Pc Internal Hard Drive to be used on iMac

Hello Everyone,

I removed my internal hard drive from my PC that I sold (the buyer bought an internal hard drive) for me to get my files. I am now using a 21.5-inch iMac running on Snow Leopard OS. Now, I wanted to use the windows that is installed in the internal hard drive to boot my Mac and also to use my other softwares installed. The internal hard drive has windows vista installed. just wondering if anyone already did this.

I already have an enclosure for the internal hard drive.

Thanks for your help!

I guess no one did this?

Sorry, this would be very difficult to do. When Windows is installed it becomes a unique install that will only work with a particular system. Though sometimes a drive can be moved from computer to computer, it usually ends up with a broken or corrupted Windows. The only way to do it, and have it work properly, would be to use Bootcamp and/or VMWare/Parallels. Virtual Machines can however be moved from computer to computer, but it's not for the lighthearted. If you already have all the software, you could just reinstall using Bootcamp. Here is the manual (link). And here's a little video on the subject (link).

You've got to get the drive into the iMac first, that in itself is not an easy process.

IF you kept the license, and the buyer didn't buy your windows license, then reinstalling windows in a way that the mac likes is probably easiest. Media is easy to get if you own a license, even a torrent or borrowing from a friend should be legal given you already own the rights to use it.

If you sold the windows license, go buy another, then do things the mac way from the start. Not sure what that is, but google should tell you.

However, you may be able to get it working, it'll just be a challenge, even for a good techie.

ralliart_04 wrote in post #11040058
I wanted to use the windows that is installed in the internal hard drive to boot my Mac and also to use my other softwares installed.

Easiest thing would be to install the drive in a FW800 enclosure and get Parallels version 6 (which has almost no slow-down now) and use it within OS X.