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Installing dedicated content hard drive from old pc (windows 8.1) into new pc (windows 10)?

robbeddc_d26a09e794robbeddc_d26a09e794 Posts: 7
in Technical Help (nuts n bolts)

Hi all,

I have finally saved up enough for a shiny new pc! Thinking it would be helpful all those years ago, I have all my daz content on a dedicated internal hard drive separate from the Daz software, os and other software on a different drive. 

My old system is Windows 8.1 and the new one is Windows 10. 

I have come to the conclusion that I am not entirely sure of the process and am hoping I can install the original hard drive in the new pc without too much headache/ swearing/ panic/ crying!

 

Would the method be something like.... 

1) Export user data from old pc to... (hard drive or memory stick???)

2) Install the hard drive directly into the new pc (get the new pc to recognise the hard drive???)

3) Create library paths in new Daz Studio for the old hard drive content

4) Import user data to new pc from... (hard drive or memory stick???)

OR

Does it require transferring the data in some special/ magic way that windows 10 will understand?

 

Also, I don't think this affects it at all but I am changing from Intel to AMD, will this have a bearing on the content?

Hope this not asking too much and I have researched this but could not find a satisfactory answer!

Thanks in advance for any assistance

Comments

  • Richard HaseltineRichard Haseltine Posts: 102,464

    Have you set up custom groups or categories? How do you install, and do you plan to use the same method in future?

  • kenshaw011267kenshaw011267 Posts: 3,805

    Your biggest problem will be if you use the smart content feature. I'm not sure there is a way to simply transfer that DB from one computer to another.

    Other than that, moving the HDD is pretty simple. It has a power and data connection. So both need to be disconnected and then the matching connectors hooked up in the new system, conveniently both are SATA and are usually labeled as such. As a matter of fact you should, if at all possible, disconnect the SATA data cable from the motherboard end not from the drive so you can simply plug it into the new motherboard. Those cables are not connected without a drive attached so you'll need that cable.

    Windows should just see it the next time you boot and will assign it the next lowest available drive letter.

  • PsyckosamaPsyckosama Posts: 495

    Installing Sata HDD's is stupidly easy.

  • FishtalesFishtales Posts: 6,162

    I'm not seeing the problem. If it is just a Data drive then just remove it from one computer and put it into the other one and start up and it should be recognised by Windows as just another drive. If it shows up as a different drive letter, e.g. E: instead of D:, then open the disc management console and change the drive letter, no need to do anything else.

  • namffuaknamffuak Posts: 4,176

    Two things to do before moving the drive.

    1) Fire up Studio, select either the Content Library or Smart Content pane, click on the options menu block, and select Content DB Maintenance. Select Export User Data and then click Accept. This will create a UserData_1.dsx (and a _2 and _3 and more if needed) file under Runtime/Support in your first defined DAZ Studio format content library - you will need this if you've done any CMS maintenance yourself.

    2) Copy the everything under C:/Users/Public/Public Documents/DAZ 3D/InstallManager to the same location on the new computer - this is where DIM tracks your installed content

    Then you can move the drive, install DIM, Studio, and Postgres.

    Fire up Studio on the new system and go to the Content DB Maintenance menu again and select Re-import Metadata and click Accept. This will reload CMS from the metadata in your content directories, including the UserData_n.dsx file(s) you exported.

    That should bring everything back ready to use.

  • robbeddc_d26a09e794robbeddc_d26a09e794 Posts: 7
    Richard Haseltine said:

    Have you set up custom groups or categories? How do you install, and do you plan to use the same method in future?

    I have many custom categories set up in my original system, so I believe that is saved to the new pc by exporting/ importing user data. 

    The hard drive will be connected via Sata. The new pc will be with me next week so if this method works, yes it will be my chosen method!

     

    kenshaw011267 said:

    Your biggest problem will be if you use the smart content feature. I'm not sure there is a way to simply transfer that DB from one computer to another.

    Other than that, moving the HDD is pretty simple. It has a power and data connection. So both need to be disconnected and then the matching connectors hooked up in the new system, conveniently both are SATA and are usually labeled as such. As a matter of fact you should, if at all possible, disconnect the SATA data cable from the motherboard end not from the drive so you can simply plug it into the new motherboard. Those cables are not connected without a drive attached so you'll need that cable.

    Windows should just see it the next time you boot and will assign it the next lowest available drive letter.

     

    Fishtales said:

    I'm not seeing the problem. If it is just a Data drive then just remove it from one computer and put it into the other one and start up and it should be recognised by Windows as just another drive. If it shows up as a different drive letter, e.g. E: instead of D:, then open the disc management console and change the drive letter, no need to do anything else.

    I haven't ventured very far into smart content and rely more on custom categories, which will hopefully help! So long as I import user data from old pc. Is this correct?

    I have installed hard drives in my current system but that was without changing from an earlier version of windows, so I understand the basics, but the question is compatibility between Windows 10 and 8.1.

     

    So to be clear, if I just install the data drive in a Windows 10 pc from a Windows 8.1, there should be no issues with it reading the data? Sounds easier than I anticipated, that can't be right!

    Thank you all for your responses

  • FishtalesFishtales Posts: 6,162

    I have three external drives on a hub, one of which has My Library on it. I bought a new laptop and went from Windows 7 to Windows 10 and all I did was plug the hub into a USB port on my new laptop and all three hard drives were seen, except the drive letters had been reassigned so I changed them back to the originals and all went fine. You will still have to set the paths in Studio and Dim and also do as @namffuack has suggested too.

  • kenshaw011267kenshaw011267 Posts: 3,805
    robbeddc_d26a09e794 said:
    Richard Haseltine said:

    Have you set up custom groups or categories? How do you install, and do you plan to use the same method in future?

    I have many custom categories set up in my original system, so I believe that is saved to the new pc by exporting/ importing user data. 

    The hard drive will be connected via Sata. The new pc will be with me next week so if this method works, yes it will be my chosen method!

     

    kenshaw011267 said:

    Your biggest problem will be if you use the smart content feature. I'm not sure there is a way to simply transfer that DB from one computer to another.

    Other than that, moving the HDD is pretty simple. It has a power and data connection. So both need to be disconnected and then the matching connectors hooked up in the new system, conveniently both are SATA and are usually labeled as such. As a matter of fact you should, if at all possible, disconnect the SATA data cable from the motherboard end not from the drive so you can simply plug it into the new motherboard. Those cables are not connected without a drive attached so you'll need that cable.

    Windows should just see it the next time you boot and will assign it the next lowest available drive letter.

     

    Fishtales said:

    I'm not seeing the problem. If it is just a Data drive then just remove it from one computer and put it into the other one and start up and it should be recognised by Windows as just another drive. If it shows up as a different drive letter, e.g. E: instead of D:, then open the disc management console and change the drive letter, no need to do anything else.

    I haven't ventured very far into smart content and rely more on custom categories, which will hopefully help! So long as I import user data from old pc. Is this correct?

    I have installed hard drives in my current system but that was without changing from an earlier version of windows, so I understand the basics, but the question is compatibility between Windows 10 and 8.1.

     

    So to be clear, if I just install the data drive in a Windows 10 pc from a Windows 8.1, there should be no issues with it reading the data? Sounds easier than I anticipated, that can't be right!

    Thank you all for your responses

    It really is that easy. 

  • Richard HaseltineRichard Haseltine Posts: 102,464
    kenshaw011267 said:

    Your biggest problem will be if you use the smart content feature. I'm not sure there is a way to simply transfer that DB from one computer to another.

    With DS, DIM, Carrara, and anything else that sues the CMS closed copy the ContentCluster directory (in %appData%/daz 3d/cms/ by default) from the old machine to the new. The database uses relative paths so it will cope with the content directories being in different places.

    kenshaw011267 said:

    Other than that, moving the HDD is pretty simple. It has a power and data connection. So both need to be disconnected and then the matching connectors hooked up in the new system, conveniently both are SATA and are usually labeled as such. As a matter of fact you should, if at all possible, disconnect the SATA data cable from the motherboard end not from the drive so you can simply plug it into the new motherboard. Those cables are not connected without a drive attached so you'll need that cable.

    Windows should just see it the next time you boot and will assign it the next lowest available drive letter.

     

  • robbeddc_d26a09e794robbeddc_d26a09e794 Posts: 7

     

     

    namffuak said:

    Two things to do before moving the drive.

    1) Fire up Studio, select either the Content Library or Smart Content pane, click on the options menu block, and select Content DB Maintenance. Select Export User Data and then click Accept. This will create a UserData_1.dsx (and a _2 and _3 and more if needed) file under Runtime/Support in your first defined DAZ Studio format content library - you will need this if you've done any CMS maintenance yourself.

    2) Copy the everything under C:/Users/Public/Public Documents/DAZ 3D/InstallManager to the same location on the new computer - this is where DIM tracks your installed content

    Then you can move the drive, install DIM, Studio, and Postgres.

    Fire up Studio on the new system and go to the Content DB Maintenance menu again and select Re-import Metadata and click Accept. This will reload CMS from the metadata in your content directories, including the UserData_n.dsx file(s) you exported.

    That should bring everything back ready to use.

     

    Fishtales said:

    I have three external drives on a hub, one of which has My Library on it. I bought a new laptop and went from Windows 7 to Windows 10 and all I did was plug the hub into a USB port on my new laptop and all three hard drives were seen, except the drive letters had been reassigned so I changed them back to the originals and all went fine. You will still have to set the paths in Studio and Dim and also do as @namffuack has suggested too.

    Awesome! These are as concise nuggets of wisdom as I could hope for.

    Thank you all for your prompt, helpful and reassuring advice.

    When the new pc arrives I shall set to it with confidence and gusto!

    Happy rendering!

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