Moving XP onto new hard drive

[ktm407]

My hard drive is failing and I just bought a new one (which is incidentally, the exact same make and model). The problem is, I don't have my Windows XP setup discs anymore, but I am running a licensed copy of XP on the failing hard drive I want to replace. Is there anyway I can somehow move my XP from my old drive to my new one without having to buy a new OS? My new drive is OEM and doesn't come with any software to assist me, from what I can tell. My old hard drive is unbearable to use and I really want XP -- I have absolutely no desire to upgrade to Vista or wait for Windows 7. Thank you!

 

[giantpinkbunnyhead]

I don't really have any direct help, but I have a few other suggestions.

First, since you have a licensed copy of XP, do you have one of those Windows Authentication stickers on your case or elsewhere? My local computer shop will burn me a copy of any OS as long as I bring in that sticker to prove I'm entitled to it, for something like $20. Turns out it's a chain store... Computer Renaissance. If you have one near you, see if they still offer that.

Next, if your choice is between Vista or waiting for Win 7, might I suggest downloading the Win 7 Release Candidate. It can be used right now, no waiting. The RC is supposed to be functional until well into 2010, at which point you can upgrade to the final release or change to another OS.

 

[ktm407]

No, I don't have any sticker. I built this machine with OEM parts myself, so nope. I had thought about getting the release candidate of Windows 7, but I just really want to chance any incompatibilities or problems. I was happy with XP and would just like to continue using it.

 

[Zensal]

You probably need some imaging software. Can't think of any other way to do it.

 

[Gillbot]

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2275658&enterthread=y

 

[ktm407]

Thanks for that link. But I looked at the directions for Sysprep and it looks like I still need the Windows XP disc. Has anyone used Sysprep that can confirm this? The second option in that link deals with swapping out motherboards and the third one requires a disc.

 

[Gillbot]

you do not need the disc that I can recall, though it's been a while so i'm only about 90% sure.

 

[ktm407]

OK, does anyone think it would it be easier to try to make my new HDD a slave and clone XP onto the slave and then pull them both out and install the new one? I'm nervous about my efforts failing and I'd like to have my old drive in tact in case it doesn't work out. If that is the better option, does anyone have a cloning program they would recommend?

 

[RebateMonger]

You can use the utility provided by disk maker to clone the old hard drive to the new hard drive. Pretty much every hard drive maker has such a utility on its Support web site.

 

[tcsenter]

What's the problem? Just use a disk clone/imaging tool to do a straight forward clone/image from old disk to new disk, remove old disk after cloning and boot new one.

It should not trigger activation unless you've already had a few hardware changes since you last activated Windows. No Sysprep required.

 

[ktm407]

OK, I guess I will try cloning it and hoping that works. I've never installed a hard drive or OS before, so I'm apprehensive and want to make it as easy as possible. I'll try cloning it onto a disc and hoping that works. Thanks.

 

[Elixer]

Originally posted by: ktm407
No, I don't have any sticker. I built this machine with OEM parts myself, so nope. I had thought about getting the release candidate of Windows 7, but I just really want to chance any incompatibilities or problems. I was happy with XP and would just like to continue using it.

Then you write:

Originally posted by: ktm407
OK, I guess I will try cloning it and hoping that works. I've never installed a hard drive or OS before, so I'm apprehensive and want to make it as easy as possible. I'll try cloning it onto a disc and hoping that works. Thanks.

If you go to the HD maker's web site, they offer cloning software that you can use.
And, as was mentioned, hope you don't trigger the activation DRM...

 

[ktm407]

OK, I am using Acronis True Image to transfer my failing HDD's contents onto a larger external drive as a bootable clone. Now I'm wondering if I need to be able to boot my computer through my external drive in order to do this. (I don't think my BIOS supports such an option.) Or, will the program have some sort of way to let it copy onto my new HDD? They are both SATA, so as I understand it, I don't have the option to make it a slave, correct?

This is taking forever to copy. There were some errors copying some of the sectors over on my C: drive (bad clusters, I assume) but I hope it doesn't cause any problems with this. I erased my backed up stuff on my external drive to make this clone instead, so I hope to god it works and my HDD doesn't finally kick the bucket tonight.

 

[Cookie Monster]

You could try Acronis migrate easy. Make a bootable CD, boot from that and then transfer everything (including the MBR) to the new HDD. Then unplug the old HDD and boot from your new HDD.

 

[tcsenter]

It can take a long time if there are bad sectors, depending on how the clone utility handles them. It took about 12 hours to clone the last hard drive I had due to bad sector handling (120GB drive with only 50GB of data).