Solved Have old XP C: & want to mount in new Win7 just to retrieve files. OK?

[GARoss]

Have old XP C: & want to mount in new Win7 just to retrieve files. OK?

Trying to help my brother on this one.

His old XP PC crashed before he could setup Easy Transfer. He has since bought a new Win7 PC & needs to access data from his old C:. So, I'm wondering if we mount his old XP's C: as an extra HDD, will his new Win7 PC boot properly or will it be confussed which drive to boot from.

My gut feeling is it will boot to Win7 but it never hurts to look before leaping! Once we can read the files (photos, music, etc) we'll move them to his new C: & remove the old one.

Any suggestions?

 

[Golden]

Hi GARoss,

I do not think there will be any issues, but.....once you power up the PC the first time, enter the BIOS and make sure that the Windows 7 disk is first in the boot order.

Regards,
Golden

 

[GARoss]

Thanks. Will do.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
If you can easily remove the old PC's disk just temporarily mount it on to the new PC and copy the files.

You could also get a USB enclosure and use it as an external removable drive.

I've done this loads of times with Laptop HDD's -- I use the 160 MB old laptop HDD's for storing backups on -- these are nice and small and the usb / adapter and enclosure only cost around 12 EUR -- better than throwing the HDD away.

Speed etc isn't an issue -- these are fine for backing up Windows OS partition images.

You can do the same with old Internal HDD's as well.

If you don't want to go that route just open up the new PC -- connect the old HDD temporarily for one boot and copy your files. The drive won't be the boot HDD so no problem.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[GARoss]

Hi GARoss,

I do not think there will be any issues, but.....once you power up the PC the first time, enter the BIOS and make sure that the Windows 7 disk is first in the boot order.

Regards,
Golden

Hi there
If you can easily remove the old PC's disk just temporarily mount it on to the new PC and copy the files.

You could also get a USB enclosure and use it as an external removable drive.

I've done this loads of times with Laptop HDD's -- I use the 160 MB old laptop HDD's for storing backups on -- these are nice and small and the usb / adapter and enclosure only cost around 12 EUR -- better than throwing the HDD away.

Speed etc isn't an issue -- these are fine for backing up Windows OS partition images.

You can do the same with old Internal HDD's as well.

If you don't want to go that route just open up the new PC -- connect the old HDD temporarily for one boot and copy your files. The drive won't be the boot HDD so no problem.

Cheers
jimbo

Thanks! I do have an external enclosure but I was at my brothers, some 80 miles from home. That would of been prefect but not an option.

I opened his new PC & mounted & plugged in the old C:, then fired it up, checked the boot order & found it would boot Win7 first & proceeded. After a hesitation, it began a disk check on his old XP C:. I killed that, unplugged the old HDD, then restarted. Once booted to the desktop I plugged in the old drive & everything was good. It was ID as "I" drive. Copied all the needed files & he's happy & so am I. I'd hate to be the one to mess-up a new PC by doing something dumb!

Thanks for your help!

 

[Golden]

Great stuff - well done.