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Re: Using same hard drive on 2 machines (46 Views)
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billurie Top Student
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billurie
Posts: 10
Registered: ‎10-26-2010
Message 1 of 7 (81 Views)
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Using same hard drive on 2 machines

‎04-30-2012 07:48 AM

I have 2 out-of-warranty HP computers (same age, 1 Pavilion. 1 Presario). I'd like to use the hard drives interchangeably. The 'visitor' drive boots only to Safe Mode but I'd like to make them boot interchangeably.

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lasvegaswireman
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Re: Using same hard drive on 2 machines

‎04-30-2012 06:36 PM

Unless most, if not all, of the hardware in each computer is the same, what you are suggesting will not work. Please post the model numbers and/or product numbers of both HP/Compaq computer in question. This will allow us to review the specs to see if there is any similarities between the computers.

 

Frank


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billurie Top Student
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billurie
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Re: Using same hard drive on 2 machines

‎05-01-2012 03:21 AM

Thanks for fast reply. One machine is Pavilion a1410n. The other is Presario SR1900NX.They are of approximately same vintage.I can be more specific about Boot I.D.s, but one is v3.03 and the other 3.10 or 3.11. I may have mentioned that the HD of the Presario does boot in the Pavilion machine but only into Safe Mode.

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lasvegaswireman
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Re: Using same hard drive on 2 machines

‎05-01-2012 07:52 AM

Here are the specs for your HP Pavilion Media Center a1410n Desktop PC and here are the specs for your Compaq Presario SR1900NX Desktop PC. These two computers are based on totally different motherboards and chipsets. You will never be able to swap the boot drive between them. Windows may boot into safe mode, but you will never get any further than that.

 

Frank


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billurie Top Student
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billurie
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Re: Using same hard drive on 2 machines

‎05-01-2012 08:05 AM

Thank you, Frank, for the prompt and complete answer. It's sad news, but they looked close enough (to my less than expert eye) so that I thought I might. Somehow, I think there ought to be a way to format and partition a new blank drive and copy everything over to it from the other hard drive. Shall I start searching for that, or can you lead me to it?

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wb2001
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Re: Using same hard drive on 2 machines

[ Edited ]

‎05-01-2012 11:44 AM - edited ‎05-01-2012 11:48 AM

Do both units have operational hard drives?

While data files can be copied, no installed program files can be copied.

 

A new disk set for the HP can be found here:

http://www.computersurgeons.com/SearchProducts.aspx?sbt=a1410n&bkm=Results#Results

Then you can copy data files (documents, pictures, music).

 

 

 

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billurie Top Student
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billurie
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Re: Using same hard drive on 2 machines

‎05-01-2012 12:05 PM

I want to copy the complete partition of a hard drive. Both of the machines have operational hard drives. Each hard drive has numerous partitions, each of which is a drive image of a functional OS plus apps. I'd be satisfied if I could just copy a hard drive to be able and switch in a saved hard drive as a substitute for a partition which has failed, for whatever reason.

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