Question

two computers - copy hard drive

Asked by: jvaaz

Is there a recommended way to copy a hard drive from one computer [old] to another computer [new]? both are on win xp, and i can replace the HD in the new computer with an unused HD the same size as the old.

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Asked On
2009-09-12 at 10:55:19ID24727013
Topics

Microsoft Operating Systems

,

Microsoft Windows Operating Systems

,

Windows XP Operating System

Participating Experts
7
Points
150
Comments
9

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Answers

 

by: houssam_balloutPosted on 2009-09-12 at 10:58:46ID: 25317284

you mean that you want to install the new hard driver on your computer, if so, then you must install a fresh copy of Windows and copy the old data from the old drive.

 

by: techdcPosted on 2009-09-12 at 11:07:42ID: 25317313

you can use the wizard in XP to transfer files. this link should work for you:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/expert/crawford_november12.mspx

 

by: semtex2004Posted on 2009-09-12 at 11:13:32ID: 25317338

It is possible to clone the hard disk. There is a large amount of hard disk cloning software, the most famous is probably Norton Ghost (called so because the process of cloning a hard disk is referred to as ghosting) which has been around for nearly as long as PC's.

Some cloning/ghosting software will allow you to ghos to different sizes disks, alter partitions etc.

I have always used Norton Ghost, however there are a number of freeware and shareware alternatives, see below.

http://www.thefreecountry.com/utilities/backupandimage.shtml

The following article is an excellent beginners guide to cloning windows xp:

http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleid=418&page=2

Good luck.

 

by: ArmyGrooPosted on 2009-09-12 at 11:19:40ID: 25317365

The reason you cannot copy the harddrive is your registry was built Specifically for the computer it is in now. A fresh install and data transfer is the only way to go

 

by: semtex2004Posted on 2009-09-12 at 11:35:22ID: 25317419

You can transfer a hard disk with windows xp in to another pc.

When the new pc boots up it should discover all the new different hardware and will try to install the relevant drivers. It would be a good idea to get the windows xp drivers for all of the hardware in the new machine and burn them to cd/dvd so you can use them to setup the new hardware.

 

by: ArmyGrooPosted on 2009-09-12 at 13:44:40ID: 25317830

Yes, it is "possible" but if you want s stable machine do a fresh install.

 

by: ksjon_techPosted on 2009-09-12 at 19:23:51ID: 25318725

here is your solution (even tho i would rather recommend just copying the files you need from the old computer and running a clean install on the new)

download and use http://www.sofotex.com/SelfImage-download_L35402.html to make a copy from the old disc to the new one.

this will most likely lead into a bluescreen and unbootable new computer, but atleast you have a copy of the old disk. when you see that it won't work properly you can go back to my "()" and copy only the files you need (documents, mail, pictures, favourites, etc) ;)

 

by: nobusPosted on 2009-09-13 at 00:03:42ID: 25319250

if you want to use a disk with xp installed on it on different hardware (mobo) you may have different outcome :
1- if the hard is the same : no problem
2- if the chipset is compatible (and the same hal ) you get xp adapting the drivers at boot
3-if the chipset is different, you get BSOD

here the way to move XP :
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/moving_xp.html                  Moving XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/249694                                "         "  

 

by: smiffy13Posted on 2009-09-14 at 19:09:53ID: 25330998

I've used PCMover and found it does a good job: http://www.laplink.com/pcmover

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