Time saving - Copying HDD  | | 
October 15th, 2002, 05:24 PM
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#1 (permalink)
| | Member
Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: London, UK
Posts: 128
| Time saving - Copying HDD
I have 2 internal HDD's, one of which (the current C: drive) is over 4 years old and needs to be replaced. Can anyone tell me - if I copy the entire contents of C: to my other HDD (on D  , then when I have installed my new HDD use DOS to copy the files back from D: will my PC then boot from the new disk and behave just like the old disk? In other words, can I clone my existing setup, files, OS - everything, and not have to reinstall all my software?
I am using W2K Professional - and a whole host of other software that I would rather not have to reinstall! | 
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October 15th, 2002, 05:26 PM
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#2 (permalink)
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Won't work if you just copy or xcopy. Prolly can work if you image the disk using norton ghost, save the image on d: and then restore to a new c:
But its far less aggravating to just install everything. That way you get a squeaky clean fresh install and no aggravation and it takes less time. | |
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October 15th, 2002, 05:36 PM
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#3 (permalink)
| | Ultimate Member
Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 1,548
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When you buy a new drive, if you buy retail, you should get software from the manufacturer that will allow you to format the drive and copy data to it from another drive. I have found these are the best way to get your old data to a new machine with no need for a re-install.
Undeadlord
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"Mercy for the guilty is treason to the innocent" | |
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October 15th, 2002, 05:39 PM
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#4 (permalink)
| | Steeler Fan
Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Louisville KY
Posts: 3,252
| Quote: Originally posted by Undeadlord
When you buy a new drive, if you buy retail, you should get software from the manufacturer that will allow you to format the drive and copy data to it from another drive. I have found these are the best way to get your old data to a new machine with no need for a re-install.
Undeadlord | Especially if its a Maxtor.
As long as one of them (new or old) is a Maxtor you can use EZ Copy from the software to copy for free.
http://www.maxtor.com/en/support/dow...st_plus_ii.htm | |
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October 15th, 2002, 05:47 PM
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#5 (permalink)
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My opinion is that you're still better off installing everything again if you have the original disks. | |
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October 15th, 2002, 05:49 PM
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#6 (permalink)
| | Ultimate Member
Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 1,548
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Well I am not debating if he will be better off or not. I am simply helping him with his question.
Undeadlord | |
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October 16th, 2002, 02:36 AM
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#7 (permalink)
| | Member
Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: London, UK
Posts: 128
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Thanks guys. I have ordered a Maxtor drive so I will take a look at Ezcopy. You are probably right though - it would be better to reinstall. I guess I'm just lazy when it comes to installing so much software - and then there are all the MS patches to download and reinstall | |
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October 16th, 2002, 03:10 AM
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#8 (permalink)
| | Instigator
Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Healdsburg, CA
Posts: 12,257
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EZ-Copy works great. I used it on my Maxtor 40Gb DX740. It took a while, but everything worked out great. 
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