Want to install full XP on new HD, but keep old HD Me settings etc

[Guest]

I have purchased a new 120gig WD HD and the full version Windows XP Home
Edition. I plan to install XP on the new drive and migrate my old HD
contents i.e. programs, settings etc. The old HD has Win Me from Dell. What
should I do to allow me to migrate my settings and programs with the minumum
of trouble? I'm a bit of a neophyte with all of this, and want to make sure
I don't make stupid mistakes along the way. I have all of the original Dell
installed software CDs. I want the new drive to be my boot drive, and after
I've moved all of my programs and data files, I would like to reformat the
original drive, and then use it as a backup/extra drive. Any help would be
most welcome and appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

[Slippery_one]

I have purchased a new 120gig WD HD and the full version Windows XP
Home
Edition. I plan to install XP on the new drive and migrate my old
HD
contents i.e. programs, settings etc. The old HD has Win Me from
Dell. What
should I do to allow me to migrate my settings and programs with the
minumum
of trouble? I'm a bit of a neophyte with all of this, and want to
make sure
I don't make stupid mistakes along the way. I have all of the
original Dell
installed software CDs. I want the new drive to be my boot drive,
and after
I've moved all of my programs and data files, I would like to
reformat the
original drive, and then use it as a backup/extra drive. Any help
would be
most welcome and appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Do yourself a favor and start fresh.

Forget the old settings and move into the new operating system.

Moving programs from one machine to the next is not always straight
forward. Most programs install bits of themselves in the registry, a
subfolder of Program files folder and even in windows and windows
system folder. So just copying from one drive to the next won't
usually do the job and the won't always run.

Use a burner and burn the saved files and photos etc. to a cd.
If you have the install discs from the dell, your old programs might
work ok or they might not work with XP.

What programs is it that you really need from the Dell that came with
it? Microsoft works?

 

[Guest]

I am starting fresh on the new HD with the full version XP. I wanted to
avoid the problems I have heard about when just doing an upgrade versus a
full install. I realize I may have to install some of the original programs
onto the new drive, but was concerned that there may not be enough on the OEM
CDs to do this. Yes, I do want to keep Works and several other programs like
WinDVD etc. Will XP pick up my hardware settings without me having to do
that also? Once XP is installed, can I just swap the drives in the PC and
let it recognize the new HD as the C: drive, or do I need to change anything
else? Probably jumpers on the old drive, right? I know it's hard for anyone
to answer exactly, but any help is appreciated. Thanks!

 

[frodo]

ok, so you want to set up an all-new install of XP on the new drive, yet
retain what you had on the old drive. No can do; you will be required to
re-install all your apps after you get the new XP set up, you can not
"move" the apps. You can of course move your data tho.

XP has a Files and Settings Transfer Wizzard, which makes it easier to
migrate settings and docs, but not apps; you will need to reinstall ALL
your extra apps. read up on this wizard in Help and Support. Plan
carefully. get your apps installed FIRST, then their settings too will be
transferred.

SO, if you are "missing" any of your critical app install CD's then you
need to reacquire them.

 

[Slippery_one]

SO, if you are "missing" any of your critical app install CD's then
you
need to reacquire them.

You can hook the old disk up on the system as a second drive but
shouldn't you change the partition active status using a bootable
floppy and Fdisk on the old HD right before doing the swap? Isn't
there an issue having to HDs with active partitions and Op systems on
them running at the same time?

 

[Ron Martell]

I have purchased a new 120gig WD HD and the full version Windows XP Home
Edition. I plan to install XP on the new drive and migrate my old HD
contents i.e. programs, settings etc. The old HD has Win Me from Dell. What
should I do to allow me to migrate my settings and programs with the minumum
of trouble? I'm a bit of a neophyte with all of this, and want to make sure
I don't make stupid mistakes along the way. I have all of the original Dell
installed software CDs. I want the new drive to be my boot drive, and after
I've moved all of my programs and data files, I would like to reformat the
original drive, and then use it as a backup/extra drive. Any help would be
most welcome and appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Use the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard that comes with Windows XP
to save the information from your WindowsMe install. Then after you
have installed Windows XP on your new hard drive and installed the
application programs run FASTW again to import the saved data files
and configuration settings.


See MVP Gary Woodruff's article on using FASTW at
http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/fast.htm

Good luck


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."