Hard Drive swap?

I think it will probably not work.
The first Notebook is different from the second. The notebooks need different systems and drivers and so on to boot correctly. Both notebooks have individual system software that is available from the Dell download website.
Best regards from DLz

 

what id I downloaded the correct drivers for the new laptop on to my old laptop, then swapped them out.

Windows more than likely wouldn't boot becasue the hardware is too different. If you did what they call an in-place upgrade of Windows after you move the disk it might work. Then you can update all the drivers.

see here for more details on the in-place upgrade: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;315341

I agree.
But the risk is not having a stable system at the end. I have tried this twice in the past. I was hapy in the first week but then problems over problems.
After installing windows, Dell system SW, security applications and all other applications new ... all problems vanished.
Make an Image of the "clean" Installation is what helps me now for a long time to keep a stable system.
When I observe serius problems I just restore the "clean" image, takes me 2 minutes.
... Yes I know it takes time the first time. But trouble shooting during the next weeks takes also time... that was my personal experience.

good luck.
DLz

SO..WHAT ARE THE STEPS YOU WOULD TAKE IF YOU WERE TAKING YOUR OLD HARD DRIVE OUT OF YOUR INSPIRION 415O and putting it in a D610 latitude that you bought without a hard drive.  Didn't  mean to yell, my caps lock was on by mistake.

thanks,

One possibility:

1) Have all SW ready to install from CD/DVD (Win, Dell system SW, other applications)
2) save all your important data
3) replace the HD from old to new Notebook
4) Install Windows, Dell system SW, other applications (maybe you have an recovery CD from Dell for the new Notebook? I never used this, but it could save time!)
5) make an Image for safety reasons (recommendation)
6) Use your new installation on your new notebook and be happy. If something strange happen to your installation in the future you save lot of time because you can recover from your image.

Hint 1: If you don't have the Dell system SW on CD, stay connected to internet with your old Notebook in order to download all necessary SW from Dell download site (it must be the exact system SW for your new Notebook). Place the SW outside the system partition from where you boot. Because this partition will not be available after you installed Windows inside the new notebook. So use a CD/DVD or a second independent partition on your harddisk.

Hint 2: make a little note what SW you install after making your safety image. That saves your time to reinstall after using the safety image.

Good luck, DLz