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Thread: Motherboard died can I plug Ubuntu HD into another model?

  1. #1
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    Question Motherboard died can I plug Ubuntu HD into another model?

    My motherboard died, it was an EMachine and this seams to be a typical problem with them. I'm not sure if I should replace the motherboard or just by something better. My question is, if I plug my HD into a different motherboard will it recognize and adjust to the new motherboard(I know Windows will throw up, if you do this), or do I have to reinstall Ubuntu and if so can I install over the old installation, what is involved?
    Thanks,
    Dave
    Last edited by virgodave61; April 4th, 2013 at 07:40 PM. Reason: Solved

  2. #2
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    Re: Motherboard died can I plug Ubuntu HD into another model?

    I've had limited experience plugging an HD into a different MB with different video, sound, and MB resources. The times I have done it have been met with success, perhaps with an adjustment to the video so the desktop looks right. It's NOT likely to work if you are moving from an IDE to a SATA HD (or SSD). I certainly recommend you not simply replace the MB in the e-machine but go to another system or build your own if you can.

    If you have to reinstall, leave the /home partition intact and just reinstall the system in / . Try first without reformatting. If that doesn't work, then reformat / and install a fresh system. Your desktop and files in your user directory will remain intact (though a backup is always advisable).

  3. #3
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    Re: Motherboard died can I plug Ubuntu HD into another model?

    If you have 2nd desktop or laptop that should work via a Usb cable. i personally would Recover what you can 1st from Hdd then reinstall Cause the Original install Info is the Hdd.
    The Answer Please if at all Possible

  4. #4
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    Re: Motherboard died can I plug Ubuntu HD into another model?

    Quote Originally Posted by virgodave61 View Post
    My motherboard died, it was an EMachine and this seams to be a typical problem with them. I'm not sure if I should replace the motherboard or just by something better. My question is, if I plug my HD into a different motherboard will it recognize and adjust to the new motherboard(I know Windows will throw up, if you do this), or do I have to reinstall Ubuntu and if so can I install over the old installation, what is involved?
    Thanks,
    Dave
    Yes, I have done it and do it all the time with a USB 3 pendrive, where I have installed Lubuntu 12.04 + Xubuntu desktop. I have no proprietory drivers in the system, so it is generally portable, runs with Intel, Nvidia and Radeon graphics.

    I have also moved my main installation Ubuntu 12.04 LTS (Unity) + Lubuntu desktop + Kubuntu desktop from a computer with AMD CPUs to one with Intel Xeon CPUs. Both computers have Nvidia graphics. And it works well. In 10.04 LTS, there was a minor problem with the graphics drivers (the same was not good in both computers), but in 12.04 it is portable within my corner of the Nvidia world.

    This is one of the great things with free software. There are no locks, only some thresholds due to proprietary drivers

    Quote Originally Posted by alien0304 View Post
    If you have 2nd desktop or laptop that should work via a Usb cable. i personally would Recover what you can 1st from Hdd then reinstall Cause the Original install Info is the Hdd.
    If the drive can be properly connected it does not matter if it is IDE or SATA, HDD, SSD or simple flash (except for speed). Otherwise it can be cloned to a suitable drive in the new computer.
    Last edited by sudodus; April 4th, 2013 at 07:16 PM. Reason: portable within my corner of the Nvidia world; can be cloned

  5. #5
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    Re: Motherboard died can I plug Ubuntu HD into another model?

    Quote Originally Posted by virgodave61 View Post
    My motherboard died, it was an EMachine and this seams to be a typical problem with them. I'm not sure if I should replace the motherboard or just by something better. My question is, if I plug my HD into a different motherboard will it recognize and adjust to the new motherboard(I know Windows will throw up, if you do this), or do I have to reinstall Ubuntu and if so can I install over the old installation, what is involved?
    Thanks,
    Dave
    It's not a problem at all, I do it all the time.

    Unlike Windows which probes for hardware and sets up specific drivers when you install, the Linux kernel probes the hardware and loads the correct drivers on each boot (this is why it's possible to have a Live CD).

    I have a full installation of Ubuntu on a USB stick which has worked on every machine I've every tried it on (more than 50 machines at last count).

    The only time you could run into any problems is if you have installed any of the restricted graphics drivers and are switching from ATI to Nvidia or vice-versa.
    Cheesemill

  6. #6
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    Re: Motherboard died can I plug Ubuntu HD into another model?

    Thanks everyone for your input! This concerns me greatly because my Linux is my heart and soul and have spent hundreds of hours making things work esp. for my microchip programming and 3D printer and don't want to mess things up. This is why I've been spanked by the forum, because updates/upgrades often trash functionality. Thanks everyone again and I consider this issue solved!

  7. #7
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    Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx

    Re: Motherboard died can I plug Ubuntu HD into another model?

    Done it tons of times. Its one of the best features of the OS. keep in mind that certain things might need adjustment, like video settings, and you might have compatibility issues if you go form a 64 bit CPU to a 32 bit CPU.
    ~Conradin~

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