# Installing old hard drive into new PC

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/installing-old-hard-drive-into-new-pc/350911>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 2, 2006, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/installing-old-hard-drive-into-new-pc/350911 "2006-04-02T03:52:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/278dde/32.png) [@Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runs_With_Scissors)\
**Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/installing-old-hard-drive-into-new-pc/350911/21 "2006-04-03T14:40:20Z")

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> [@Nanoda](#):
>
> I’d say so. AFAIK the files aren’t encrypted or anything, and Linux NTFS filesystem support doesn’t care about user restrictions. (Can’t even _write_ to NTFS actually).
> 
> All you have to lose is a CDR and the time it takes you to download the .iso, burn the image, and shove it in the PC and wait for it to boot.

Thank you, Nanoda. I downloaded Knoppix. First I created a data CD and that didn’t work, and after poking around, found out I had to “burn” the “image” to “cd.” I “feel” so “clueless” about this “entire” process…

But I did it. Found my files. Today the bank will be open and I can get my backup drive out of the safe deposit box. I’m hoping I can just copy the files to that; however, burning them to CD will be fine, too.

Can’t thank you enough for your suggesting of running a Linux CD. That would never have occurred to me in a million years. As scary as losing data is…my inner computer geek LOVES a challenge, and this was, dare I say it…kinda fun 🙂

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