| User | Post |
Boom.dk
Posts: 260/392 |
Norton Ghost. |
||bass
Posts: 204/817 |
It only worked because 98 is a simplistic operating system. Trust me that this method would NOT work in any NT- based os such as XP. |
BMF98567
Posts: 665/1261 |
I've swapped boot drives more times than I can count. What I usually do (when the boot drive still works, that is) is install the new drive as primary slave, set up the partition(s) and make the first one active using FDISK, then FORMAT [drive]: /S, then boot into Windows and drag-n'-drop everything to the new drive via Explorer. However, I doubt the same method would work for XP...I've only done this with 98.  |
FreeDOS
Posts: 1164/1657 |
It works fine by just using one of the mentioned Partition managers... and then some (like QtParted, Ranish, too many to list).
All that the computer has to know how to boot is the MBR. It's the nice 512-byte block at the very beginning of the disk. The MBR then directs which partition to start booting from... in more complicated boot managers, they will need to store some data on the hard disk itself (like with GRUB). |
neotransotaku
Posts: 2404/4016 |
The technical reason why duplicating C doesn't work without the use of certain programs is because when you install an operating system, the operating system must provide information to the BIOS to let it know where to start gathering more boot information after it's own (i.e. where on the HD to start looking). the copy command does not do that.
However, if you make a new installatino of windows on that HD, and THEN copy everything from you HD over, then you have preserved all your OS configurations etc. |
||bass
Posts: 203/817 |
Get a program like Partition Magic.
Actually, alot of hard drive manufacturers even supply a partition copy program with new drives for this specific purpose.
You just have to realize, to do what you want, you need to copy the partition, not just its contents. |
Ten
Posts: 79/198 |
Originally posted by Ailure
Althought, which OS are you using?
It's Windows XP Pro, version of 2002, no service paks or other additions I believe. I'm also asking about other software that is installed on my computer. (Although, the only non-open source I have is realplayer and QuickTime I believe.) |
Surlent
Posts: 775/1077 |
Backups should be done anyway, when it comes to move around with partitions and -sizes, after there are data on them 
Creating a copy and putting that on the new HD is that backup. If it is Windows XP, then three gigs wil be not enogu later on, even if you move pagefile.sys, hiberfil.sys and all temp folders to another drive or partition.
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FreeDOS
Posts: 1161/1657 |
Partition Commander is specifically made for partition handling, not just backups. If the partitions are FAT, it's even safer... all it does is copy the files. If it's NTFS, it'll copy the partition data and attempt to resize it (possibly unsafe). |
Ailure
Posts: 8090/11162 |
Remember that if you use something like Norton Ghost, the partition on the new harddrive will be 3 GB too (thought with certain programs, it's possible to extend that 3GB partition). Althought you could just make another partition which is much bigger. And you should have things over at least two partitions anyway. (one for the OS, one for the rest of the stuff... that's how I have it .)
Althought, which OS are you using? It should be the same for most Windows OS's but Win XP could complain about activation due to hardware changes, but that's a few painless clicks unless you loose the internet connection somehow... |
FreeDOS
Posts: 1160/1657 |
If you have Partition Commander, you can simply copy it to a new hard disk. Windows' only obstacle would be a reboot message for "new hardware".  |
Tarale
Posts: 1462/2720 |
Well, people are right. There's a lot more to your Windows (or whatever) installation than just the files you see on the C:\ and merely copying the files over just doesn't work. Somebody more technical than me might be better to explain the specifics, but I imagine the Registry might be upset by such a move, for one...
You can use something like Norton's Ghost to transfer the files over, it will keep the filesystem intact. |
Ten
Posts: 78/198 |
I only have two hard drives right now. My C is a 3 gig and my E is a 2 gig adding up to 5 gigs. For a while I've been planning to just copy my C to a bigger hard drive then to swap them. But people are saying that I would have to reinstall everthing dispite it being an exact copy of my old C drive, why is this? |
