can I swap data by use of external hard drive enclosure.

[thelma]

Hope I have given this thread the right description.

This is the situation.

I have today removed the hard drive "Seagate SATA 500 GB " from my old (dead) DELL Inspiron M 501R laptop ( windows 7 SP 1 )

I am going to buy an external enclosure to move all the data ( hopefully ) to my other HP windows 7 SP 1 professional laptop.

When I succeed in this and all the data from the DELL are on the HP, could I then afterwards remove all the old data from the HP on the hard drive from the DELL. In other words, could I do a 100% swap ?

Make the HP an windows 7 SP 1 ?

I would first formate the DELL hard drive completely clean. ( After successfully having transferred EVERYTHING to the HP. )

Could I do this by using Macrium Reflect ?

Is this a silly idea ?

You might ask why ? Just so that if it does not work I can move it all back ?

Thanks for any help in advance.
Cheers,
Thelma

 

[ignatzatsonic]

see comments in bold

I have today removed the hard drive "Seagate SATA 500 GB " from my old (dead) DELL Inspiron M 501R laptop ( windows 7 SP 1 )

I am going to buy an external enclosure to move all the data ( hopefully ) to my other HP windows 7 SP 1 professional laptop.

When I succeed in this and all the data from the DELL are on the HP, could I then afterwards remove all the old data from the HP on the hard drive from the DELL.

I don't understand this last sentence. Do you mean "move the data on the HP hard drive to the Dell hard drive"?

If that's what you mean, yes you can, assuming what's moved is just data, as opposed to Windows.




Make the HP an windows 7 SP 1 ?


I don't understand this. You said above that the HP was already Windows 7 SP 1.


I would first formate the DELL hard drive completely clean. ( After successfully having transferred EVERYTHING to the HP. )

Could I do this by using Macrium Reflect ?

I don't understand why you would involve Macrium if all you want to do is move data from one hard drive to another. Data can be moved with a mouse or keyboard only.

Is this a silly idea ?

It's not silly to move data around to suit your own purposes, but I'm not at all sure I understand what you are trying to do.

Maybe you can rewrite what you are trying to do and in particular confirm that all you want to do is move DATA, not Windows and not installed applications.

 

[strollin]

As Iggy said, as long as you want to transfer data (pictures, documents, spreadsheets, videos, etc...) and not the OS or programs you can do that easily. You may need to "Take Ownership" of the data however, if after you have copied your data you're prevented from accessing it, post back and we'll help you with that. You only need Windows Explorer (no need for any 3rd party programs like Macrium). You should be able to simply drag and drop the folders/files you wish to transfer from the external drive to the internal drive.

 

[AddRAM]

You don`t need Macrium Reflect, just copy and paste the data, then verify it on the HP.

Not sure what you`re talking about Thelma, but of course you can format the old drive and start using it for storage, but you don`t transfer everything from the old Dell drive, just your data.

And what do you mean "Make the HP a windows 7 SP1 ????

Doesn`t it already have windows on it ??

Please explain....

 

[TrustMe]

If I understand correctly, you want to move all your data (personal files) to the HP laptop, format the old Dell hard drive after all the data is on the HP computer, make an image of the HP hard drive with Macrium Reflect, then restore that image to the old Dell hard drive and place it in the HP computer. Is that correct?

Yes, if that is what you want to do. I'm not familiar with Macrium Reflect so I will let other members help you with that.

 

[AddRAM]

If that`s what you want to do, Trustme has explained it perfectly.

You should use Windows built in imaging AND Macrium Reflect to make images, redundancy is better.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/663-backup-complete-computer-create-image-backup.html

Macrium Reflect Free

Both programs are very simple to use.

 

[thelma]

Sorry for the confusion, I am only learning and don't use the right computer language.

I realise now, through your answers ( thanks a lot ) that there is a BIG difference between data transfere and OS transfere.

See, I was hoping to put the whole Windows 7 SP 1 Home premium from the DELL ( which I love ) onto the HP. A bit like seeing the two laptops as just briefcases that you can empty completely and fill again.

But I now understand my mistake in thinking, you cannot change the briefcases, being one ( DELL) Windows home premium, and the other ( HP) Windows professional. But you can transfere the DATA !!!!

I am with you now, again sorry for confusion.

You know, for not computer littered people there is often a big problem in understanding what is actually the program you are in and where that influence ends ( with all it's good and bad points ) apart from all the general data issues.

I went to a big Media Markt here in Worgl, Tirol. They only had one item on stock.

www.icebow.de

The fellow explained there is no market for them annymore ?????

info : 2.5 External HDD Enlosure. IB-231 Series Super speed USB 3.0 Intergrage. Status Led Power and Access. Fnless ( Silent)

Price ; 24.99 Euro.

Will go to Innsbruck tomorrow ( Ower big city ) and into Saturn, they have loads.

Can someone please recommend a good Enclosure, because I think it will be also good for furute use as an extra Hard Disk to use as an overflow.

Thanks a lot allready for all your help and explications .
Thelma

 

[ignatzatsonic]

See, I was hoping to put the whole Windows 7 SP 1 Home premium from the DELL ( which I love ) onto the HP. A bit like seeing the two laptops as just briefcases that you can empty completely and fill again.

But I now understand my mistake in thinking, you cannot change the briefcases, being one ( DELL) Windows home premium, and the other ( HP) Windows professional. But you can transfere the DATA !!!!


www.icebow.de

I know next to nothing about enclosures, but that icebow link you provided goes nowhere, at least according to my browser. Can't be found.

You've got 2 laptops. Each came with a motherboard and it's own Windows license---one of them Professional and the other Home Premium

Those are "OEM" licenses. The Professional license can be used ONLY on the laptop on which it was originally included.

The Home Premium license can be used ONLY on the laptop on which it was originally included.

In other words---if the Professional license came with the HP, you can't install THAT Professional license on the Dell or any other machine. You could try and it might "work" at first, but you'd likely have licensing and updating issues sooner or later.

If you had "retail" licenses rather than OEM licenses, you could move them to some other machine.

Your personal data is not subject to Microsoft licenses, so you can move it anywhere.

 

[thelma]

Thanks Iggy, you made it now perfectly clear, no messing with licenses , and thanks for your time and concern , always appreciated !!!!

Thelma

 

[ThrashZone]

I just bought another one of these
First one lasted 6 years :/
Amazon.com: Sabrent ECS-STU35K USB 2.0 to 3.5-inch IDE/SATA or Serial ATA Aluminum Hard Drive Enclosure Case (BLACK): Electronics

 

[AddRAM]

Her Dell laptop is dead, she will no longer be using it.

You also want a USB 3.0 enclosure, if you have usb 3.0 ports on the HP, usb 3.0 will give you a faster transfer speed.

But it looks like you only have usb 2.0 ports. Too bad it doesn`t even have an Esata port

Compaq Presario CQ70-120US Specs - CNET

The link Mike posted is for a 3.5" drive, you need a 2.5" enclosure, as you`ve already mentioned.

Actually you don`t even need an enclosure, a cable is fine.

Examples:

external 2.5" enclosure - Newegg.com

 

[thelma]

Actually Brian, dead as a door nail . Got the last out of it by connecting it to a monitor, got some stuff off then black screen.

Thanks Mike looks like the animal I need

Will buy or order it tomorrow,

Cheers Guys,

Thelma

 

[ThrashZone]

Some hdd's are 2.5"
Mostly in laptops they will be smaller
Problem i believe is I haven't seen many 2.5 hdd's go over 750gb
They probably exist but the 3.5" are better anyway I have been mostly getting 1tb 3.5"

I actually got that one for a really old 3.5 I believe it's the IDE connection that came out of an old x-p rig that died long ago

I have another one too it was more expensive it has pretty bad reviews but I needed one to restore an image and it was the only one Fry's had in stock that was esata
Most people I noticed were attempting to use them in a Raid or connected all the time....
I didn't pay this much for it but this is it,
Amazon.com: Hornettek Enterprise 3.5in 4 Bay USB 3.0 JBOD SATA HDD Enclosure(HT-3402U3): Computers & Accessories

 

[ThrashZone]

Oh that last one is only for 3.5" hdd's which was a bummer I had to rig some thing to connect a 2.5" hdd into it

 

[thelma]

Oh, I am really getting confused now ! Do I need to buy an enclosure (also for future use) or just as Brian mentions a cable.

Do you need more info from me about the two Laptops ? Please tell me

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
No they come or should come with all the cables included
Amazon.com: Sabrent ECS-STU35K USB 2.0 to 3.5-inch IDE/SATA or Serial ATA Aluminum Hard Drive Enclosure Case (BLACK): Electronics

This one is as versatile as one can hope for you can put any hdd or ssd in it
Although I wouldn't leave it powered on all of the time
Just connect it when you want to use it.
Shut down the computer and disconnect it.

 

[thelma]

Ok Mike, that are clear instructions, keep you informed, thanks for all your help mate

 

[AddRAM]

A hard drive from a laptop is 2.5" you can not use a 3.5" enclosure, unless that particular enclosure does both sizes.

The link Mike posted clearly says it`s a 3.5" enclosure.

This is a combo enclosure

Thermaltake BlacX N0028USU External Hard Drive SATA Enclosure Docking Station 2.5" & 3.5" USB 2.0 - Newegg.com

This is a self contained enclosure

Rosewill Armer RX200-APU3-25B External 2.5" SATA Hard Drive Enclosure - SSDs / HDDs, USB 3.0 Connection, 100% Screw-less - Newegg.com

And all you have to do is connect the supplied usb cable to your HP, once you have the Dell drive installed in it, very handy enclosure.

 

[ThrashZone]

It will accept both 2.5 and 3.5 drives
Data and power are identical connections to the device
You just slide the drive into the connection = done/ power up.

That particular one also has a separate connection for old 3.5 hdd's IDE the ribbon type.

 

[AddRAM]

And what do you mean the Dell laptop died ?

Does it need a new battery, a new motherboard, a new power cable ???