• 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.

Installing new Hard Drive--How can I best transfer OS and files over?

J

JuryDuty

Senior member
I'm installing a new hard drive.

How can I best transfer my WindowsXP operating system and all my files over to it?

I own PartitionMagic, but am not sure if it'll do the trick if I just copy my Windows partition.

Also, will WindowsXP give me a headache if I try to do this? Would it just be better to start over from scratch?
 
I havn't done this since Win95 days, but I used to do it with the XCopy DOS command with a bunch of switches. You should be able to find all the switches on Google, or I am sure someone here has it saved.

It may depend on filesystem used to.
 
Norton Ghost would be the best and easiest way to do it.

I haven't had luck with XCOPY. Although I did use the XCOPY32.EXE, which supports file names, the files still oddly copied over in the DOS 8.3 format, ie: instead of "Program Files" you'd see "Progra~1" ... but maybe I did something wrong.

As long as you're using FAT32 partitions, you'll be able to do this in DOS. Let's say for example your old hard disk is C: and your new hard disk is D: According to this page I *believe* this command line should copy all your stuff over:

XCOPY32 C:\*.* D:\*.* /E /H /C /K /Y /V

Download xcopy32.exe here and put it on a DOS boot diskette (see bootdisk.com if you don't have one).

This site has a lot of infromation. (See the 2nd page).

edit: I copied my Favorites folder using the switch above within XP and it worked just fine. I don't know about DOS. You should give it a shot.
 
Thanks for your detailed answer.

Well, my partition is NTFS. I guess I could convert it back to Fat32 with PartitionMagic.

Before I go through with that, I also know I can copy partitions with PartitionMagic. Can I just copy the bootable partition, all my programs and files from my old hard drive onto the new? Anyone know if that will work in WindowsXP?
 
I used Norton Ghost and it worked like a charm. I'm FAT32 though, and I don't know about NTFS. I'm sure you could find the answer on Nortons web site.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top