Adding a SATA HDD, with Vista on it, to a computer booting XP

Pythos

Don't you hate it when you go to start up a computer and you get those annoying error code beeps?

So I went to add 2GB of RAM to her aging HP m7750n desktop and after installing the RAM the comp would give a 1 short, 1 long error code beep. I thought "okay, no biggie, I must have seated the RAM badly." Pulled out the new RAM, reseated it, and when I plugged in the computer it tried to start up on w/o me pressing the power button. Uh ho, bigger problem. I am guessing that now I have a power supply issue or something is shorted out on the mobo. Anyway, she has a lot of photos and music on the hard drive that have not been backed up.

Can I install her SATA HDD into spare computer that has a SATA HDD booting to XP? Is there a procedure for adding a SATA HDD to computer that already has an OS on it?

If I can't add the HDD to the "new" computer can I use an USB External HDD bay to get the info off of?

Thanks for any help y'all can provide.

davethebarb

If you want to pull the information off, then yes, you can simply hook the SATA HDD into another PC. XP should automatically mount the drive, but at most you might need to go to run compmgmt.msc through the Run prompt, go to Disk Management and then assign the drive a letter there.

Bear in mind that if any files were encrypted on the original Vista PC (I doubt they were), then they cannot be read elsewhere. It hopefully shouldn't be an issue though.

corky842

For files in the user folder, you may need to take ownership.

If the computer tries to boot from the Vista HDD, you should be able to hot-swap the hard drive (plug it in after it boots).

Pythos

Thanks.

I'll let y'all know if everything works out.