Groups | Search | Server Info | Keyboard shortcuts | Login | Register [http] [https] [nntp] [nntps]

Groups > linux.debian.user > #194662

Re: transfer disk

Show all headers | View raw

On 10/04/18 14:01, mick crane wrote:
> hello,
> Can you pop a hard disk that boots with a Debian installation on it into 
> another entirely different PC and will the kernel try to make sense of 
> its new hardware ?
> mick

Mostly. I once had a disk that often moved between a desktop and laptop. 
If the architecture is compatible (e.g. not amd64 <-> arm64) then most 
likely it can be made to work. Common things that require fixing:

- Disk uses Legacy (BIOS) boot and partitioning but support is not 
enabled on the motherboard. Fix: turn on your motherboard Compatibility 
Support Module or similar.

- Disk uses UEFI but ancient motherboard does not support it. Unfixable.

- Disk uses UEFI. Motherboard supports UEFI but has no boot entry and 
disk may need to be manually selected. Running update-grub should fix.

- Motherboard has secure boot enabled and is password locked. Fixable if 
you can unlock it.

- Failed boot because the kernel or graphics drivers do not like your 
new hardware. Supply fallback options at the command line, like noapic etc.

- Anyone using ancient kernels with Skylake or later is going to have a 
bad time. A recent kernel should improve compatibility.

- Hardcoded device paths in /etc/fstab might need to be changed. Most 
installers use UUIDs for portability.

- You might find yourself with no network, especially no wifi. If your 
new hardware is supported (e.g. by non-free), get the .debs you need on 
a thumb drive and install them.

It is usually safe to have unused drivers so feel free to plan ahead and 
install all drivers you need before you migrate.

Kind regards,

-- 
Ben Caradoc-Davies <ben@transient.nz>
Director
Transient Software Limited <https://transient.nz/>
New Zealand

Back to linux.debian.user | Previous | Next — Previous in thread | Next in thread | Find similar | Unroll thread

Thread

transfer disk mick crane <mick.crane@gmail.com> - 2018-04-10 04:10 +0200
  Re: transfer disk Roberto C. Sánchez <roberto@debian.org> - 2018-04-10 04:20 +0200
  Re: transfer disk Ben Caradoc-Davies <ben@transient.nz> - 2018-04-10 05:50 +0200
    Re: transfer disk mick crane <mick.crane@gmail.com> - 2018-04-10 08:00 +0200
    Re: transfer disk Pascal Hambourg <pascal@plouf.fr.eu.org> - 2018-04-10 20:50 +0200
  Re: transfer disk David Wright <deblis@lionunicorn.co.uk> - 2018-04-10 06:10 +0200
  Re: transfer disk Felix Miata <mrmazda@earthlink.net> - 2018-04-10 06:20 +0200
    Re: transfer disk Pascal Hambourg <pascal@plouf.fr.eu.org> - 2018-04-10 21:00 +0200
      Re: transfer disk Felix Miata <mrmazda@earthlink.net> - 2018-04-11 01:10 +0200

csiph-web