Putting in a Second Hard Drive

[6800GTguy]

Hi, I built my own PC (for the first time) last summer; it's a nice gaming rig, but its hard drive is only 40gb. Needless to say, one year later, I've only got 2 gigs left, so I'm looking at putting in a second hard drive, a 74gb Raptor. I'm planning on using this Raptor as the boot drive, and putting all programs on it, and using my old 40gb drive to store songs, pictures, and other files and media.

Now, here's the question - is there any way for me to install this new drive without having to format my current one? The reason I ask is, I've got about 20 gigs of personal files in My Docs, and I REALLY don't want to have to use 3 Dual-Layer DVDs to save all my stuff onto, then copy it back on. What I was envisioning was something along the lines of, I install the new drive, put windows on it, and set it as the boot drive, then I take all my personal files off the old drive, move them onto the Raptor, format it (just to make it squeaky-clean), and move my files back. I'd then install all my games and programs into the Raptor, leaving only the personal files on my old drive.

Of course, this is just my idea, and I don't know if it would work - that was just to give you an idea of what I want. Basically, I'm just looking for a way to install the new drive as a boot drive, without having to save all my personal files onto DVDs.

If you have a solution, or even a "this won't work, sorry", I'd be grateful - thanks!

 

[stu1811]

Use ghost or some other imaging program to mirror the 40 gb to the raptor. Then you will not loose anything. Once you know it works correctly format the 40 gb.

 

[6800GTguy]

So, I install the Raptor, mirror the old drive onto the Raptor, then format it? I'd have to go into BIOS and set the Raptor as the boot drive then, right?

 

[StraightPipe]

you are right on track. yank the 40GB (it will keep all your docs and settings)

install the raptor, and load windows. once you've got windows up and running turn the machine off and put the 40GB drive in as slave, so you can transfer your settings.

Be carefule with your HD jumpers (assuming you are PATA for the 40GB).
remeber single drive = CS
2 drives -> end of cable is MASTEr middle of cable is SLAVE

 

[StraightPipe]

since you are going for a clean windows install ghost isnt needed.

Ghost is better if you want to try to move your current setup to the raptor. I'm guessing that since it's a 40GB drive it is probably pretty old, and widows tends to go to sh!t after a couple of years (or months depending on the level of abuse)

 

[6800GTguy]

Alright, thanks. My drive has been pretty clean so far - maybe 10 crashes in the past - eh...year? A lot better than I expected. But both drives are SATA, so does what you said still apply? And what do you mean by "transfer settings"? How do you do that?

 

[imported_LoKe]

I thought you needed an identical drive to use ghost? Guess not.

 

[bob4432]

just use ghost or acronis to image it to the other hdd. no reason to do a fresh install....this process should take you ~30mins, then test and make sure all is good on the raptor, if yes then format the 40GB

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: LoKe
I thought you needed an identical drive to use ghost? Guess not.

nope, and not even same size, it will adjust partitions for a different size hdd based on %. acronis is same way