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Re: Computer Guru question
Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2026 9:18 pm
by pasayten
You might be able to boot from a bootable cd and get your data files that are on the hard drive. The actual programs are most likely severely outdated and not transferable. There may be new versions of the programs that you can purchase for the new puter. Were you looking for data and pictures you had on the old puter?
Re: Computer Guru question
Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2026 7:08 pm
by mister_coffee
Well, if the old computer won't boot the most likely reason is that the hard drive is damaged.
Depending on how badly damaged it is, you might be able to recover some stuff, including programs. But you probably will have to spend quite a bit of time and possibly a fair amount of money to do that.
Keep in mind that an old computer system of that vintage probably uses an older hard drive interface (I'd bet IDE) and that would require either another old machine or some weird hardware adapter. Those adapters exists and aren't expensive. But you still need to be able to talk to the old filesystem and repair it, which means you'd have to find software that could do just that.
The feasibility of accomplishing anything here very much depends on how damaged that hard drive is.
Computer Guru question
Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2026 3:36 pm
by Jingles
Have a question for a computer guru
Recently had to get a new puter and wondering if it is possible to move some of the programs from the old puter, that the OS was Windows NT 2000 to the new puter that has Windows 11? If not is there a way I can access the programs from the old HD?
The old puter would not do a basic boot up.
Thanks in advance for any replies, good or bad news