How to use copy to migrate a harddrive to another?

[Guest]

Dear all
Can i migrate a whole harddrive with windows XP into a new harddrive without using third party tools. For examples, copy .. ?

 

[Jim Macklin]

Not the Operating System and applications, which must be
installed, but once you have installed the OS and
applications, data files, sure. But all drive mfg'rs have
free downloadable "cloning software" which is usually on a
CD with new retail drives.


| Dear all
| Can i migrate a whole harddrive with windows XP into a new
harddrive without using third party tools. For examples,
copy .. ?

 

[Geoffw]

xcopy is still there ?

have a look at google for the switches and so forth to do a
complete copy to a new drive

I personally use ghost (from norton systemworks)

good luck

Geoff

Dear all
Can i migrate a whole harddrive with windows XP into a new

harddrive without using third party tools. For examples,
copy .. ?

 

[auerbach]

Use XCOPY to "migrate" all files except those in use by Windows. So you'll
get all your doc files, data, config files, etc., but won't get a bootable
drive.

Use it as follows: XCOPY C:*.* D: /s /h /r /e /c if the destination is
empty. If not, add /d to the string, so you overwrite any files of the same
name and location that are older that the source file.

The File And Settings Transfer Wizard is also a handy tool for making the
migration easier.

You said you didn't want to use third-party tools. If you change your mind,
Ghost is good, but not easy to use. Much friendlier is Acronis TrueImage.
See http://www.acronis.com/. It allows you to "image" a disk from within
Windows, and replicate it to produce a working cloned drive.

Alex

 

[Michael Stevens]

Dear all
Can i migrate a whole harddrive with windows XP into a new harddrive
without using third party tools. For examples, copy .. ?

Not the whole hard drive, but you can transfer the files and settings to
make a pretty painless transition if you have all the applications needed to
reinstall.
Click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into the address box
if using the web based newsgroup.
Files And Settings Transfer wizard
http://michaelstevenstech.com/fast.html
--

Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

 

[Black Beard]

If you are just swapping in a new hard drive, most drives come with a
utilities floppy that will copy the entire old drive to the new drive.

If your drive didn't come with the floppy you can go to the drive
manufacturers website and download it.

Black Beard

Dear all
Can i migrate a whole harddrive with windows XP into a new harddrive

without using third party tools. For examples, copy .. ?

 

[Alex Nichol]

Can i migrate a whole harddrive with windows XP into a new harddrive without using third party tools. For examples, copy .. ?

No - this can't be done safely by a simple copy; you need software that
clones the partition properly. What I use is BootIT NG, from
http://www.BootitNG.com ($35 shareware - 30 day full functional trial)

Download, to its own folder, extract from the zip, run the bootitng to
make a boot floppy.

With the new drive plugged in as slave/secondary, boot the floppy,
Cancel Install, entering maintenance, then click on Partition work.
Highlight your C:,Copy, then on left select the new drive (HD1),
highlight the Free Space in it, and Paste.

You might then consider a resize up a bit. Or leave some free space so
as later to make a new separate partition it

Now click on 'View MBR' and in it highlight the entry for this new C
partition and click the 'Set Active' Click 'Write Standard MBR' and
Apply.

Close out, swap the disks to make the new one the one that boots, and
reboot into XP.