How do I copy/transfer data to an reformatted HDD?

[Guest]

My home PC runs Windows XP Pro. It's in the shop now because I need to have
a chip replaced on the motherboard (actually, they'll replace the entire
motherboard).

I have the HDD at home and want to back up the entire contents of the drive,
since it is likely that the drive will have to be reformatted to work
properly with the new motherboard when it's reinstalled in the PC.

If I use, say Norton Ghost to back up, can I install the Ghost image on a
reformatted HDD? Somehow, I don't think that is correct.

Can I use/should I use MS File transfer so that I keep all the data and the
same ah, formatting it has now?

Will a simply copy and paste do it?

It's about 27 gigs of data, and I can simply copy all of it to another
portable HDD, but I seem to recall that copy and paste doesn't always pick up
all the files necessary to say, run programs.

Your help is appreciated.

 

[jimbo]

My home PC runs Windows XP Pro. It's in the shop now because I need to have
a chip replaced on the motherboard (actually, they'll replace the entire
motherboard).

I have the HDD at home and want to back up the entire contents of the drive,
since it is likely that the drive will have to be reformatted to work
properly with the new motherboard when it's reinstalled in the PC.

If I use, say Norton Ghost to back up, can I install the Ghost image on a
reformatted HDD? Somehow, I don't think that is correct.

Can I use/should I use MS File transfer so that I keep all the data and the
same ah, formatting it has now?

Will a simply copy and paste do it?

It's about 27 gigs of data, and I can simply copy all of it to another
portable HDD, but I seem to recall that copy and paste doesn't always pick up
all the files necessary to say, run programs.

Your help is appreciated.

I don't see why installing a new mother board would require a hard drive
format.

Is the hard drive the boot drive where your WinXP is installed? If yes,
then file copy will not result in a bootable backup. If what you want is
to restore your hard drive to it's current state after formatting you
need to clone it. The cloning procedure copies a hard drive sector by
sector. You could clone the hard drive to another hard drive and then
clone that drive back to your original hard drive. But as I said to
begin, why would you need to format the hard drive?

Good luck, jimbo

 

[Guest]

Yes, the HDD is where Win XP is installed.

I can't answer your question. I don't know why the HDD would have to be
reformatted. The technician said it was a possibility -- not a absoute. I'm
not that familiar with the hardware aspects of a PC to be able to discuss
this issue. I can only report what's been said to me and ask for advice.

I have a portable drive to which I can copy the Win XP drive. Do I need
special software to clone the drive?

 

[Guest]

Is Norton Ghost a cloning software? Can I use it or do I have to buy
something else (again).

 

[Nick Burns]

Put the old drive back in the new pc, set your bios to boot from the cd rom
as the first boot device. Boot off the windows xp cd and do a repair
install.

 

[Jetro]

Barbara,

If you'll get the same motherboard, maximum you'd need to do is to
re-activate Windows. In case of infamous 0x0000007B error follow

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q314082
You Receive a Stop 0x0000007B Error After You Move the Windows XP System
Disk to Another Computer

and as Nick's suggested already

http://support.microsoft.com/?id=315341
How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP

Read all embedded links before you start.

 

[jimbo]

Is Norton Ghost a cloning software? Can I use it or do I have to buy
something else (again).

:

Norton Ghost 2003 > Advanced > Clone. This will make a sector by sector
copy of the hard drive. But some of the other advice about just
installing the hard drive, booting from the WinXP CD and doing a repair
installation might be easier for you. This approach assumes that the
hard drive has not been formatted. You may have to do a repair
installation anyway. A new motherboard may trigger the need for a repair
installation. You may or may not need reactivation. If it has been less
than four months since you ibnstalled WinXP, you will have to call MS to
re-activate. Otherwise, the normal internet activation will work.

Good luck, jimbo

 

[Hans-Georg Michna]

My home PC runs Windows XP Pro. It's in the shop now because I need to have
a chip replaced on the motherboard (actually, they'll replace the entire
motherboard).

I have the HDD at home and want to back up the entire contents of the drive,
since it is likely that the drive will have to be reformatted to work
properly with the new motherboard when it's reinstalled in the PC.

If I use, say Norton Ghost to back up, can I install the Ghost image on a
reformatted HDD? Somehow, I don't think that is correct.

Can I use/should I use MS File transfer so that I keep all the data and the
same ah, formatting it has now?

Will a simply copy and paste do it?

It's about 27 gigs of data, and I can simply copy all of it to another
portable HDD, but I seem to recall that copy and paste doesn't always pick up
all the files necessary to say, run programs.

Barbara,

some background information can be found at
http://www.michna.com/kb/WxMove.htm.

Hans-Georg