I want to put my hard drive into another Pc and use it to boot

Not A Robot · 04 May 2015

I have a IBM pc and another pc which I am not sure which brand it is (custom built).
Anyways I bought the custom built pc at a garage sale. The light on the computer turns on but on my monitor there is no display. I took it to a friend and he told me it's because there is no hard drive.

So I want to put my hard drive from my IBM pc into the other pc and use it to boot. I'm not very good with computers sorry so you might have to dumb it down a little .

Thanks

Not A Robot

fireberd · 04 May 2015

If the PC works, you should still get the BIOS display even though there is no hard drive. If you are not getting that, there is more problems than just no hard drive. Get that problem sorted out before you try the hard drive (if it is compatible and keep in mind it could even mess it up, so I really wouldn't do it).

MightyMiroWD · 04 May 2015

Hi there @Not A Robot and welcome to sevenforums!

I agree with @fireberd - the problem is not only related only to the missing hard drive in your computer. As long as there is nothing wrong with the core components, RAM, PSU, CPU, CPU heatsink, motherboard the computer should power on, with the fans spinning up, add a graphics card or use onboard video, and you should see the BIOS post screen.

As for moving your current boot drive in another computer to boot from, if your OS is OEM. That's because you can't 'move' a running installation (or Office install) from one computer to another, and the current install was done on a different computer, which means that the processor and chipset drivers installed will be different from those needed on the new machine.

Hope this helps and cheers! :)

Not A Robot · 04 May 2015

Alright I'm not very good with pc's (I'm 13)
And I'm still quite confused. is it ok if I put in just one ram card in it as I am just testing.
I have plenty of graphics cards and I will put one In.

Those are the only things I understand, When talking about PSU,CPU and stuff like that I get a bit lost
If it is not too much too ask could you help me identify the problem with my CPU and stuff and maybe even add Pics.

Thanks

Not A Robot

essenbe · 04 May 2015

I agree with everyone else. No hard drive is not your problem. There is some other issue you have.

Not A Robot · 04 May 2015

Yeah I know but Im terrible with pc's

essenbe · 04 May 2015

You're not terrible, just no experience. Nothing to be concerned about. There are a lot of things I don't know about because I've never done them.

Not A Robot · 04 May 2015

Ok I tried the putting in a ram card and a video card but no luck
So what next?

Also when I start the pc up and flip the switch at the back the fan in the middle goes for a bit but then stops

What does this mean?

essenbe · 04 May 2015

First of all, what type of GPU connection do you have? Turn your monitor on and make sure the input for the monitor is set to the type of connection you are using. Example, if you are using an HDMI cable, make sure your monitor's input is set to HDMI.

Check all of your Power Supply cables and make sure they are firmly connected.

Do you have LED lights on your motherboard? are they on even when the computer is not on?

Make sure the 24 pin cable (the big one usually on the right side of the motherboard) is connected completely and check the 8 pin power cable usually located above the CPU, is it plugged completely in?

Not A Robot · 04 May 2015

Ok I have checked it is on the right video display
24 pin thing is connected to power supply
Is the 8 pin cord (the one from the power supply) Is it supposed to be connected to something?
And the heat sink which is the fan right? spins for a bit on startup but stops

no motherboard leds

I've attached an image is that supposed to be connected to something if so where?