upgrade internal hard drive

[Guest]

Our Dell Dimension 4100 9GB internal hard drive has only about 1GB free . (We
have already added an 80GB external hard drive and transferred all data files
to it.)

I fear that the windows programs will keep getting larger and I understand
that putting programs on an external hard drive is ill advised. Therefore, we
have purchased a Seagate 160GB Internal Hard Drive Upgrade Kit and are about
to attempt to install it in the slot currently occupied by the original CDR
disc. drive. (We have installed a CDRW disc. drive in the slot below the CDR
drive and no longer use the CDR Drive)

Our plans are to attempt the following;
1) Burn cd's of all of our data files. (less than two cd's) just for
protection.
2)Run the DiscWizard that came with the Seagate Upgrade Kit.
3)Shut down the computer.
4)Remove the CDR Drive and install the Seagate 160GB Hard Drive.
5)Restart the computer
6)Pray a lot and hope that it will work!!

As we are well seasoned citizens and more or less computer illiterate,
we would appreciate any and all suggestions and advice that could ward off a
disaster.

Thank you.
Dick H.

 

[smlunatick]

Our Dell Dimension 4100 9GB internal hard drive has only about 1GB free . (We
have already added an 80GB external hard drive and transferred all data files
to it.)

I fear that the windows programs will keep getting larger and I understand
that putting programs on an external hard drive is ill advised. Therefore, we
have purchased a Seagate 160GB Internal Hard Drive Upgrade Kit and are about
to attempt to install it in the slot currently occupied by the original CDR
disc. drive. (We have installed a CDRW disc. drive in the slot below the CDR
drive and no longer use the CDR Drive)

Our plans are to attempt the following;
1) Burn cd's of all of our data files. (less than two cd's) just for
protection.
2)Run the DiscWizard that came with the Seagate Upgrade Kit.
3)Shut down the computer.
4)Remove the CDR Drive and install the Seagate 160GB Hard Drive.
5)Restart the computer
6)Pray a lot and hope that it will work!!

As we are well seasoned citizens and more or less computer illiterate,
we would appreciate any and all suggestions and advice that could ward off a
disaster.

Thank you.
Dick H.

Wrong steps.

1) Burn cd's of all of our data files
2) Shutdown the computer
3) Remove CDR drive and install 160GB hard drive
4) Restart the PC.
5) Run DiscWizard and copy from "old" drive to new drive
6) Shutdown the computer again
7) Remove "old" drive"
8) Remove 160Gb drive. Re-configure "jumpers" so that it will connect
to cable plug that "old" drive was using.
9) Restart the computer

This is a way of replacing the internal hard drive that is also the
drive that BOOTS XP.

 

[Augustus]

I fear that the windows programs will keep getting larger and I understand

that putting programs on an external hard drive is ill advised. Therefore,
we
have purchased a Seagate 160GB Internal Hard Drive Upgrade Kit and are
about
to attempt to install it in the slot currently occupied by the original
CDR
disc. drive. (We have installed a CDRW disc. drive in the slot below the
CDR
drive and no longer use the CDR Drive)

Our plans are to attempt the following;
1) Burn cd's of all of our data files. (less than two cd's) just for
protection.
2)Run the DiscWizard that came with the Seagate Upgrade Kit.
3)Shut down the computer.
4)Remove the CDR Drive and install the Seagate 160GB Hard Drive.
5)Restart the computer
6)Pray a lot and hope that it will work!!

A much simpler solution would be to purchase Ghost 9.0 or equivalent and
image your primary drive to the external backup drive, replace the original
HDD with the new 160Gb one, boot from the Ghost CD and image the new drive
from the external. About a 20min job max and way simpler than what you are
proposing. Then use the external for weekly Ghost backups.

 

[sandy58]

A much simpler solution would be to purchase Ghost 9.0 or equivalent and
image your primary drive to the external backup drive, replace the original
HDD with the new 160Gb one, boot from the Ghost CD and image the new drive
from the external. About a 20min job max and way simpler than what you are
proposing. Then use the external for weekly Ghost backups.

You tell 'em, Augustus. Spot on & a LOT easier for those who are
struggling a bit.
I use ATI but Ghost is very similar.

 

[HEMI-Powered]

Today, =?Utf-8?B?RGljayBILg==?= made these interesting comments
....

Our Dell Dimension 4100 9GB internal hard drive has only about
1GB free . (We have already added an 80GB external hard drive
and transferred all data files to it.)

I fear that the windows programs will keep getting larger and
I understand
that putting programs on an external hard drive is ill
advised. Therefore, we have purchased a Seagate 160GB Internal
Hard Drive Upgrade Kit and are about to attempt to install it
in the slot currently occupied by the original CDR disc.
drive. (We have installed a CDRW disc. drive in the slot below
the CDR drive and no longer use the CDR Drive)

Our plans are to attempt the following;
1) Burn cd's of all of our data files. (less than two cd's)
just for protection.
2)Run the DiscWizard that came with the Seagate Upgrade Kit.
3)Shut down the computer.
4)Remove the CDR Drive and install the Seagate 160GB Hard
Drive. 5)Restart the computer
6)Pray a lot and hope that it will work!!

As we are well seasoned citizens and more or less computer
illiterate, we would appreciate any and all suggestions and
advice that could ward off a disaster.

Thank you.
Dick H.

Sounds to me like you need a new PC, one with more CPU, more
memory, and a HD in the 200+ gig range, especially if you
contemplate an O/S upgrade. To be within 1 gig of running out on
your internal is an invitation for a visit from Murphy.

As to your new 160 gig, you could put that in the secondary drive
bay if you have it, and aim your apps to store their data there
or you could do the nuke and reinstall shuffle and just rebuild
your entire system to take advantage of a more realistic HD size.

BTW, God does not micro manage, so praying isn't likely to help
you if you do something ill-advised ...

 

[smlunatick]

A much simpler solution would be to purchase Ghost 9.0 or equivalent and
image your primary drive to the external backup drive, replace the original
HDD with the new 160Gb one, boot from the Ghost CD and image the new drive
from the external. About a 20min job max and way simpler than what you are
proposing. Then use the external for weekly Ghost backups.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Why purchase Ghost when DiscWizard is provide free by Seagate in the
160GB hard drive kit? DiscWizard does allow you to "clone" the hard
drive.

 

[Guest]

Wrong steps.

1) Burn cd's of all of our data files
2) Shutdown the computer
3) Remove CDR drive and install 160GB hard drive
4) Restart the PC.
5) Run DiscWizard and copy from "old" drive to new drive
6) Shutdown the computer again
7) Remove "old" drive"
8) Remove 160Gb drive. Re-configure "jumpers" so that it will connect
to cable plug that "old" drive was using.
9) Restart the computer

This is a way of replacing the internal hard drive that is also the
drive that BOOTS XP.

Thank you for your help.

I think I will now proceed with the steps you suggest.

 

[Guest]

Thank you Augustus. We already have windows one step so we really dont need
another way to backup. We really do like the onestep. It has really removed a
lot of "stuff" that was slowind down our computer. Thanks again for your
help Augustus.

 

[Guest]

Thank you Sandy for your comments and suggestion.

 

[Guest]

Thank you HEMI for your comments. We love this Dimension 4100 so if we can
only get the hard drive upgraded it should be adequate for us here in the
wilderness.
Thank you for your advice.

 

[Guest]

Why purchase Ghost when DiscWizard is provide free by Seagate in the
160GB hard drive kit? DiscWizard does allow you to "clone" the hard
drive.

Thank you SM. I feel confident that we can accomplish the tasks necessary. I will let you know how it comes out.

 

[HEMI-Powered]

Today, =?Utf-8?B?RGljayBILg==?= made these interesting comments
....

Thank you HEMI for your comments. We love this Dimension 4100
so if we can only get the hard drive upgraded it should be
adequate for us here in the wilderness.
Thank you for your advice.

Then, good luck to you! If you like your car but it needs a new
engine, then fix it and keep enjoying it.

 

[HEMI-Powered]

Today, smlunatick made these interesting comments ...

Why purchase Ghost when DiscWizard is provide free by Seagate
in the 160GB hard drive kit? DiscWizard does allow you to
"clone" the hard drive.

I've got a Maxtor external with One Step Backup but prefer Acronis
True Image for my image needs and like to do simple file copies for
my data backups, both fitting both my perceived needs as I
understand them, and my wants.