Freeware to do this? Please ...

[Annie]

Helo guys,

I am looking for some advise.

I am planning to buy a bigger HD however I have a very stable system. One HD
with Windows XP Pro in two partitions.
And another HD with 3 partitions. However, I want to replace the main HD
with windows XP with a bigger size and therefore
I want all my software and settings to be moved to the new HD.

Is there any freeware to copy my current HD including the software and OS
and all the settings to the new HD i will buy.

What is the best way to do it? Should I backup my stuff in DVDs then install
it in new HD or any other options?

Any input will be appreciated ...

TIA

 

[Seamaiden]

Helo guys,

I am looking for some advise.

I am planning to buy a bigger HD however I have a very stable system. One HD
with Windows XP Pro in two partitions.
And another HD with 3 partitions. However, I want to replace the main HD
with windows XP with a bigger size and therefore
I want all my software and settings to be moved to the new HD.

Is there any freeware to copy my current HD including the software and OS
and all the settings to the new HD i will buy.

What is the best way to do it? Should I backup my stuff in DVDs then install
it in new HD or any other options?

Any input will be appreciated ...

TIA

Which one are you copying FROM? The 2-partition drive or the 3-partition
drive? What are the sizes of the partitions on each drive? Are they all
NTFS or are some of them FAT?

I would suggest Norton Ghost 2003 (floppy version) if you had only one
partition on each drive, but I don't know how it would behave with
multiple partitions, especially if they are different sizes and have
different filing systems.

 

[John Corliss]

Helo guys,

I am looking for some advise.

I am planning to buy a bigger HD however I have a very stable system. One HD
with Windows XP Pro in two partitions.
And another HD with 3 partitions. However, I want to replace the main HD
with windows XP with a bigger size and therefore
I want all my software and settings to be moved to the new HD.

Is there any freeware to copy my current HD including the software and OS
and all the settings to the new HD i will buy.

What is the best way to do it? Should I backup my stuff in DVDs then install
it in new HD or any other options?

Any input will be appreciated ...

1. back up all your data files to DVDs as you say.
2. install the new drive as your main, and disconnect your old one for
the time being.
3. use the manufacturer's utility to set up the disk, making sure that
the file system type is the same as what you're using on your current
drive. Make the first partition bootable.
4. Hook your old drive up again as master, reconnect your new one as slave.
5. Download and install XXClone (http://www.xxclone.com) and use it to
clone your old drive to the new one.
6. Switch drive places (master to slave and vice versa) and you're good
to go.

Of course, when working on your (turned off hopefully) computer's
insides, make sure that you disconnect the power cable, then ground
yourself to the chassis.

--
Regards from John Corliss
I don't reply to trolls and other such idiots. No adware, cdware,
commercial software, crippleware, demoware, nagware, PROmotionware,
shareware, spyware, time-limited software, trialware, viruses or warez
please.

 

[dadiOH]

Helo guys,

I am looking for some advise.

I am planning to buy a bigger HD however I have a very stable system.
One HD with Windows XP Pro in two partitions.
And another HD with 3 partitions. However, I want to replace the main
HD with windows XP with a bigger size and therefore
I want all my software and settings to be moved to the new HD.

Is there any freeware to copy my current HD including the software
and OS and all the settings to the new HD i will buy.

Software for doing that is normally included with the new drive. If
not, you can go to the drive manufacturer's site and download it.

Basically, it partitions and formats the new drive and then (optionally)
copies your old one to the new one. You can then replace your old drive
with it.

--
dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

 

[bambam]

I would suggest Norton Gh

Your new here aren't you?
Unless Norton has suddenly decided that for the betterment of mankind that
they will release some of their software as freeware, then you are off
topic. Posting tips follow:

http://www.pricelesswarehome.org/acf/Posting.php

FAQ

http://clients.net2000.com.au/~johnf/faq.html#4

 

[Roger Johansson]

I am planning to buy a bigger HD however I have a very stable system. One HD
with Windows XP Pro in two partitions.

Is there any freeware to copy my current HD including the software and OS
and all the settings to the new HD i will buy.

Use the freeware "Partition Saving" to create a disk image of your C:
partition, save it on a second hd or burn it to a CD if no second hd is
available.

Install the new hardware hd and remove the old. Create a partition for
C: which is big enough, restore the C: system from the disk image.

(payware equivalents to PS are Norton Ghost and Drive Image, they have
a few more special features but PS is faster, and they all do the basic
operation you need)

These partition image progs work best if you choose to save only used
sectors and choose the lowest compression level.

 

[Al Klein]

@newssvr24.news.prodigy.net:

Your new here aren't you?

She recently said she was.

 

[Seamaiden]

Your new here aren't you?
Unless Norton has suddenly decided that for the betterment of mankind that
they will release some of their software as freeware, then you are off
topic. Posting tips follow:

http://www.pricelesswarehome.org/acf/Posting.php

FAQ

http://clients.net2000.com.au/~johnf/faq.html#4

Thanks for the tip. I will read them.

 

[Annie]

Thanks Roger,
Much appreciated

Use the freeware "Partition Saving" to create a disk image of your C:
partition, save it on a second hd or burn it to a CD if no second hd is
available.

Install the new hardware hd and remove the old. Create a partition for
C: which is big enough, restore the C: system from the disk image.

(payware equivalents to PS are Norton Ghost and Drive Image, they have
a few more special features but PS is faster, and they all do the basic
operation you need)

These partition image progs work best if you choose to save only used
sectors and choose the lowest compression level.