Finally installing XP....Need advice

[Norrlands]

I ran a few searches and didn't find any threads concerning this question.
I finally am upgrading to XP this weekend. I currently have Me and will be installing XP Pro - full version, not the upgrade.
I have about 20GB of info on my hard drive (mp3's and jpegs) that I have no idea how I am going to back up. What I was thinking was taking my new HD - still unformatted - and using that for a clean install of XP, and then connecting my old HD (one with ME on it) and just grabbing all of the crap I want off of it.
Is this a good approach, or is there a much easier way to do this?? What about all of my programs on ME? Do I need to track down all the cd's for them and basically reinstall each program, or can I somehow copy them from one HD to the other?

Yes, I am clueless about all of this.

 

[tkdkid]

Yes, connecting up your old HD to the new computer is just about the easiest way possible to copy mp3s and pics.

And also, yes, you'll have to install each program on your new computer. There isn't any easy way to copy over program installations.

 

[bdjohnson]

you might want to put a partition on your new HD- one for OS and programs and one for other files. The OS and programs one should probably be 20gigs or so. if you make these partitions then you could format your new HD and put all your mp3s and other files on the second partition of your new HD, then install XP on the 20gig partition. You will need to reinstall all of your programs,though.

 

[crobusa]

Had the same problem, used the same solution. The new drive was C:, the old drive was D:

As for installing everything over, I've heard that advice time and time again, but never heeded it. (Exception of MS office)
It seems most progs from Warcraft 2 on recreated their registry keys. If there wasn't program was too dumb to recover, it wouldn't have the logic to look at all the CD drives for target media.

My problem was I lost my product keys, but still had the CDs. This is how I recovered Max Payne 1, GTA3, Theme Hospital, Zinf, CDex, Winzip, etc. (Winzip lost it's reg key though)

Office 97 does whine that you must reinstall, but it's so bloated and tied to the OS, I'd imagine it would. (Still limped along without install, only poping up reminders.)

 

[Shagga]

Originally posted by: crobusa
Had the same problem, used the same solution. The new drive was C:, the old drive was D:

As for installing everything over, I've heard that advice time and time again, but never heeded it. (Exception of MS office)
It seems most progs from Warcraft 2 on recreated their registry keys. If there wasn't program was too dumb to recover, it wouldn't have the logic to look at all the CD drives for target media.

My problem was I lost my product keys, but still had the CDs. This is how I recovered Max Payne 1, GTA3, Theme Hospital, Zinf, CDex, Winzip, etc. (Winzip lost it's reg key though)

Office 97 does whine that you must reinstall, but it's so bloated and tied to the OS, I'd imagine it would. (Still limped along without install, only poping up reminders.)

You should be more careful with your Keys!

Yes, connecting up your old HD to the new computer is just about the easiest way possible to copy mp3s and pics.

And also, yes, you'll have to install each program on your new computer. There isn't any easy way to copy over program installations.

I agree.

 

[Shagga]

dp

 

[Norrlands]

Thanks for the advice. This will be my Saturday afternoon project. Hopefully it won't take too long. :beer:

 

[Jeff7181]

My partitioning methods...

C: = Windows, Programs like Word, Excel, AIM, Yahoo! Messenger, etc.
D: = Swap file (fixed size) + Temporary Internet files
E: = Games
F: = Downloads, media files, beta games

*EDIT* I guess I should explain my methods...

C: is the boot drive obviously... and I put general use applications on it.
D: I have set for the swap file and temp internet files because less fragmentation occurrs when you separate things like temporary internet files that are constantly being written, deleted, or changed... and it isn't really necessary to put the swap file on a separate partition if it's a fixed size, but if you don't use a fixed size, then that also helps prevent fragmentation
E: I keep my games separate once again for fragmentation purposes... with game saves, custom maps, and patches being added about every week, that would heavily fragment the boot drive
F: is mainly storage, but I put beta games on there too because they create such HUGE log files and also have bug fixes and patches and new stuff to download about 2-3 times a week... so again, that's to prevent fragmentation

With these partitioning methods... I only need to defrag my C: drive once ever 1 or 2 months... so windows doesn't get noticeably slower when booting and normal programs don't load noticeably slower over time

**EDIT** Also... with my Raptor, even after a month without defragging, it takes no more than 2 minutes to defrag C: