Changing Drive Letters and others

  • Thread starter Thread starter Richo
  • Start date Start date
R

Richo

I have a number of items requiring help in relation to XP
Pro.
First, after recently installing a new bigger harddrive,
I need to replicate all the data on the original
harddrive so I can use my PC as normal. Is there any way
I can do this without re-installing all my programs? I
have Norton Ghost but that seems to fail upon completion.
If I have to re-install, what are the two files called
which contain the activation code; I did have them
written down but in all the confusion they have been
misplaced.

Secondly, if the first option is unavailable, and a clean
install is required, am I able to later make the new hard
drive C:? When I did a clean install on another PC, it
made the hard disk F:, after naming my ZIP Drive and the
2 cd/dvd drives?

I know using computer management all this can be done,
(in fact this is how I prepared the new drive)however,
will I lose all the data if I try and change the Drive
Letter?

Keeping the original drive is not an option - it is only
4 gig and cw the new 120 gig drive, will be destined for
the scrap heap!

I am leaning towards option 2 because if I am unable to
boot using the CD, I do have the XP Pro setup disks to
begin the installation?

Any help is greatly appreciated?
 
Hi,

Hook the new drive as a slave. Boot the old drive, use the FASTWIZ
(programs/accessories/system tools/files and settings transfer wizard) to
transfer the files and settings to a file on the new drive. Shutdown, remove
the old drive, set the new one up as master and do a clean install without
formatting. Boot the new system, use the same tool to import the settings
from those exported from the old drive.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x

Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
 
U¿ytkownik "Richo said:
I have a number of items requiring help in relation to XP
Pro.
First, after recently installing a new bigger harddrive,
I need to replicate all the data on the original
harddrive so I can use my PC as normal. Is there any way
I can do this without re-installing all my programs? I
have Norton Ghost but that seems to fail upon completion.

You must use fdisk /mbr after Ghost, or Ghost with -FDSZ switch. Check
this page: http://tinylink.com/?3fwoPrHqca.
If I have to re-install, what are the two files called
which contain the activation code; I did have them
written down but in all the confusion they have been
misplaced.
http://is-it-true.org/nt/xp/atips/atips13.shtml

Secondly, if the first option is unavailable, and a clean
install is required, am I able to later make the new hard
drive C:? When I did a clean install on another PC, it
made the hard disk F:, after naming my ZIP Drive and the
2 cd/dvd drives?
On a new drive make one NTFS (or FAT32) partition using any 3rd party
tool like BootItNG or Ranish Partition Manager, and activate it. You can
format it from Recovery console, but IMHO it's not necessary. When you
begin installation, setup will recognize this partition as C drive.
That's all.
I know using computer management all this can be done,
(in fact this is how I prepared the new drive)however,
will I lose all the data if I try and change the Drive
Letter?
No, your data will be safe, but you will probably have a problem with
login to it.
249321 - Unable to Log on if the Boot Partition Drive Letter Has Changed
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;249321

M.
 
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