Bob said:
I would like to install a larger hard drive into pc which
is already running Win XP pro. Will XP allow me to copy
or clone the existing pc drive which contains the XP
operating system to the new larger drive?
You need some third party imaging/partition management software for the
purpose. Eg Norton Ghost, Powerquest Drive Image. 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) and
Paste.
You might then consider a resize up a bit. Or highlight the free space
remaining beyond, click Create choosing Extended partition to use the
rest of the space, then similarly in that to make one or more volumes
in that (to become drives D:, etc)
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. Also make a check that this partition is in the same place in
the table as it was if you do a View MBR on the old one - if not use the
Up or down to correct it.
Close out, swap the disks to make the new one the one that boots, and
reboot into XP.
