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Question

2 broken computers

Oct 8, 2011 8:49PM PDT

Hi peeps
id like to post a problem to get help with but not sure where its to do with swapping hard drives with different connections from one puter to the next
thanks

Discussion is locked

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Answer
This is a good place to start.
Oct 8, 2011 8:53PM PDT

You can post in this thread you have just made with the problems you are having.

Just make sure you provide as much detail as possible and hopefully others here will be able to help you.

Good luck.

Mark

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2 broken computers
Oct 8, 2011 9:15PM PDT

thanks
My prob is i have an E_machine 370 running XP that i tried to reinstall windows on (for my daughter as her first computer) from the factory disk that came with the pc but for some reason microsoft keep telling me its not a real copy even tho its been reinstalled a few times over the years i tried to activate over the net but still nothing only to plug my main computer in and it now it cant connect to the monitor ive tried 3 others so i must of damaged the mother board connection so i thought i could take out the HD from mine and memory put them in the old XP machine but no on opening them up my main computer which i brought 2nd hand was built in a shop has 2 plugs goning into the HD one has 4 wires the other 2 on the E-machine it has a thin grey plug with pins hope you understand this

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Can't do certain things without creating more problems
Oct 8, 2011 10:56PM PDT

With XP, you cannot move the hard drive from one machine to another in the way you stated. Be very careful when doing this as you might find that you can't even put it back into the original machine once it's been tried in another box. Also, you cannot use an XP disk designed for a brand name machine and install Windows on some other machine. Certain hardware changes on a machine can also cause Windows not to function. This is a licensing restriction and the rules are a bit different for the various versions of Windows. It might be better to post what you're trying to do with the first machine, what went wrong with it, and what steps you've taken to correct it. If the E-machine has original hardware, it's all in working order and you have the original factory recovery disks you should be able to do a full system restore. But swapping hard drives will make things messy.

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Re-install the OS
Oct 9, 2011 2:41AM PDT

Here's what I do on the eMachine. Make sure you have the restore/recovery discs supplied for THAT PC. Now, google for DBAN or KILLDISK and make a bootable disc after getting the .ISO file for that purpose. Once, you've burned a bootable disc and it works, then place in eMachine. Reboot and allow it to access the disc, if working it will prompt you. Once done, access the "wipe clean" or delete the entire HD. Once that's done its fully available for your restore/recovery discs. Doing it this way removes any past installs or s/w problems and such. It also tests the HD in a round about way as well as a benny. OK, if that works and all is restored, then the MS message should be to get the XP activated. If it fails at that time, then something else is at work here. I exclude any other source of XP restore/recovery discs, we need only the original OEM type discs supplied when brought new. If the "auto-activate" doesn't work then call the phone#, it should supply info that you respond to, otherwise a true phone call talking to someone maybe required. However, you should do OK on the interactive robo-phone method.

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one puter sorted
Oct 9, 2011 6:04PM PDT

Thanks for your answers
i think i have sorted out the main problem with my built pc which i can't use it boots up but wont connect to the monitor the vga connection must be broke so i am going to buy USB 2.0 to SATA/IDE Adapter Kitr Adapter for 2.5/3.5/5.25 Inch SATA or IDE Drive so i can get my stuff of the HD. The E-machine that i have tried to reinstall the original disk on did still come up that the code i put in was invalid even tho i click on change code microsoft just tell you its a dodgy copy then cut you off the phone i tried to get it to boot the disk again just in case it was a bad install and now it will not change to reistall windows it is stuck on option 2 waiting for disk to boot it but nothing happens

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Stuff happens
Oct 9, 2011 7:10PM PDT

Having so much going on or being wrong, etc., sometimes I use a different CD drive in order to get pass errors that maybe generated that way. Not, that it might be, but at times an old drive causes some issues. If the restore/recovery discs are genuine then eMachine can replace them or at least ask them to. They are your support in these matters, though a small cost(may) will be required. otherwise, using a full retail XP disc either retail(full) or upgrade disc will do. Excluding any possible glitch that MS may have generated in order to reduce true non-genuine it could have humped your key into all of this. It has happened before or even that MS had a misguided pgm. that when awry. Again, post to MS to make that yours is genuine and make your case. Either MS or eMachine may provide further support. This is not a given but your left at this point other than buying some genuine version elsewhere.

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Willy answers and a bit more...
Oct 14, 2011 1:55PM PDT

Lordbarclay,

Willy's answers are definitely pointing you in the right direction! On the eMachines computer, whatever warranty it came with is likely to be expired but perhaps you can find information on their site regarding any technical issues with the specific model of computer.

http://support.gateway.com/us/en/emac/default.aspx

The following discussion includes what appears to be good information on resetting the Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) notification utility. It may be of use in case that message returns:

http://social.microsoft.com/Forums/en/genuinewindowsxp/thread/f5e5e011-53c5-4aa0-8051-556713510ebd

In case this was not clear:
The "grey" flat ribbion cable going to a hard drive is a Parallel ATA (EIDE) drive cable.
A thinner blue or red cable with much more narrow connecter is a Serial ATA (SATA) drive cable.

I have yet to see a Motherboard capable of supporting both PATA and SATA on the same board.

I often use an external drive adapter kit to temporarily connect hard drives to other computers in order backup files before wiping the drives. The 2.5 inch notebook hard drives work with my adapter and RARELY need additional power to operate them. The adapter does have an ON/OFF switch and a separate cable to connect the adapter to a computer via USB. It also has a power cable that may be connected to the adapter for 2.5 inch/3.5 inch hard drives which need more power (you can tell when they do not "spin up" at power on. The same power cable gets connected directly to larger hard drives, the big desktop drives, when I am working with them.

The external adapter has three different hard drive connectors all on one flat, thin box. I could almost call it a "multi-adapter" and it has saved my biscuits on more than a few occasions. IT was the best $39.95 plus tax I have ever invested in anything!

~ Dennis

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Answer
not successful even for me
Oct 11, 2011 8:16PM PDT

Hi,

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Re: installing XP
Oct 11, 2011 8:21PM PDT

Sorry to read that.

But if you don't tell more, nobody can help you. And please start a new thread in stead of breaking in into an existing one that's probably totally unrelated.

Kees