Computer Help

[FlynMonkeez]

My cousins computer wasn't working so i took out the HardDrive and put it in my computer. Then I installed Windows 2000 Professional on it. I went back to their house today to put the HardDrive back in and it won't work, the computer will not boot Windows 2000. I checked the cables to make sure everything was in the right place, it was. Does anybody know whats wrong? What can I do to fix it?

[Elucifer]

there's nothing you can do. If i remember correctly, 2000 generates security id's.. which means that it identifies with the hardware of the machine it works on, and won't work on other machines. The only way you could do this is to use a drive imaging program which doesn't image the sid or use the win2k preinstalltion kit. Otherwise, u'r gonna have to use 98. When you put the new 98 harddrive into u'r cousins machine it's always a good idea to boot into safe mode first up and delete all the hardware drivers from system properties then reboot and let windows detect all your cousins hardware.

See how you go,
Issey

[SledDog]

isseylatte is correct. XP looks at various hardware components and generates an internal security ID. This impacts any machine XP is on if you change a motherboard, network card, video card, hard drive, burner, etc. After a certain number of changes have been detected, you then have to call Micro$oft to get a re-activation code (at which time they check to see if you're running a legit copy.)

If all you want NTFS, you're better off with Windows2000...

[Cpt_Obvious]

Arrrrr...now ye're talking my know how! Win2k cannot be formatted on one machine, then taken to another. As the others have already stated it pretty much "stamps" what machine that HD belongs to when ye format it, so it does. Ye're better off, taking your Win2k disc to yer cousin's house and formatting it there on its own computer. Arrrrr

[Merle Corey]

The good Captain already handed you the answer, but it may be worth clarifying a few things.

You actually can transfer HD's between different Win2K PC's. The BIG catch is that both computers have to be using the same drive controller and the same chipset. It's easier if you have two machines with the same motherboard, and easier still if the two machines have identical hardware overall.

The only circumstance where the SID plays a major role is on a network (specifically, the workstation SID is used as a unique identifier, just like user accounts have UID's). Any other time it doesn't matter - Win2K isn't very particular about the hardware (other than the previously mentioned drive controller & chipset), and will treat such a transfer as a massive hardware upgrade.

The SID won't matter at all for a unique install on one PC where the drive is then moved to another, because the SID isn't unique to a particular machine, it's unique to a particular install.

XP behaves as Balto described (and the magic number of hardware changes is 3, IIRC), with a notable exception for the corporate/Select version of XP which doesn't require activation in the first place.

Issey's advice regarding 98 is sound, as the 95/98/ME family use a different boot method that isn't dependant on the specific configuration. (What kind of driver issues you'll run into is another matter...)

Yeah, so I'm a pedantic geek. Sue me.

MC

[SledDog]

Yeah, so I'm a pedantic geek. Sue me.

LOL Never... btw, here your official propeller beenie. Welcome to the brotherhood...