Replacing hard drive on my computer - possible to transfer XP?

[Ken Woodard]

My hard drive is too small so I'm replacing it with a new one. The computer
only fits one hard drive. I've got XP, all my programs, cookies, etc set up
just the way I want them. Is it possible to copy an image of the old hard
drive to another computer over the network and then restore that image to
the new hard drive when it is installed? Thanks!

 

[Jim]

It would require a network-enabled imaging program, of course. But the
problem usually w/ this sort of software is, you usually restore the image
from DOS, or some other floppy/CD based OS, so that you can gain access to
the HD and partitions to do the restore. Of course, such a floppy/CD is
typically NOT networked! And I don't know of any imaging software that
could replace an in-use partition.

If the partition is small enough, which should be the case if you keep your
OS separated from your DATA, it might be feasible to image to CD/DVD media.
I use BootIt NG ( http://www.bootitng.com ), which besides having its own
boot manager and partition manager, can image to CD/DVD media. Just have to
download it, create the bootable floppy/CD, boot it, when the Welcome screen
appears, hit Cancel, and follow the prompts until you reach the partition
manager. From there you can image any partitions you like, including to
another HD, USB drive, CD\DVD media, whatever suits your fancy. As long as
you don't have an ENORMOUS partition to image, having to use say 5-6 DVD
media is probably a small price to pay. And, you can keep the images
indefinitely.

Anyway, that's what I would do, just a suggestion. I'm sure others will
have ideas of their own.

Btw, you said it only fits one HD, I assume you mean physically. If it's
IDE based, there usually isn't any reason you can't temporaily hook-up the
second HD outside the computer, i.e., unmounted, using a two-connector IDE
cable. It doesn't have to be physically INSTALLED, i.e., screwed in place,
if all you're doing is a quick copy from one HD to the other. Just lean it
up against the PC case for the few minutes you need to complete the
operation.

HTH

Jim

 

[Ken Woodard]

Thanks Jim.

It would require a network-enabled imaging program, of course. But the
problem usually w/ this sort of software is, you usually restore the image
from DOS, or some other floppy/CD based OS, so that you can gain access to
the HD and partitions to do the restore. Of course, such a floppy/CD is
typically NOT networked! And I don't know of any imaging software that
could replace an in-use partition.

If the partition is small enough, which should be the case if you keep
your
OS separated from your DATA, it might be feasible to image to CD/DVD
media.
I use BootIt NG ( http://www.bootitng.com ), which besides having its own
boot manager and partition manager, can image to CD/DVD media. Just have
to
download it, create the bootable floppy/CD, boot it, when the Welcome
screen
appears, hit Cancel, and follow the prompts until you reach the partition
manager. From there you can image any partitions you like, including to
another HD, USB drive, CD\DVD media, whatever suits your fancy. As long
as
you don't have an ENORMOUS partition to image, having to use say 5-6 DVD
media is probably a small price to pay. And, you can keep the images
indefinitely.

Anyway, that's what I would do, just a suggestion. I'm sure others will
have ideas of their own.

Btw, you said it only fits one HD, I assume you mean physically. If it's
IDE based, there usually isn't any reason you can't temporaily hook-up the
second HD outside the computer, i.e., unmounted, using a two-connector IDE
cable. It doesn't have to be physically INSTALLED, i.e., screwed in
place,
if all you're doing is a quick copy from one HD to the other. Just lean
it
up against the PC case for the few minutes you need to complete the
operation.

HTH

Jim

 

[Hans-Georg Michna]

Ken,

if you want to read some more background information, you could
look at http://winhlp.com/WxMove.htm .

Hans-Georg