Need to build a new pc for my dad's boss, Old PC has programs and files that are not going to be easily moved unless I can take the HDD out and just plug it into the new system. However the old HDD has a 32 bit copy of Win 7 on it and the new one will be on a 64bit Win 10 OS. Will I be able to plug in the Old HDD alongside the new one and use programs and files off of it? Or are all those programs now trapped underneath the Win 7 OS they are installed with?
If so what solution should I be looking for here?
Should be ok to see the old stuff unless bitlocker or similar was in use.
yes but no. you will have to create shortcuts to the desktop that link to the programs. also some info might be missing so you will also need to copy %appdata% and program data to the new pc
I'm sure someone might remember the software to image a hard drive so you don't need to physically have the hard drive
Disk2vhd
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/ee656415.aspx
Then you just run it as a virtual machine which is fine unless you need GPU acceleration
I appreciate the idea Street but I have to go literally cave man simple on this one. My dad's boss has the tech knowledge of someone born in the 1800's.
I need to make the change as seamless as possible.
That would just be reinstalling the programs if possible
Unfortunately not possible without incurring probably an extra 200 dollars
Did you already try the drive in a windows 10 machine? did the programs just load up fine?
Haven't pulled the drive from the old system yet. Might bring it home with me tomorrow and toss it in my system to see what it does for my own curiosity. If I can open programs and documents then my question will be answered I suppose.