Total disk copy, for new operating system

[thuffner3]

Morning all,
I guess it's about time I do a total reinstall of WinXP, Perhaps even to Win Vista.
1st ??, Can one take and copy and entire disk so it is exactly like the one removed?

Also, What are some of the drawbacks to installing Win Vista on an older machine.
I have an AMD 1 ghz pro-w- 1 gig mem. My vid card is an ATI radeon 9250.
My board is GIGAbyte.

TIA
Neil

 

[corkyg]

Yes, one can duplicate a complete HDD - that is called "Cloning" in most programs such as TI or Ghost.

There are limitations for installing Vista on older machines. Run the MS software that pre-checks your system.

Vista

 

[pkme2]

You should first check the system requirements for Windows Vista.

Your laptop can handle Win XP 32bit now. My recommendation is to stay with a solid O/S then try something that still has teething to resove.

Your drivers may have a problem with Windows Vista, you can check into that too, while you at it on the other matter.

 

[thuffner3]

SO,
Clone or Ghost will make an identical disk that can be swapped for my old drive?
I like my system just the way it is, but I;m afraid my hard drive may be nearing the end of the road.

The Vista upgrade compatibilty utility is nice, first off it told me that I could install. Then told me I would have to change out my vid card, and delete some software.
Ok,

Thanks guys

Neil

 

[bigdaddy51]

you can also use a WD utility called lifeguard to transfer all the info off the old drive onto the new Maxtor hasa similar app for thier drives Both can be downloaded and burned to a cd. They come with retail drives.

 

[bigdaddy51]

As far as running Vista on an old rig, ESPECIALLY a laptop, basically all you are going to be able to use, would be Vista basic ,which is just a gussied up XP Home. Much better to do a clean or copied reinstall of your software, and then download IE7 . You need some serious horsepower to use Vista Home Premium, with Aero enabled ,at the very least 128 mbs of onboard ram. HOWEVER ,Vista ran just fine on my 900mhz Duron with 1 gb of ram ,and a video card with 256 mbs of onboard ram. pretty much the minimum requirements to run Vista Home premium.It also ran perfect on an NF2 MSI socket A build, with 1 gig of ram a 2500 Barton and a Ti4200 128mbs of onboard ram.