swapping a new hard drive - please help!

[xiaobao12]

hi all,

Here is what I currently have:

4600 Dell Dimension with a stock 80GB (WD), 120GB (WD), 2.4 GHZ, 1GB RAM, 2 opticals, x800.

Windows XP is on the 80. I have a brand new 200GB (Maxtor) that i would like to use with the 120GB, instead of the 80GB (Can I use 3 drives?) Then, I would like to have Windows XP on the 120GB or 200GB (Does it matter which one I install it on? WD is safer?)

There is data on both the 80 and 120 I want to keep.

How do I go about doing all of this? My friend has lent me a PCI controller but I wanted to hear from you guys on what to do.

Thanks!

 

[xiaobao12]

?

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Do you have a windows disk to reinstall from? If so, just take out the old drives, install the new drive, pick which one to install windows to. After installation & updates, install the old drives into the system, and copy the data you require to the new drives.

 

[xiaobao12]

yes i do have the windows disk. but i only have two HD slots - and i have data on both of them that i want to keep. are you talking about using the pci connector?

 

[Green Man]

OK, you have a 120GB WD that has data on it.
You want the data on the 200 GB maxtor.
The 80 GB has the OS.
You want the OS on the 120GB WD.

Sound right?

1. Go to WD website and download data lifeguard tools
2. Go to Maxtor website and download Maxblast utilities.
3. Make them both into bootable disks and label them.
4. Put 120 and 200 drives in.
5. Boot to maxblast disk.
6. Clone 120 drive to 200 drive
7. Shut down
8. Put 80 and 120 drives in
9. Boot to data lifeguard disk
10. Clone 80 to 120
11. Shut down
12. Put 120 and 200 drives in
13. Boot to OS
14. ...
15. Profit

 

[xiaobao12]

wow - that sounds complicated =0

thanks green.

there is no other way?

 

[Bobthelost]

Yeah, unlpug one of the DVD drives and plug the HD in there instead. Then clone the 80gig to the 200.

 

[xiaobao12]

when you guys say clone, that means copy everything from one to the other right?

thanks.

 

[Bobthelost]

Yes, it makes a near identical copy on the new drive. The only difference will be that the new drive will have more spare room, you might be able to assign partitions etc. using the drive tools, i don't know as i've never used them.

What it means is that you run the clone process, unplug the old drive and boot again, the new one will look identical and work just the same as the old one, but it'll have more spare room, you then carry on as per normal.

 

[xiaobao12]

wow - and i don't need to reinstall the OS?

thanks guys.