# WinXP install on HD for different PC; will this work?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winxp-install-on-hd-for-different-pc-will-this-work/383005>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 6, 2006, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winxp-install-on-hd-for-different-pc-will-this-work/383005 "2006-12-06T00:57:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![D.E.S.K.Top668](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@D.E.S.K.Top668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D.E.S.K.Top668)\
**Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winxp-install-on-hd-for-different-pc-will-this-work/383005/1 "2006-12-06T00:57:51Z")

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While far from being a computer expert, I have a friend who is even less knowledgeable then I am. He’s running an old HP with WindowsME installed (its original OS.) l happen to have a spare (100% legit) XP license and disc. His PC is up to running XP, but I don’t feel like spending all day at his house, so I was wondering; Can I install XP on a spare HD I have, then just install the entire HD into his PC? His PC can also hand two hard-drives, so that won’t be a problem.

Thanks in advance - DESK

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**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\
**Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winxp-install-on-hd-for-different-pc-will-this-work/383005/2 "2006-12-06T01:08:19Z")

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At best, it will complain a great deal on first boot, require activation and installation of drivers, then behave in a not-quite stable fashion forever more. At worst, it simply won’t boot at all.

If your own machine had the same or very similar hardware spec (particularly the motherboard), then it would go more smoothly than that.

You’d be much better off borrowing the machine off him for a day and doing the install directly on it.

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**Author:** ![Dervorin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Dervorin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dervorin)\
**Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winxp-install-on-hd-for-different-pc-will-this-work/383005/3 "2006-12-06T01:29:16Z")

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XP can be transplanted from one system to another (I’ve changed a motherboard, which comes to much the same thing as what you propose, without having to reinstall) but it was complicated, and painful, and as \*\*Mangetout \*\*noted, not terribly stable. It’s possible, but not worth the hassle. Much easier to install it where it’s meant to go.

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**Author:** ![D.E.S.K.Top668](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@D.E.S.K.Top668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D.E.S.K.Top668)\
**Post date:** [December 6, 2006, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winxp-install-on-hd-for-different-pc-will-this-work/383005/4 "2006-12-06T01:46:24Z")

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Thanks for the heads up. I guess he’ll just have to go without a PC for a day or two.

Thanks again - DESK