Is it possible to transfer a hard drive from one laptop (HP) to another (Compaq)?

Question

I have a new laptop but it holds little to no space (20gb hard drive). My old laptop has a 80gb hard drive and I want to transfer it into my new computer. Is that possible without having to start up the old laptop? (Its broken. So much so that it won't even start up. Also, it it possible to transfer other parts like processors, graphics cards, operating systems, etc.?

My old laptop was a Hp pavilion laptop with an AMD processor. My new (but way old and outdated) laptop is an (inferior) Compaq with an Intel Celeron processor. The Hp had XP service pack 4 and the new one has XP service pack 1. Help please.

Answer 1

Yes to the drive, if it is pin compatible ... No to the other hardware, inless you are very competant and it is compatible. If it is older then there is not much of use, maybe the memory.

Replace the hard drive and then use the restore CD that came with laptop to get a working computer with bigger harddrive. It will be as it was when it was bought, but with a bigger hard disk.

Answer 2

You can transfer files, but not sure about whole HDs.