Moving Hard Drive from One Desktop System to Another

maramom is correct -- if the version of XP on the Compaq is a retail boxed version then you won't have any problem re-activating.   It may still require a phone call, but you'll have no problem getting a new activation key.

--- I'm guessing that a Compaq Desktop Pro system with PII 400 CPU wouldn't normally come with XP OEM installed, more likely Windows 98.

... I'd agree.   But Compaq did send out upgrade notices to owners, and if a Compaq OEM upgrade was used then the system won't have a license that will transfer to another system.

... the only way to really tell is move it & make the phone call.   The telephone activation center doesn't always enforce the licensing restrictions -- they tend to err on the side of the customer (which is good).

garycase, maramom, nobus,

Thanks.  A retail version of XP had been installed on the Compaq desktop.
It sounds like I would have to (or it is highly recommanded that I) do a clean install on the Dell (target) desktop system.

I guess I should do a backup of the hard drive before the move.  I was going to use XP's File and Settings Transfer Wizard.  Would this be sufficient?

Yes, although i prefer the old style : copying by hand waht i need , so i am sure about the transferred data.

Yes, before you move the drive you should absolutely backup all of your data.  Don't forget e-mail, favorites, data from programs that don't use My Documents (Quicken, for example), etc.   The safest thing to do is image the drive -- that way you can get to ANYTHING you might have forgotten if ever necessary (or even completely restore the drive).

Since you have a retail version of XP, you can do either of the following:

(1)  Easiest.    Just move the drive to the new system.   Boot to the XP CD and do a Repair installation.   This will keep all of your programs & data intact.  You can, of course, try this 1st if you want -- in most cases a repair install will work just fine.   You might want to read this: http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

(2)  Best.  Move the drive to the new system.  Boot to the XP CD, delete the current partitions, and do a clean install of XP.   Then update it (w/Windows Update), and then install your programs and restore your data.

garycase:

What program do you recommand for imaging HD?  How is it better than just using XP's File and Settings Transfer Wizard?

There are two accounts in the desktop.  Both have admin level permissions.  Do I have to run either XP's File and Settings Transfer Wizard or other backup software after logging into each accounts?

An "image" is like a snapshot of the exact state of the drive.   Files and Settings transfer transfers exactly what it says -- but doesn't save the system state, the OS, etc.

You're unlikely to ever use an image -- since it's going to be on a different system.   BUT the image would absolutely have EVERYTHING -- so no matter what you might forget it would be recoverable.

I like Boot-It NG for imaging, partition management, and boot management.   It's got an interface that's a bit "geeky" -- but it's a very straightforward, to-the-task little utility, and very reasonably priced.   In fact, for what you might want to do (just image your partition before "messing" with it), the free demo download is all you need.   www.bootitng.com   See my comments on it here for an idea of how to create an image:  https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/21549976/bootitng.html

Do you have a 2nd hard drive you can store the image on?   Boot-It will also create the image on CDs, but if your drive is close to full that could take quite a few blanks.

Since you have a retail XP CD, I would (a) make an image; and then (b) do the "Easiest" (#1) method I listed above.

I apologize for taking long time to respond.  I will be trying all recommandations, will get back.

Thanks for your patience.

Sorry about the inactivity.  I do plan to follow up.
Just had really really bad month.

Can you keep this question up until this weekend?

Thanks