Copying OS into a new HD and running from it

[shamus8888]

Hi all,

Two questions here that I hope someone could answer:

1) I have a 1TB HD with my OS installed on it (plus all the program files). If I buy a new HD can I just copy the whole content of the HD over to the new HD and run it off the new HD?

2) Is it possible to save Program Files to another directory/HD rather than the default one created by OS? If it is , how would you do that? How do you "tell" the OS where you are saving the Program Files? For example, at the moment I saved all my program files to C:\Program Files. In the future I would like to save them to D:\Program Files. Can I just copy everything from C:\Program Files to D:\Program Files and then tell the computer to update all the information to point to the right destination?

I hope you can understand what I am trying to ask :S I am actually planning to upgrade my main HD to a faster one but really do not fancy re-formatting and reinstalling everything again.

 

[CalvinHobbes]

To move the OS to another drive, use something like Acronis True Image. As for the other question, I don't know the answer but I'm sure you can find it using Google.

 

[Nothinman]

1) I have a 1TB HD with my OS installed on it (plus all the program files). If I buy a new HD can I just copy the whole content of the HD over to the new HD and run it off the new HD?

There are many imaging tools to handle that. Lots of drives come with a disc for that these days but if not there are free solutions like partimage and clonezilla as well.

2) Is it possible to save Program Files to another directory/HD rather than the default one created by OS? If it is , how would you do that? How do you "tell" the OS where you are saving the Program Files? For example, at the moment I saved all my program files to C:\Program Files. In the future I would like to save them to D:\Program Files. Can I just copy everything from C:\Program Files to D:\Program Files and then tell the computer to update all the information to point to the right destination?

You can install new things to D:\Program Files whenever you like, but the stuff currently in C:\Program Files has to stay there or be reinstalled. You can change where C:\Program Files points during install but moving it after the installation is a huge PITA and not really worth it.

 

[shamus8888]

Originally posted by: Nothinman

1) I have a 1TB HD with my OS installed on it (plus all the program files). If I buy a new HD can I just copy the whole content of the HD over to the new HD and run it off the new HD?

There are many imaging tools to handle that. Lots of drives come with a disc for that these days but if not there are free solutions like partimage and clonezilla as well.

2) Is it possible to save Program Files to another directory/HD rather than the default one created by OS? If it is , how would you do that? How do you "tell" the OS where you are saving the Program Files? For example, at the moment I saved all my program files to C:\Program Files. In the future I would like to save them to D:\Program Files. Can I just copy everything from C:\Program Files to D:\Program Files and then tell the computer to update all the information to point to the right destination?

You can install new things to D:\Program Files whenever you like, but the stuff currently in C:\Program Files has to stay there or be reinstalled. You can change where C:\Program Files points during install but moving it after the installation is a huge PITA and not really worth it.

Thanks mate! Answered all my questions