cloning sofware to move c: drive onto new HD

[Gordon Abbot]

Just bought a new, larger HD and need freeware to move my current c:
drive files onto the new HD. Win XP SP2.

So I am "replacing" the old HD with a new HD and do not want to go
through the trials of replacing all my programs, and re-do all the
upgrades to get back to XP SP2.

Also, I would like to change the partition size for the C: drive (before
installing the old C and is there a problem with XP when you do this?

GA

 

[HankySquarePants]

Although your enthusiasm is commendable, regretfully, you will not be
able to accomplish what you want to do simply using freeware to copy
files. You will have to do a clean install of Windows FIRST, after
partitioning your new HD; then, re-activate your operating system
because you have modified the Hardware Abstraction Layer by installing
a new hard drive; then, you will have to update service packs and
critical security fixes. Once you have accomplished this, you must
re-install your vital programs and any updates to them. I don't know
of any freeware partitioning utilities, but others here do. You can
save a lot of time updating Windows security fixes by using AutoPatcher
XP. You have quite a job a head of you. One word of caution about the
re-activation process during a weekend. If you have to go through the
whole tap dance of phone dialing and number punching into the telephone
because the computer generated a new installation ID, you will be
greeted by a representative from India, who may or may not speak
intelligible English. You can ask them to crank up the volume so that
you can hear better and to speak more slowly and clearly. They are
usually very courteous (male or female) and eager to be rid of you.

 

[jmatt]

Can't get my head around exactly what you want to do.

If you want to partition, an old w95 upwards boot disk will have fdisk
on it.
Also you can partition with XP.
Best policy is to only have one hard drive installed when partitioning.

So, to get your XP stuff moved to the new drive ( partitioned if
required using fdisk ) with xxcopy.
The new drive will have to be slaved to the old drive.
xxcopy
http://www.xxcopy.com/
http://www.xxcopy.com/download/xxcopy.zip

If your old drive is unpartitioned & D is the drive letter on the new
drive where you want XP.
Copy the command below & click paste in Command Prompt, then click
Enter. ( Start > All Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt )
No need to close any programs down.
XXCOPY C:\ D:\ /CLONE
Adjust drive letters to suit, if need be.

Once you have done the transfer, make your new drive master & uncable
the old drive.
Now test the new drive.
This is all done without bolting the new drive into the comp, just
leave it hanging outside the case.

If XP dos'nt startup on the new drive, let me know, you are quite
welcome to use my email address, that way you can send screenshots or
photo's.

Don't do anything to change the old drive, until you are 100% sure the
new drive is OK.

 

[mike555]

You can use "QTparted" to partition the new drive, then use "XXclone"
to clone your operating system onto it ............. QTparted will need
to be used from a live linux distro CD ......
http://www.sysresccd.org/ =====

 

[Margrave of Brandenburg]

My guess is that the OP just want to move his applications to the new drive
(needs more storage?), and leave Windows on C:

In that case, the reinstall/reactivate would not be necessary.

Aside from that, it's still difficult. Most programs won't work if you just
copy them to a new location on a new drive, due to extensive registry
configuration. There are a few programs that WILL allow you to move them,
because they don't use the registry. You just have to fix your application
shortcuts to point to the new location. But most apps don't fit that
category.

So the "right" thing to do is uninstall the programs from C:, and reinstall
them on the new drive.

Anyway, that's the thing the OP wants to avoid. But I don't see any easy way
to do it. I've done it before (just because!), which required a lot of
registry hacking. Not too bad if you're just moving one app. But in general,
it's more work than doing the proper uninstall/re-install.

Side note ... I recall a program (freeware) years ago that claimed to do
this automatically (move the app and fix the registry entries). You could
Google to find it (or another similar app). But I can't attest to how well
they work.

 

[Renan (tm)]

My guess is that the OP just want to move his applications to the new drive
(needs more storage?), and leave Windows on C:

In that case, the reinstall/reactivate would not be necessary.

Aside from that, it's still difficult. Most programs won't work if you just
copy them to a new location on a new drive, due to extensive registry
configuration. There are a few programs that WILL allow you to move them,
because they don't use the registry. You just have to fix your application
shortcuts to point to the new location. But most apps don't fit that
category.

So the "right" thing to do is uninstall the programs from C:, and reinstall
them on the new drive.

Anyway, that's the thing the OP wants to avoid. But I don't see any easy way
to do it. I've done it before (just because!), which required a lot of
registry hacking. Not too bad if you're just moving one app. But in general,
it's more work than doing the proper uninstall/re-install.

I did this here, and uninstall/reinstall worked nicely, even for
commercial programs that require activation/registration.

[]s
--
[]s, Renan "Wishmaster" - Canoas, RS, Brasil

"Engraçado que, aparentemente, até hoje ele [Pato Donald]
nao conseguiu guardar o fato de
que Paint não serve para fazer logotipos..."
-- Marcelo Rodrigues

 

[REM]

(e-mail address removed) wrote:

Can't get my head around exactly what you want to do.

If you want to partition, an old w95 upwards boot disk will have fdisk
on it.

Also you can partition with XP.
Best policy is to only have one hard drive installed when partitioning.

So, to get your XP stuff moved to the new drive ( partitioned if
required using fdisk ) with xxcopy.
The new drive will have to be slaved to the old drive.

xxcopy
http://www.xxcopy.com/
http://www.xxcopy.com/download/xxcopy.zip

xxcopy doesn't work with XP. It will copy, but it will not create a
bootable clone, if I'm reading the wishes of the OP correctly...

xxclone does, from what I've read.

http://www.xxclone.com/index.htm

 

[Onno Voors]

So I am "replacing" the old HD with a new HD and do not want to go
through the trials of replacing all my programs, and re-do all the
upgrades to get back to XP SP2.

You can do that with Partition Saving in combination with a DOS boot
floppy.

Also, I would like to change the partition size for the C: drive (before
installing the old C:

So for the new drive? If I'm not mistaken you can use Fdisk from the boot
floppy

 

[jmatt]

"xxclone does, from what I've read"
Your'e right Rem, got so used to using xxcopy, I forgot about the XP
version.

Not knowing Gordon's skill level, I did add this proviso.
"If XP dos'nt startup on the new drive, let me know"

Here is what I do.
Below applies if you want to make the new hard drive your main drive (
usually C )
http://members.tripod.com/~diligent/harddisk.htm
Use the startup disk to boot the computer and when you are at the A:\
prompt type sys c: and press Enter. The required boot information will
be copied to the new disk and you have a working copy of the old hard
disk.
If the partition is not active, use fdisk, option 2.

 

[jmatt]

"Here is what I do"

Should be > Here is what I do, when using xxcopy.