How to Switch Hard Drives From One Computer to Another
When you have more than one computer, the time may come when you want to expand one computer at the expense of the other. Many times this will be because you want to use the hard drive from an old computer in a new computer. It is a relatively simple transfer process to move these hard drives, but be aware of which operating system you want to use from each hard drive because you can use either one when the computer starts up.
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Instructions
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Remove the cover of the case from the old computer and remove the hard drive. The drive will be held in place by up to four Phillips-head screws and will have one or two sets of wires plugged into the back of the drive. Carefully pull those wires from the back of the hard drive.
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Remove the cover of the case on the new computer and select a location for the hard drive. Most computers that are in tower cases (not laptops) will have a number of open bays where drives can be installed. Many cases will also allow a drive to be mounted on the edges of the case. Be sure the location you select has room for your drive, and leave space around the drive if possible for air flow.
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Use the screws to install the drive. Attach the drive will all four screws, if possible. However, if your hard drive did not have four screws, do not use other screws to install your drive. The screws that come with the drive are very short, and if you use different screws, you may physically damage the inside of the hard drive.
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Locate and install the power cable for the new hard drive. Your power supply for the computer will have a number of different drive power cables. Most computers have four or five that are not in use at any time. You can use any of these power cables; it does not matter which one you use. Just be sure it is the same type as what you removed from the hard drive in the old computer.
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Locate and install the data cable for the new hard drive. Depending on your type of hard drive, you will need to locate the correct data cable. Look back in the old computer to see the type of cable that you removed and use that same type. It may be a wide, flat ribbon cable, or it may be a SATA cable. If you have no cables in the new computer, you may need to remove the cable from the old computer and plug it into the new computer into the hard drive and the motherboard.
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Configure your BIOS to recognize the new hard drive. Each BIOS manufacturer has a different way to configure hard drives, so check your BIOS manual for how to set up yours. In many cases, the BIOS will automatically detect the new hard drive and let you use it right away. If you want to boot from your newly added hard drive, just change the boot order of your hard drives in the BIOS as well.
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Tips & Warnings
Many desktop cases today can support up to eight hard drives.
Handle hard drives with care, they are very fragile.
