Resolved M-board fried, how can I use HD in another?

I have an eMachine T2542 that has a bad power supply. It seems to have damaged the M-board. This machine will no longer boot.

I have a Dell Dimension 2400 and I wanted to put the HD from the eMachine in it. But I don't know how to get around the 'authenticity' issue since the installed OS doesn't match the Dell M-board. When the OS boots, it asks for a password and accepts the entry. It begins loading my settings, etc, but it then asks if I want to validate this OS. When I answer No, I am logged out. I am hesitant to answer yes because I have no idea of the repercussions that might come from Microsoft. BTW, I own both machines.

Both OSes are Windows XP Home edition, are OEM installed, and boot and operate when the respective HD is installed as Master.

Is there any way around this short of buying another copy of Windows?

Thanks, Ed B

 

Hi Ed B, if your Dell has an operating system already - why don't you slave the Hard drive and transfer all the info you want, then Format the slave ready to install in another unit? Neil.

 

Thanks for the reply, I have tried that and couldn't access the files due to inability to enter a password.

The OS required a password and I don't know how to gain access now.

 

2 ways to get the data off that disk.

1. Take the disk to a friend. Connect it to his computer & copy the data to a flash drive.
2. Download Linux based OS [Ubuntu for one]. Boot from it & copy the data.

 

Thanks rsinfo!

I have a HD with Ubuntu already. I'll give it a try (not positive, but may have tried this already).

I'll post again with results tomorrow afternoon if possible.

 

This issue is now resolved!

Thanks a heap, I downloaded Ubuntu 10.04 first but it was locking up while browsing the files and I had to kill the power to recover and reboot.

Then I tried 9.4 and it installed easily and was doing what I needed until I ran Synaptic pkg mgr. It updated the packages and removed files no longer needed. Once the updating finished I was given the option to upgrade to 9.10, so I allowed the upgrade and wound up with almost the same problem I had with 10.10.

Then I installed 9.4 again and updated the pkgs but did not allow the upgrade.

I have the XP HD installed as slave and I can access all the disk and copy files to my hearts desire.

Thanks for the help!!!!

Ed B

 

Glad you could get your data back, but Ed there is no need to install Ubuntu [or any other Linux for that matter] just for data recovery. Most of the distros have a bootable Live variant. Just download, write to a DVD, boot from it & you are ready to rock n roll.