Old windows boot problem

Nisis · June 28, 2016

Hi guys,

So here's my problem. I have currently 3 HDDs with windows install on each, they're pretty old, Two of them are probably Windows 7 and the last one should have Windows Vista on it but i don't remember which one. Well, when I tested my HDDs, two of them boot BUT, when the first logo of windows appear, juste the little pixels of colors, the PC restart completely. And after that he asked me if I want to try Without Errors. Still coudn'lt load. One of my HDD, on 7 I think, proposed me to launch a maintenance software to detect errors but nothing happened.

What could I do because I still have 3 windows licences, but I don't have the key activation or anything like that, even the CD installer.

Could someone help me ?

June 28, 2016

Try using a HDD with a working windows. Then use HD-tune, to check the health of those HDD's. Might want to run chkdsk.exe to. (installed in all windows versions) Check for bad sectors etc. Then you should be able to figure out if there is a software problem, or a HDD problem. If the HDD's are fine, you could then find an installation disk of your windows version. Maybe even download a pirated version, with seperate serial. With that, you should be able to REPAIR your windows. You should keep your origional/legal key. With some programs, you will then be able to extract the serial numbers/keys.

Hope this helps.

*PS: if none of your HDD's boot properly, you might have other hardware issues.

Radxr3 · June 28, 2016

If you switched the hardware from the original PC that Windows was installed on, it will have a very hard time booting as the Windows license is tied to the motherboard. Now when it comes to changing or upgrading your old motherboard with a new completely different brand of motherboard, that's not to difficult, the problem that people have is when they want to keep the Windows install without having to format and do a fresh install. Its still possible to do this, but you will have to remove Chipset Drivers, USB Drivers,Video Card Drivers, Sound Card Drivers, IDE & ATAPI Serial Controllers. Then swap out your motherboard for a new one and then start the computer up, it will detect new hardware and hopefully you should have no hardware conflicts.

Nisis · June 28, 2016

10 hours ago, Radxr3 said:

If you switched the hardware from the original PC that Windows was installed on, it will have a very hard time booting as the Windows license is tied to the motherboard. Now when it comes to changing or upgrading your old motherboard with a new completely different brand of motherboard, that's not to difficult, the problem that people have is when they want to keep the Windows install without having to format and do a fresh install. Its still possible to do this, but you will have to remove Chipset Drivers, USB Drivers,Video Card Drivers, Sound Card Drivers, IDE & ATAPI Serial Controllers. Then swap out your motherboard for a new one and then start the computer up, it will detect new hardware and hopefully you should have no hardware conflicts.

I don't completely understand what you mean

Each HHD came from different computers: The first 7 is from a customised pc that we build, the second one came from a laptop, and the Vista one came from a pre-build machine. The laptop had some issues that we fixed. Normally he's fine

12 hours ago, Dutch-stoner said:

Try using a HDD with a working windows. Then use HD-tune, to check the health of those HDD's. Might want to run chkdsk.exe to. (installed in all windows versions) Check for bad sectors etc. Then you should be able to figure out if there is a software problem, or a HDD problem. If the HDD's are fine, you could then find an installation disk of your windows version. Maybe even download a pirated version, with seperate serial. With that, you should be able to REPAIR your windows. You should keep your origional/legal key. With some programs, you will then be able to extract the serial numbers/keys.

Hope this helps.

I don't remember exactly the windows version that was installed... How installing a new windows will keep and recognize the activation key if everything is removed by replacing the windows already installed ?