Is it possible to hot swap an IDE HDD in Windows XP Pro (SP2) or not?

Not an operating system issue.

It is a hardware configuration issue.

Generally not a feature available with basic home PCs, but is available for
servers.

If you need to switch IDE drives, then get external USB drives that you can
plug in and unplug at will.

"KX-T308" wrote:

> Is it possible to hot swap an IDE HDD in Windows XP Pro (SP2) or not?

No

"KX-T308" <skypekx-(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:61838A4E-9B66-4B99-94E6-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Is it possible to hot swap an IDE HDD in Windows XP Pro (SP2) or not?

Actually with the proper hardware it is possible to hot swap IDE hard
drives.

We currently use this method as system backup for our servers at work. Each
night we schedule an XCOPY batch file to copy all files from the data drives
on the servers (Win 2K Servers) to the hot swap drive (Drive D on a
Windows XP Pro box. In the morning our librarian pulls the drive and
replaces it with the next one in our set. Haven't shut down the computer in
more than 3 months. Can't remember the exact model of drive cage and drive
tray, but we are currently backing up about 45 GB of data to a 60 GB IDE hot
swap drive each night.

Tape was not an option as it would have been too expensive. When we run out
of backup drive space we will simply buy new 120 or 160 GB drives and
continue the process.


"RonK" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:EPN_c.2589$(E-Mail Removed)...
> No
>
> "KX-T308" <skypekx-(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:61838A4E-9B66-4B99-94E6-(E-Mail Removed)...
> > Is it possible to hot swap an IDE HDD in Windows XP Pro (SP2) or not?
>
>

I'll second the notion of using USB connected standard IDE drives. There are
many vendors of low cost USB 2 drive boxes (external).

I have configured this for several people with laptops for backup. Its the
most feasible method since USB has the safe eject ability & you can also set
the drives not to use caching if you wish to make it safer.

- Tim

"RonK" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:EPN_c.2589$(E-Mail Removed)...
> No
>
> "KX-T308" <skypekx-(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:61838A4E-9B66-4B99-94E6-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Is it possible to hot swap an IDE HDD in Windows XP Pro (SP2) or not?
>
>