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new OS install question

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patentman

Golden Member
Hey all, I am planning to do a new OS install this weekend. I want to use my 500GB SATA drive to back up my data.

My question is this: If I put a fresh OS install on a different drive, i.e. an IDE drive or another SATA, and then I later hook up my 500GB SATA drive, will I have to reformat it and set it up before I can use it (thus losing my data)?

Note: I will be going from XP to Media Center.
 
After installing Windows on your other drive, you can hook up the 500GB SATA drive and Windows will be able to read it automatically as long as there's a SATA drive controller installed on the new PC. I use large external SATA drives as backup drives on many servers and client PCs, moving the drives from one PC to another.

DO NOT have the SATA backup drive connected to the new PC when installing Windows. If you do, you're likely to end up with your new boot drive being labled F: or so, rather than C:.
 
Thanks for the help! Glad to know I can do what I want to do. I'll make sure to have the SATA drive disconnected when installing.
 
Update: New install went fine after following your instructions. Was a bit peeved to discover that my $200+ mobo only cam with 1 IDE connector. Had to buy an IDE->SATA bridge to gain my 320GB of space back. Other than that things are great.
 
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