• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

[help] reformatting

I

IronReda

Junior Member
I plan on reformatting my 250 gb harddrive but i dont want to lose all my movie content and i dont want to burn them all on DVD. So i ordered a 500gb hard drive and a aluminum enclosure.

I find out today that this external aluminum hard drive enclosure cannot support over 400gb... so then i thought: "ill just use my 250gb harddrive for the enclosure and install windows xp on my new 500gb harddrive instead"

but if i plan to use my 250gb harddrive for the exteral, does that mean i have to reformat it? probably, I still don't know a quick method to backup my media files other than using DVDs.

so what do i do guys? i have

-two harddrives, 500 and 250
-250gb has all my media files and OS
-500 gb has nothing in it

how do i get my media files into the 500 gb, while allowing me to install an OS in the 500?



Another thing, I have an HP pavilion so no actual windows XP CD came with the computer, but i do have a valid CD key. I plan on burning a windows xp.iso on a DVD since i have no CD-roms lieing around... is this possible to do? i hear one cant burn windows xp on a DVD as it wont work or something...













 
How about this:

1) put your 500GB hard drive inside your computer in the conventional fashion as an IDE or SATA drive, whichever it is.

2) create a partition on the 500GB hard drive.

3) format the partition on the 500GB hard drive.

4) begin copying your files to the 500GB hard drive from the 250GB hard drive.

5) take a snack break while the files copy 😀

6) shut the system down and unplug the 500GB hard drive from its data cable for the moment.

7) reimage your system from the 250GB hard drive's recovery partition, assuming that's how they did it. Take precautions against worm attack (scroll past the Vista-versus-XP stuff).

8) remove unwanted junk that HP tries to cram down your throat, get everything secure and updated, then shut down, hitch up the 500GB drive and there's your files.


Any good?
 
do i partition the 500gb as a primary or extended? I read the differences but i don really understand all the jargon, how do they both differ in newb-terms?

sorry im a total novice, this is my first time partitioning anything.

another thing... i have a new motherboard and i wish not to use the 250gb recovery partition just because it will probably give me driver problems. Is it possible for me to just reformat the recovery partition and use the harddrive without problems in the new motherboard?

one more thing: can i use a DVD to burn windowsxp.iso on it?
 
Primary is fine.

another thing... i have a new motherboard and i wish not to use the 250gb recovery partition just because it will probably give me driver problems. Is it possible for me to just reformat the recovery partition and use the harddrive without problems in the new motherboard?
Click to expand...

You are facing several pitfalls with that plan. Did your motherboard fail, or are you just upgrading?

one more thing: can i use a DVD to burn windowsxp.iso on it?
Click to expand...

I have no idea. I would never trust a Windows XP disc image obtained from anywhere but Microsoft themselves, either :Q
 
i am upgrading the motherboard.

ok this is my first time partitioning a hard drive

So this is what im going to do

1. partition the 500gb harddrive
2. format the harddrive (should i do this on my new sli mother board? [im currently using the stock HP motherboard] or does it even matter?
3.begin copying files to the 500GB hard drive from the 250GB hard drive (i plan to use the 500gb as the "main one" for the new motherboard, if i transfer files from the 250gb into the 500, how will i find it later once i install xp on the 500gb?
 
It should not matter which motherboard you partition/format from. However

(1) be aware that OEM Windows licenses go *POOF* when you upgrade the motherboard, so your Windows installation, even if you do manage it, would not be legit. If you want a legit license, you might as well order up a new license and Windows CD (or Windows DVD if you pick Vista).

(2) versions of WinXP prior to Service Pack 1 would not be able to access partitions larger than a certain capacity until you had upgraded them by installing Service Pack 2. This could present a Catch-22 situation if you are trying to install pre-SP1 WinXP onto a partition which contains your stuff, but which Windows Setup cannot use because it's too big. And if your license key belongs to a certain SP of Windows, I believe it may not work with a disc containing some other SP. At least I've seen that happen before.



Safe solution: get a new Windows license and disc for $85-ish (for OEM WinXP Home). Now you can simply install WinXP directly to the 500GB drive on your new motherboard, no license problems, no Catch-22s, and after you're done, you can slave in your old 250GB drive, take Ownership of the files you want, and copy them over. Or you can opt for Windows Vista if you want.

tips on installing WinXP near the bottom. Make sure to unplug all extra drives, including USB drives and card readers, before you proceed.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top