transfer whole OS to another HD

[Lenny]

Hi,
I have a computer with XP installed that is beginning to have a few
problems. Nothing major and nothing wrong with the operating system but I
believe the HD is about to pack up. I would like to install a second HD on
the system and then just copy everything straight from one to the other,
take the faulty HD out and carry on as usual.

Is there an easy way of doing this? Do I need some software like Ghost? Can
the second HD also be C:?

Thanks
Lenny

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Hi,
I have a computer with XP installed that is beginning to have a few
problems. Nothing major and nothing wrong with the operating system but I
believe the HD is about to pack up. I would like to install a second HD on
the system and then just copy everything straight from one to the other,
take the faulty HD out and carry on as usual.

Is there an easy way of doing this? Do I need some software like Ghost?
Can the second HD also be C:?

Thanks
Lenny

The easiest way is to use an imaging program such as Ghost
or Acronis DiskDirector. There are some methods that do
not involve third-party products but they are technically more
demanding. You should also have a look for a free disk-cloning
tool on the home site of the manufacturer of your hard disk.

After completing the cloning process, you must disconnect
the old disk and connect the new disk as the primary master
disk. If you boot the machine with both disks connected
then you might cause some awkward problems.

No, you cannot have both disks visible as drive C: at the
same time. However, after the cloning process the new disk
will also be drive C.

 

[JS]

Norton Ghost
http://www.symantec.com/norton/products/overview.jsp?pcid=br&pvid=ghost12

True Image (has a 15 day trial version also)
http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/

Also copying disk to disk with Norton Ghost
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPOR...hot&prod=Norton+Ghost&ver=10.0&csm=no&seg=hho

JS

 

[Lenny]

great stuff. thanks.

Norton Ghost
http://www.symantec.com/norton/products/overview.jsp?pcid=br&pvid=ghost12

True Image (has a 15 day trial version also)
http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/

Also copying disk to disk with Norton Ghost
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPOR...hot&prod=Norton+Ghost&ver=10.0&csm=no&seg=hho

JS

 

[JS]

You're welcome.

JS

great stuff. thanks.

 

[Lil' Dave]

Hi,
I have a computer with XP installed that is beginning to have a few
problems. Nothing major and nothing wrong with the operating system but I
believe the HD is about to pack up.

Must be smoke signals...

I would like to install a second HD on

the system and then just copy everything straight from one to the other,
Faulty?

take the faulty HD out and carry on as usual.

Is there an easy way of doing this?

3rd party software.

Do I need some software like Ghost?

You tell us.

Can the second HD also be C:?

There can be only one.

No comment on the "faulty hard drive" assessment. No comment on copying a
problematic hard drive to a new one.
Dave