Topic: Using an OS on a different drive

[Atomic Mitten]

My main rig is in for repair,I suspect that the Mobo has a bad Chipset.
I would like to ask your opinion on something I think is a bit strange.
The Tech at the comp shop said that they have installed a HDD from another comp with windows on it,to test my rig ??
How can a drive from another comp work in mine ?
Surely the configuration will be different.

I just don't get how that is possible.
Any comments will be apreciated.

[Doc Nyar]

You're right, it is strange. The config will be different, unless the OS is pre-installed and an install needs to be run once the HD is placed in your comp...

[gryphon]

they could have used a hard disk with a sort os dcprep windows version on it. .. it will install most of the drivers at first boot.

Next to that, you can easy swap windows, the easyest way is to swap it between same CPU PC's. . Windows will almost always load and then find the new / changed drivers and installs them.
another way is to have several Windows hardware profiles, select the one most compatible with the current system on boot, windows just needs to boot then it will adjust it's drivers. So it the systems arn't to different [ Intell P4 with IDE drivers, or AMD with SATA drivers ] if will work without any problems.