Hi. I'm putting a hard disk with Windows 98 SE into a different computer - different mobo, soundcard, video etc. I seem to recall from the dim and distant past that the best way to avoid driver conflicts when doing this was to delete a particular registry key (I think it was HKCC/System/Current Control Set/Enum but I can't be sure). The computer should then automatically attempt to set up all your hardware. Am I right? Am I barking up the wrong tree? It's been a while, you see... Roy.

Installing an old hard drive in a new machine; BEFORE you shut down that drive for the LAST time in the old machine. Open Regedit and navigate to the key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Enum Right click on the Enum folder icon and choose Delete, OK on the confirm. Close out Regedit. Shut down windows and pull out the drive. What this does is clear all the old hardware settings for the old machine. When you boot this drive as C: in the new machine windows will run it's Hardware/PnP detector to find all your new hardware (mobo, controllers, etc.). Load the drivers as required. No confusion about settings for equipment that isn't connected anymore, thus no double registry entries.

Thanks Dan - I knew it was something like that, but as I said it's been a while...

You're welcome.

Hi i was interested in the answer to the above question as i intend to do the same. Namley insert my Hard drive which has win 98 into a computer with a higher spec cpu. My question which may seem dum to you is if i delete the hardware settings will I need the win 98 disc to restore the settings? Thanks....

You will need the 98 CD for any drivers which 98 will "supply". If you have seperate CD's or floppies with drivers for video card, motherboard, sound card, modem, ethernet card, etc you will need those as well.

Thanks Dan, I will have to give it a miss as I don't have the CD's.You saved me from wrecking my system Cheers. John........