If I remove a HD from the IDE cable, will it lose all its data? I’m running two HDs and is thinking of switching them around. Does that mean I will have to reinstall my operating system? I’m running on windows xp.
No. The hard drive will store all the data if disconnected from the cables or even removed completely from the computer. You also will not need to reinstall Windows Xp if installing the hard drive back into the same computer. If you put the hard drive in a different computer with different hardware components then you would need to reinstall Windows XP. Reinstalling Windows XP is usually using the restoration disc or utility that came with the computer to get it back to factory settings like the day it was bought.
Laptop Hard Drive is smaller than a desktop, so im affraid you cannot put it into your laptop, maybe the other way around would work though putting laptop one into desktop but i never tried this before. You can however use a USB connection to it by putting laptop drive into an external case that will work these are available almost any computer store for about ?10.
you wont lose all of your data if you disconnect the cables, that is until you switch them and install windows on the other hd. you can go into bios and boot from the original hd if you know what youre doing, if not id leave them alone. they both are on there so whats the difference in what order they are in
I’m running two HDs and is thinking of switching them around. Disconnecting an HD from the IDE cable won't lose any data, assuming you shut down the computer and unplug the power cord. But your question makes me want to ask you more. Why would you want to switch the HDs? What would that accomplish? If you want to use the other HD as your bootdisk, you will have to install an operating system on it. Otherwise you might be able to change your boot disk using your Bios' Boot Manager.
Disconnecting a hard drive from the IDE cable is like unplugging your IPOD from your computer. No harm is done. Not sure what your motive is for doing that. If you want to have the computer boot from the hard drive with your Operating system on it, you will need to change the boot order in your BIOS. You can get there holding down F2, F8, Delete or something. Just make note of the HD in there now, and swap it after you physically make the change.
