Transfering Hard Drive To New Laptop.

[Sakeopete]

My company has provided me with a low budget Dell laptop. Already I am having problems with the screen changing colors. It also came with only 1 USB port (Dell E4310).

The hard drive is imaged with company software and it is important I use the same hard drive because the software license is based on the hard drive serial number.

I want to take the hard drive out and put it in a better laptop then update the new drivers. Is it possible to do this?

[nikster]

Depends. Our corporate laptops are completely locked down so installing drivers isn't going to happen.

[djdos2004]

If windows is locked down now (i.e you can't update drivers now) putting it in a new machine you will have the same problem.

You need access rights as administrator for updates.

However if it is not locked down you can in theory stick it in another machine.....but this is a BAD idea, unless the machine is exactlly the same...but you wouldn't need to do this if you have access rights now? (as your should be able to update drivers now if not locked out, unless you can't connect said PC to the net due to a probmatic driver)

As when you try and boot, it will look for new drivers for EVERYTHNG that has changed! And will most prob blue screen and topple over on you.

Ask your company for the admin login, or try finding updated drivers online, put them on a usb / CD and copy them to said laptop and try install. Chances are tho, it is locked down. If the company don't know the admin password / login, there are programs out they to get round this, search online.

If screens changing to all 1 colour over everything when touched, knocked or moved..sounds more like a hardware fault than a driver problem

[Sakeopete]

If windows is locked down now (i.e you can't update drivers now) putting it in a new machine you will have the same problem.

You need access rights as administrator for updates.

However if it is not locked down you can in theory stick it in another machine.....but this is a BAD idea, unless the machine is exactlly the same...but you wouldn't need to do this if you have access rights now? (as your should be able to update drivers now if not locked out, unless you can't connect said PC to the net due to a probmatic driver)

As when you try and boot, it will look for new drivers for EVERYTHNG that has changed! And will most prob blue screen and topple over on you.

Ask your company for the admin login, or try finding updated drivers online, put them on a usb / CD and copy them to said laptop and try install. Chances are tho, it is locked down. If the company don't know the admin password / login, there are programs out they to get round this, search online.

If screens changing to all 1 colour over everything when touched, knocked or moved..sounds more like a hardware fault than a driver problem

The computer is not locked down I have admin access. Everything works fine but like you suggested there seems to be a problem developing with the video card. The colors on the screen will start to fade then go back to normal while the laptop is on the desk.

[bkrazy]

If you have admin access I don't see why you can't do the switch. All you need is the proper driver for the new laptop and it should be an easy find if you have all the information or if it come with the services tag. But if your company have an IT department, I would let them do the switch for you. That way if there's any harm done to it, it would be their fault and they would have to find a solution for it, which most likely be a new laptop.

[rakman]

If windows is locked down now (i.e you can't update drivers now) putting it in a new machine you will have the same problem.

You need access rights as administrator for updates.

However if it is not locked down you can in theory stick it in another machine.....but this is a BAD idea, unless the machine is exactlly the same...but you wouldn't need to do this if you have access rights now? (as your should be able to update drivers now if not locked out, unless you can't connect said PC to the net due to a probmatic driver)

As when you try and boot, it will look for new drivers for EVERYTHNG that has changed! And will most prob blue screen and topple over on you.

Ask your company for the admin login, or try finding updated drivers online, put them on a usb / CD and copy them to said laptop and try install. Chances are tho, it is locked down. If the company don't know the admin password / login, there are programs out they to get round this, search online.

If screens changing to all 1 colour over everything when touched, knocked or moved..sounds more like a hardware fault than a driver problem

Be sure to do a full image backup before attempting the move. If it goes to crap, you can recover easily. Then try again, keep the copy for recovery of the original disk only.

The computer is not locked down I have admin access. Everything works fine but like you suggested there seems to be a problem developing with the video card. The colors on the screen will start to fade then go back to normal while the laptop is on the desk.

[Spoonman]

Unless you mount the image on a laptop that contains identical hardware it will have issues.

When you say "The colors on the screen will start to fade then go back to normal while the laptop is on the desk." where is the laptop when the screen starts to play up, if it is not on a hard flat surface it may be a heat related issue.

[endure]

If you have a faulty laptop the most sensible solution is to report it to your company's IT department and let them sort it out. Tinkering with equipment supplied by your company may well be a disciplinary offence.

[Sakeopete]

Unless you mount the image on a laptop that contains identical hardware it will have issues.

When you say "The colors on the screen will start to fade then go back to normal while the laptop is on the desk." where is the laptop when the screen starts to play up, if it is not on a hard flat surface it may be a heat related issue.

I meant to say the laptop goes from good-bad-good while on the desk.