can I switch my HD back to my laptop from desktop

[bigboi972]

I have a desktop pc I just built I am currently using my laptop HD in my desktop machine if I was to put the laptop HD back in the laptop would it bootup and run programs like normal or will I have to reinstall the os and all programs

 

[TVeblen]

You would need to clean install the OS and all the programs.

If the OS for the desktop was installed on the laptop hard drive (installed in the desktop) then all of the drivers in the OS are geared for the desktop. None of the drivers needed to run on the laptop are installed. It would not start up.

You could install the hard drive in the laptop and then do a Repair Install on the existing OS installation to try and save some time and effort, but these can result in some strange behaviors in some cases.
To have the best OS installation you really should do a clean install.

 

[whs]

It is unlikely that it runs because of the drivers. You may also have an activation problem depending on the type of OS license you have - retail or OEM.