How to move a hard disk from one computer to another

[Dragonchaser]

I have an old computer with a C drive with my OS and a D drive that holds my data.

I have a new computer with a C drive with my OS on it. No data yet.

Can I just take the D drive out of the old desktop, fit it in the new and that's it?

Is it really that simple?

 

[TVeblen]

Negative.
Your new Windows installation is customized for the new machine. The old Windows installation will not start up on the new machine.

It is best to just copy your data from the old drive to the new.
You can connect the old drive to the new computer (in addition to the already installed new drive) and do the copying that way.

 

[Dragonchaser]

I just want to move the data (D) drive from the old W7 to the new W7 machine.

This ain't possible?

(Just wanted to make sure we're on the same wavelength here.)

 

[Barman58]

Of course you can do what you want ...

Not totally simple but not difficult

After you phisically fit the data drive into the new system you need to give your new user rights to access the data on the drive - take ownership of the base of the file tree of the data drive and then give your new main user full access rights to the drive - allow the rights to cascade down to the lowers folders and files.

This extra step is needed as although your new user name may be identical to the precious one the actual IS used by the NTFS file system will be different

 

[Dragonchaser]

I see. Thanks, Barman58!

That's right click on the drive > Properties > Security, right?

 

[Barman58]

Correct