OS help

[neo_philiac]

Hey Guys: I know this is technically not a programming problem but my computer just crashed(bad motherboard) and I need help. I got another computer but I need to run the OS (XP) from the old hard drive. Now I can boot to different HD but is there a program (like MS Virtual PC) to run the old XP from the within the running XP? I want to switch back and forth.

I would appreciate your help.

Thanks

[Twey]

Hm, no, I don't think so. You could run the OS (using qemu, Bochs, whatever), but the hardware presented to it will be different, causing the famous Windows bug/anti-piracy measure (last I knew, no-one was sure what it actually was) to kick in and make the whole thing blue-screen and die.

[ItsMeOnly]

Well, the only chance is to use a virtual machine, like VMWare, though, it might not even be possible to deploy old XP under new mainboard- or processor family to be exact, I couldn't run XP installed on Celeron under Pentium IV, immediate bluescreen on boot.

[djr33]

It's probably possible to get the data off the drive in another way. No need to run the OS, as long as you get everything from it, right?

[neo_philiac]

well the objective is not to get the data but run the OS and all the programs installed in it. I am amazed that there is no other way around it with the different processor.

[djr33]

Ah. Programs.
Yeah, piracy issues will likely get in the way.

Just like you can't copy the program files folder from one computer to another. (And other reasons.)

Really, though, just reinstall the programs. You can get the data (even if it's part of a program, like settings) by copying specific files from the harddrive.
You should have CDs for the software. Even if you did download the software, then that's no reason to need the old computer... just do it again. (I'm not suggesting that you *should* do it, but it's not like it's any more legal to run the old copy than to do it again...)
I don't really see why you'd need the old system.... except for ease of use. But, really, how long can it take to set it up again?

[BLiZZaRD]

Maybe I am missing the point, but why not just install the new motherboard in the older computer, or the older HDD into the newer computer?

Might be possible to set up a daughterboard system as well, depending on what is wrong with your old motherboard...

[Twey]

Because:

the hardware presented to it will be different, causing the famous Windows bug/anti-piracy measure (last I knew, no-one was sure what it actually was) to kick in and make the whole thing blue-screen and die.

A new motherboard always requires a new install of Windows, as far as I'm aware. It certainly stopped me in my tracks when I tried to do something similar.

[BLiZZaRD]

Hmmm... could be one of those, if you are stupid enough things just work?? I had a motherboard go south and bought a new one, actually I bought a computer minus the hard drive. I took my old MB and swapped them and everything worked. Dunno...

[Twey]

Hm... perhaps if they were the same model? I'm no hardware wizard.