is use the software on it. Is this do-able?

Thanks much.

6 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Removing a hard drive? (Original Post) grumpyduck Tuesday OP

You typically can't just shift a drive and expect the software to work Abnredleg Tuesday #1

I have done it and it worked fine Kali Tuesday #2

It has been a while, but I recall booting off an external drive and copying data from the internal drive. usonian Tuesday #3

Yep canetoad Tuesday #4

If the hard drive is encrypted ItsjustMe Tuesday #5

One doesn't actually need an external case. This is what I use ... El-Capitan Thursday #6

Abnredleg

(951 posts)

1. You typically can't just shift a drive and expect the software to work

Reply to grumpyduck (Original post)

Tue Nov 19, 2024, 04:23 PM

Tuesday

Because the operating system won’t recognize it. In the old days you could do it with a DOS program, but for Windows you typically have to reinstall. Check the downloads folders and see if you can find the executable you downloaded when you did the initial install. You should be able to reinstall the software on the new PC.

Kali

(55,740 posts)

2. I have done it and it worked fine

Reply to grumpyduck (Original post)

Tue Nov 19, 2024, 04:23 PM

Tuesday

But I was having power issues with the computer, not profile or password problems. I don't know jack but when I did this the hard drive acted the same as it did when it was in the computer. If the problem is actually the software I would think it will still be there.

usonian

(13,841 posts)

3. It has been a while, but I recall booting off an external drive and copying data from the internal drive.

Reply to grumpyduck (Original post)

Tue Nov 19, 2024, 04:32 PM

Tuesday

In the past, I backed up windows computers by booting off a Linux cd and copying from one drive to another.

It was one command. But just to suggest that idea: Booting off an external drive if there's a bootable operating system on it and you can set the BIOS to boot off that drive at startup.

Mainly, no drives had to be moved.

canetoad

(18,127 posts)

4. Yep

Reply to grumpyduck (Original post)

Tue Nov 19, 2024, 05:57 PM

Tuesday

Frequently. Either in an HDD case or in a drive dock which makes them pretty easy to swap around, because there's nothing to open.

Something I've noted is that the external HDD cases fail with regularity while the drive inside is still good and can be moved to another enclosure with ease.