Short version: Does installing my old HDD as a slave in a new computer avoid System Restore/Reactivation problems? Long version: The motherboard to my Japanese Sony Vaio desktop (PCV-HS73BC7, P4 2.6Gig) is fried. I'm building a new computer, but want to keep my old HDD (160Gig Seagate Barracuda 7200.7). My computer is Japanese and I'm currently waiting for the proper disks to arrive by mail. In the meantime, I'm wondering which is better: 1. Set the old HDD as a slave in the new computer, and hoping there will be no problems, copy over what I need to the new HDD. My main question is this: will the new computer and HDD accept the old HDD without any problems (reactivation, etc.)? 2. Ghost the old HDD to the new Maxtor HDD and deal with Reactivation / System Restore, which may not even work since Sony hardware tends to be a big prick about this stuff. This is all new to me, so any help is a godsend at this point. Cheers.

Windows installation looks at the motherboard and other components to install what is needed. Even if this works, which I doubt very much, you would still need to reactivate because of the component change. Is it not a legal copy of XP? You can avoid many of these Windows problems with Linux. Linspire eases the transition for new users

just use a legal copy of windows and activate u'r windows. it should not a very big problem. Check your site's google Page Rank here

Yes, it is a legal copy. But GX1 Man says it probably won't work, and rhi says it probably will. I'm confused!

AFAIK Sony use Restore Disks and when you install your new motherboard it should be OK to fire up if the motherboard is the same. Obviously if it is not a Sony motherboard then you will probably not be able to patch together XP using the Sony Restore Disk as quite often they use hidden partitions to store info. The moral of the story is to always buy a PC with a REAL XP CD.

Generally speaking, wxp stores hw info on the master hdd such that it cannot be used as a master hdd on another pc, except if that pc is exactly the same configuration as the original pc. Much has been said about this, as it appears an oversight by ms, bearing in mind one is often upgrading etc. The theory is, following moving the hdd (or whatever) upgrading wxp overcomes the problem (sometimes referred to as the blue screen of death). However there is the worry that in the process ones data might be lost. I feel the safest way is to install a new hdd as the master, installing the o/s on it, and *THEN* install the old hdd as a slave. Which windows will 'see'. Have found when installing windows sometimes it does not like having both hdd's in situ. Move the info required from slave to master, then wipe slave. Good Luck - Keep us posted.

Using your old HD as a slave (data drive) on the new system will not cause any problems whatsoever. Just don't try to use it as a second Operating System drive.