Purchase Template: Can New Desktop Accept Current Hard Drive to "Plug and Play"?

Hi!

I'm going to provide the template below, but first I wanted to give an idea of my situation.

I have an ASUS M32AD (rundown on specs, and manual) with Win 7, and the computer is certainly aging. Years ago, desktops would offer the works, but things have changed; now DVD/CD drives are no longer standard, for example (and that is a feature I can't do without). I'd like to make a transition to a newer model that simulates the old.

I liked how my computer has a 7200 SATA drive, and cables to connect to a second such drive internally. 

I've got a lot of older programs and browser extensions that I would like to retain. 

I'm wondering if I could get a new computer and simply swap my current hard drive and get going without the hassle of installing all of the many programs that I have, and also to make sure I may keep using the older programs that will probably be incompatible with a newfangled PC. 

My current computer is still functioning well enough, but is showing signs of going wacko. What is prompting me to seek a new computer is how an external "My Passport" drive that plugs into a USB port is no longer cooperating, and that's only one example.

Thank you so much; I took a quick look around to see what's out there, and it didn't take long for my poor head to start spinning, so your advice would truly be appreciated. Here is that Template:

Desktop

My budget for the new computer is: Sky is not the limit (would like to keep it to a thousand dollars or preferably under), but given my special situation, I might have to spend more than I'd like to.

What are the primary uses for this computer? General usage.

What software do you intend on using on the computer?

I have lots of software, as with Photoshop, Vegas Movie Editing, and more.

Do you play games? If so, what type of games?

I enjoy "Yuri's Revenge," a Command and Conquer strategy game (for which I have the CD).

Do you tend to have a lot of programs running at the same time, or do you close every program when you are done using it?

Mostly close but sometimes forget to, which certainly slows things down. Multiple browsers with lots of tabs open are a vice.

Do you store a lot of pictures or music on the computer?

Things have a way of piling up on the hard drive. Movie files are transferred to eternal drives.

Will you be overclocking?

Not quite familiar with this, but from what little I've read, probably.

Location for online shopping/shipment/prices? I'm in the USA, and am open to purchasing from various outlets.

How many monitors are you planning to use? One.

Do you need peripherals? OS? If my plan is workable, I would be holding on to my outdated Win 7.

Any particular reason why you are upgrading?

 

 

If my plan is workable, I would be holding on to my outdated Win 7.

You will not be able to boot your current Win 7 on up-to-date hardware.

This probably ruins your entire plan.

You won't be able simply plug the drive in and boot Win 7...because the drivers installed on the drive...will differ from the drivers of this projected "new" system.  But...let's find out what "new" means to you...because I run Win 7/Win 10 on a refurbished system (Dell Optiplex 7010) which is an old system but performs well for me.

A lot of the "refurbished" systems data are similar to mine, from approximately the same era...but those systems (and any newer system) probably come with Win10 or Win 11 installed as the O/S.  On those refurbished systems, you could attach the drive, after removing the drive which comes with the system...but the installed drivers might still be a system mismatch...and you would have unwanted problems.

An additional consideration is the fact that Windows 7 is no longer supported by MS and you would have to find an AV that currently supports Win 7 with security updates (I use Malwarebytes Premium for such).

The easy solution would be to just forget about running Win 7 (my experience is that those programs which run on Win 7...run on Win 10) and go with Win 10 which is already installed on some of these refurbished systems.

Louis

You do not seem to understand the requirements for Video editing, manipulating photos/Photoshop, Gaming, and General purpose multi browser.  You have described a misnomer that you state " which certainly slows things down"

For such in a modern computer you want a gaming system with minimum 32 - 64 gig of ram. 

There are systems just for artists which is video/editing/photo & there is stock trading systems, business systems which is the slowest and tend to be HP/DELL/Lenovo &

then there is gaming systems for speed in anything you attempt to throw at it.

As for the OS want something that goes beyond Windows 10 as it Reaches End of Life October 2025.  As well Future proof it to go beyond a possible Win12. 

lol, do we skip 13 ??

If want to run Win 7 then go to the refurbished computer place and make yourself a danger to your friends family and the whole internet.  Move on from it.

Edited by Pkshadow, 18 March 2024 - 10:20 PM.

I appreciated those who took the time to offer responses, but especially the moderator who offered the most constructive information; thank you, Louis.