Transferring an OS between the old and new HDD's

[Running Rampant]

Basically, I want to copy the OS from my G/F's HDD in her PC to a new one I just bought for it. I figured I would need to do this in DOS if I'm able to do it at all....I've got a Win XP Boot CD, so how can I go about doing that and then formating the old HDD to be used in my own PC as my main drive is 40GB 5400rpm and my G/F's old drive is 80GB 7200rpm.

Thanks guys, = )

[Quakindude]

By far, the easiest way to do this is with a purchased software package. Most new drives come with utilities to clone your old drive, but for $30, and you'll then have a way to keep regular backups for some time to come, you simply can't beat Acronis True Image. Here's a guide I wrote about it.

[polobunny]

Originally Posted by Quakindude

By far, the easiest way to do this is with a purchased software package. Most new drives come with utilities to clone your old drive, but for $30, and you'll then have a way to keep regular backups for some time to come, you simply can't beat Acronis True Image. Here's a guide I wrote about it.

Well, that's a great suggestion, but what tells you his OS will boot? Windows XP has always been a PITA to transfer from a computer to another.

[screwballl]

as long as all the hardware (except the hd) is the same then there shouldn't be any problems

[Lead Head]

Originally Posted by screwballl

as long as all the hardware (except the hd) is the same then there shouldn't be any problems

As long as the chipset/HDD controller is the same, their shouldn't be any problems

[Quakindude]

Originally Posted by polobunny

Well, that's a great suggestion, but what tells you his OS will boot? Windows XP has always been a PITA to transfer from a computer to another.

Here's what I got from his post.

1. He wants to copy the contents of the drive currently in his G/F's computer and put said contents on a new drive, in the same computer with the same components. There's no conflicts here because the new drive will be going right back into the same computer. So no chipset driver issues there.

2. He wants to use his G/F's old drive in his computer as his new primary drive. All he has to do is install the drive into his old computer and using his Windows XP disk, format that drive. Then, if he wants, do a fresh install of Windows on that drive. If he wants to keep his old drives contents, then all he has to do is format his G/F's old drive, then install it in his computer. Using Acronis, he can clone his old drives contents over to the G/F's old drive. Pull out the 5400rpm drive and put the G/F's drive as his primary. Everything will boot up as if nothing had changed.

Since he hasn't indicated that he wants to use a pre-existing installation of Windows from one computer to the other, there will not be any conflicts. If he does want to take his G/F's drive out of her computer and just stick it in his and expect it to boot up, he won't get far. Unless, of course, his puter and hers has the exact same mobo and hardware.

[Dr. V]

Originally Posted by Quakindude

Here's what I got from his post.

1. He wants to copy the contents of the drive currently in his G/F's computer and put said contents on a new drive, in the same computer with the same components. There's no conflicts here because the new drive will be going right back into the same computer. So no chipset driver issues there.

2. He wants to use his G/F's old drive in his computer as his new primary drive. All he has to do is install the drive into his old computer and using his Windows XP disk, format that drive. Then, if he wants, do a fresh install of Windows on that drive. If he wants to keep his old drives contents, then all he has to do is format his G/F's old drive, then install it in his computer. Using Acronis, he can clone his old drives contents over to the G/F's old drive. Pull out the 5400rpm drive and put the G/F's drive as his primary. Everything will boot up as if nothing had changed.

Since he hasn't indicated that he wants to use a pre-existing installation of Windows from one computer to the other, there will not be any conflicts. If he does want to take his G/F's drive out of her computer and just stick it in his and expect it to boot up, he won't get far. Unless, of course, his puter and hers has the exact same mobo and hardware.

and ^THIS is the easiest way!

[Running Rampant]

Originally Posted by Quakindude

Here's what I got from his post.

1. He wants to copy the contents of the drive currently in his G/F's computer and put said contents on a new drive, in the same computer with the same components. There's no conflicts here because the new drive will be going right back into the same computer. So no chipset driver issues there.

2. He wants to use his G/F's old drive in his computer as his new primary drive. All he has to do is install the drive into his old computer and using his Windows XP disk, format that drive. Then, if he wants, do a fresh install of Windows on that drive. If he wants to keep his old drives contents, then all he has to do is format his G/F's old drive, then install it in his computer. Using Acronis, he can clone his old drives contents over to the G/F's old drive. Pull out the 5400rpm drive and put the G/F's drive as his primary. Everything will boot up as if nothing had changed.

Since he hasn't indicated that he wants to use a pre-existing installation of Windows from one computer to the other, there will not be any conflicts. If he does want to take his G/F's drive out of her computer and just stick it in his and expect it to boot up, he won't get far. Unless, of course, his puter and hers has the exact same mobo and hardware.

Exactly right, what I want to do is upgrade my G/F's HDD to a 160GB 7200 (New HDD) and after copying her drive's contents to that HDD, format the old one, same again on my PC's main HDD and bob's you uncle...I have a 80GB 7200rpm HDD running everything that the old one did like nothings changed and the same would go for my G/F's PC. Everyone wins.

My G/F's HDD has a partition at the moment that only allows for less than 10GB for all installations and OS....and its pretty cramped in there....

So, more crucial questions....

1. Can F-Disk in DOS get rid of a partition without deleting info? (I don't have PRO, sorry)

2. Does Acronis copy everything, including the partition if I left it there or does it just copy the info?

I'm wondering because depending on what those do, it might save me a few jobs on the weekend.

Thanks

[Quakindude]

Acronis will allow you to copy both partitions, no problem there. However, you would more than likely want to clone the C: drive over to the new HDD and then format the old HDD primary (C:) partition. Then, once you have the new HDD installed and running as the primary, you can either copy the contents of the second partition over to the new drive or back the contents up. Acronis True Image, if used to clone the whole drive, will make the same sized OS partition if you do an exact clone of the whole drive. It doesn't allow you, at least I don't think it does, to resize the partitions on the new drive. I'll look into it on my computer and get back to you.

Does that make sense?

As far as when you install your G/F's drive into your computer, you can use the XP OS install disk to delete both partitions and then set up a primary partition again. Then do a complete format, not the Quick Format. The only time I use DOS now-a-days to work with HDD's is when I'm dealing with severely infected drives. Otherwise, I do everything through XP's disk management app and Acronis.

You can use this link as a resource for the included disk management functionality in Windows XP.

[Running Rampant]

Makes perfect sense Quakindude, thanks for the help

Just one more question though, I can download a 15 day freetrial version of True Image 10.0. Is it unrestricted, or will it not allow me to copy disk partitions?

This is where I found the free trail version:

Download home versions of data recovery software, disk manager and malware remover

Thanks guys....hopefully thats the last question ....