How to Copy files to new XP OS

[smartscottiedog]

My current 120 GB HD (WinXP Pro/NTFS) is corrupted with Unnamed MFT
error. I tried chkdsk but that didn't help. The machine is running
just fine but it is noticibly slow sometimes. So I bought a identical
capacity HD and tried Ghost. Well, that worked ok on new drive except
that it also had MFT error (Ghost copied them). So, I'm looking for
file by file copy method. I tried installing new XP OS on the second
HD on empty partition (PartitionMagic) and copy old XP to new XP, file
by file (xcopy). Now this only copied what it has access to, so left
off most of "Documents and Settings" folder. It wasn't bootable
neither, so I had to tweak it to boot up (used boot cd). So I'm close
but I need to resolve the followings.


1. How can I reset security settings on "Documents and Settings" folder
so that I can freely copy all files? Also any OS related files and
folders.
2. How do I make the new drive bootable if I were to just copy boot
files?


Any help appreciated.

 

[peterk]

It seems to me that what you really wish to "copy" over are the old XP's
settings.
Have you tried the "file&settings transfer wizard"???
Install the new Drive as the master and install XP as a new installation
formatting whatever you have done so far out of existance during the
install.Then when that is working install the old HD as the slave(dont
forget the jumpers).
Then try and use the wizard........this should transfer all of your old
settings to the new XP.
Individual work files need to be transferred seperately...and of course your
programs will need to be reinstalled.
Once you have all of your data safe........format that old drive.
peterk

 

[Guest]

Actually if you are using the same hardware (the same computer with a new
drive) you will need to run the transfer files & settings first. Run this &
save the files to a CD or to a folder on the drive but if you are getting
errors this might not help. Then install the new drive a clean copy of the
OS & all software & then run the transfer files & settings wizard again & use
the created files (CD or folder on the other disk that you could install as a
scond hard drive).

 

[smartscottiedog]

Well, I actually looked into that solution. But I really don't want to
reinstall all software, including shareware I paid license on like
EyeBatch and Access/Word password crack, etc, which I no longer have
and can't locate them. I guess I want to have exact copy of my desktop
and program settings, like what I would get if I were to use Ghost.

 

[Andrew Murray]

Easiest and best solution: Install XP on the new hard-drive (from scratch).