manually drag files from slave drive to new hard drive

[mooky]

I'm getting a new hard drive to replace my hard drive that's been on
it's last leg and still hanging on....I wanted to know how to install
the old drive as a slave and after I install XP(SP2) on the new one
and be able just to read the old drive as data and drag the files I
need on the new drive...

 

[mooky]

I'm getting a new hard drive to replace my hard drive that's been on
it's last leg and still hanging on....I wanted to know how to install
the old drive as a slave and after I install XP(SP2) on the new one
and be able just to read the old drive as data and drag the files I
need on the new drive...

one other thing I meant to ask...would I be able to read the entire
contents of the old drive or do I have to make special folders in
certain locations? I tried to copy the contents of an old hard drive
to a new one once and the PC rebooted when only 2% left to copy so I
would rqather manually drag and drop if possible...then when I get all
the files I want off of it, should I reformat it and use it for
backup? If so, I'll wait a few weeks to do that until I get know for
sure I have everything I need of it...

 

[mooky]

one other thing I meant to ask...would I be able to read the entire
contents of the old drive or do I have to make special folders in
certain locations? I tried to copy the contents of an old hard drive
to a new one once and the PC rebooted when only 2% left to copy so I
would rqather manually drag and drop if possible...then when I get all
the files I want off of it, should I reformat it and use it for
backup? If so, I'll wait a few weeks to do that until I get know for
sure I have everything I need of it...

Just had another question...have to post em when they pop in my
head...I created a slipstream XP(SP2) cd....did it from an old XP
upgrade cd and read how to do it on some site I found....I wanted to
know if the splistream cd is bootable...my dvd rom(top cd drive) is
shot...I do have a cd burner as my 2nd cd drive...can I boot the cd
from that drive and if so how to I select it in booting options? Also
I just ordered a dvd burner that should be here in a week or so...hope
someone can guide me along here...don't want to screw anything up...

 

[mikeyhsd]

you should be able to read the contents of the old drive .
you can copy over the data files.
the programs that are on the old drive will have to be re-installed on the new drive.
cannot answer on the slipstreamed cd since do not know anything about how or with what it was created.


(e-mail address removed)@sport.rr.com

I'm getting a new hard drive to replace my hard drive that's been on
it's last leg and still hanging on....I wanted to know how to install
the old drive as a slave and after I install XP(SP2) on the new one
and be able just to read the old drive as data and drag the files I
need on the new drive...

 

[Sharon F]

I'm getting a new hard drive to replace my hard drive that's been on
it's last leg and still hanging on....I wanted to know how to install
the old drive as a slave and after I install XP(SP2) on the new one
and be able just to read the old drive as data and drag the files I
need on the new drive...

Install the new drive and install XP from your slip streamed CD. If created
to boot the system, they will do just that. The programs that automate the
creation of slipstreamed CDs do this automatically. On the other hand, if
created manually, extra steps are listed in the directions that I've seen
(and used). So if directions were followed correctly, booting from CD
should be successful.

As for the question about setting up to boot from CD and which drive to
use: Enter your BIOS setup screens. How to do that differs from one system
to another but in general a key or combination of keys is pressed to enter
this area. For example, on my system I press the Delete key. Once in the
BIOS setup screens look for a menu titled "Boot" or similar. It may be an
independent menu item or a submenu of one of the main menu items. Select
the CD as first boot option and then press whatever keys are necessary to
"save changes and exit." (May want to insert the XP CD at this point. Then
press Y to confirm and you're on your way.

You mention that the one optical drive is shot. Why not remove it or at
least disconnect its power and data cable? If not up for removing it and
the system has trouble finding the working optical drive for boot purposes,
you may have to change its connection with the broken optical drive.

Once XP is installed, connect the old hard drive as slave. Transfer data.
Then toss the drive. The drive is failing. It is not trustworthy to hold
backup copies or anything else. Any files written to that drive could
easily corrupt and up being damaged beyond repair or unusable.

 

[Sharon F]

Just had another question...have to post em when they pop in my
head...I created a slipstream XP(SP2) cd....did it from an old XP
upgrade cd and read how to do it on some site I found....I wanted to
know if the splistream cd is bootable...my dvd rom(top cd drive) is
shot...I do have a cd burner as my 2nd cd drive...can I boot the cd
from that drive and if so how to I select it in booting options? Also
I just ordered a dvd burner that should be here in a week or so...hope
someone can guide me along here...don't want to screw anything up...

PS: Good luck and enjoy your new hardware!

 

[mooky]

PS: Good luck and enjoy your new hardware!

thanks....I posted on g4tv.com's tech forums about this and someone
said that I might not be able to read all files nd sent me to a
microsoft article that said how to set permissions to the files in
safe mode...the new dvd burner will replace the dead dvd rom drive and
I have been told it will be recognized as a cd rom drive untill the
drivers are installed, but will be able to boot from the cd...I
checked the contents of my cd and it is a bootable version...I don't
even remember how I did it...I just followed some instructions on a
site I found and used a cpl. programs to do everything I think...the
slave drive I have now is a 20 gig and it was giving me problems when
it was my main drive...it sounded like a grinding outboard moter....so
I upgraded to the Maxtor 160gig I am now having to replace and have
had no trouble using my 20 gig as a slave...so I would think I
wouldn't have any trouble using my current drive as a slave if wiped
clean, but that I am really unsure about, but hoping I can...if not I
can back up my data on dvd rw's since I can backup more data on them
than cdr's which would take me at least 50 to backup my docs and other
important files...

 

[mooky]

PS: Good luck and enjoy your new hardware!

Another quick question....how can I backup IE7 bookmarks and settings
easily?

 

[mooky]

Another quick question....how can I backup IE7 bookmarks and settings
easily?

I found where favorites are stored and copied them, but can you backup
add ons as well?

 

[mooky]

I found where favorites are stored and copied them, but can you backup
add ons as well?

never mind about the add ons....different question...do you think I'll
be able to read my documents files and folders on the slave...most pf
my important docs and files are in my docs..

 

[Sharon F]

I found where favorites are stored and copied them, but can you backup
add ons as well?

I use "export" and "import" for favorites but copying them will work too.
Add ons will have to be reinstalled.

What you do with your failing drive is up to you. You asked for an opinion
so that's what I gave you. I can understand what you're going through with
this decision though...

I once had a drive that seemed to be working right. It wasn't clicking or
reporting bad sectors but the SMART warning of impending failure kept
reappearing - even after resetting the drive with the manufacturer's tools.
I was very tempted to use that one as a secondary but in the end decided
against it. Reason: anything I stored on that drive would be data and I
just didn't want to risk losing or damaging that data. Also, I would have
to back that data up somewhere else anyhow so why make more work for
myself?

It's your drive though. In the end, you have to decide what to do for
yourself.

As for the DVD drive, you really didn't say what was wrong with it. If it
just can't read DVDs and can still read CDs, the advice from g4 should
work. Reading boot info is a little different than reading data though so
you still *might* run into trouble - or it will work fine. Anyhow, at least
you'll have a plan B already lined up - use the other optical drive if you
have to.

 

[mooky]

I use "export" and "import" for favorites but copying them will work too.
Add ons will have to be reinstalled.

What you do with your failing drive is up to you. You asked for an opinion
so that's what I gave you. I can understand what you're going through with
this decision though...

I once had a drive that seemed to be working right. It wasn't clicking or
reporting bad sectors but the SMART warning of impending failure kept
reappearing - even after resetting the drive with the manufacturer's tools.
I was very tempted to use that one as a secondary but in the end decided
against it. Reason: anything I stored on that drive would be data and I
just didn't want to risk losing or damaging that data. Also, I would have
to back that data up somewhere else anyhow so why make more work for
myself?

It's your drive though. In the end, you have to decide what to do for
yourself.

As for the DVD drive, you really didn't say what was wrong with it. If it
just can't read DVDs and can still read CDs, the advice from g4 should
work. Reading boot info is a little different than reading data though so
you still *might* run into trouble - or it will work fine. Anyhow, at least
you'll have a plan B already lined up - use the other optical drive if you
have to.

It can't read anything....the dvd rom drive..getting the new dvd
burner Thursday...hope I don't run into trouble...it might be better
if I try to copy files from the old drive in safe mode???

 

[mooky]

It can't read anything....the dvd rom drive..getting the new dvd
burner Thursday...hope I don't run into trouble...it might be better
if I try to copy files from the old drive in safe mode???

also, how do I take ownership of my documents on the slave drive to
move them to the new one? I have read where others had to take
ownership of files and folders...if I do that do I have to boot from
my slave drive? I'm a tad bit confused as I have never done this
before....also can I take ownership now of my docs before I even get
the new drive?

 

[mooky]

also, how do I take ownership of my documents on the slave drive to
move them to the new one? I have read where others had to take
ownership of files and folders...if I do that do I have to boot from
my slave drive? I'm a tad bit confused as I have never done this
before....also can I take ownership now of my docs before I even get
the new drive?

and by the way my account will be set to admin which it is now...so
would I have to still take ownership?

 

[Sharon F]

It can't read anything....the dvd rom drive..getting the new dvd
burner Thursday...hope I don't run into trouble...it might be better
if I try to copy files from the old drive in safe mode???

If the DVD rom drive can't read anything then using it to boot the system
will not work. DVDrom drives have two lasers - one for DVDs and one for
CDs. Sometimes only one laser fails, most often the one for DVDs. But if
it's not reading CDs now, it's not going to do it for booting from CD.

If you leave things as they are now and try to boot from CD, your system
might move on to the next optical disk when it sees there is no CD in the
broken drive and boot just fine. And it might not. If it doesn't, then
you'll have to deal with moving the working drive into position.

Do you know about jumpering a drive? Drives are jumpered in a certain
manner depending on how they are connected. If you look on a drive's
housing, there is usually a chart showing you which pins to cover for
slave, master and cable select. If necessary, move the little "cover" so
that it is covering the correct pins for the drive's new position. If you
have to move drives around, match the position of the jumpers on the
working drive to the one that you removed from the system.

If you run into access problems on the files you're going to copy over, you
can "take ownership." The following MS Knowledge Base article explains how
to do that:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308421/en-us

If using XP Home, you will need to start in Safe Mode to get at the
permission pages found in the properties sheets. If you have XP Pro, you
can start normally but may have to turn off simple file sharing. The
article referenced above explains all of this in detail.

 

[mooky]

If the DVD rom drive can't read anything then using it to boot the system
will not work. DVDrom drives have two lasers - one for DVDs and one for
CDs. Sometimes only one laser fails, most often the one for DVDs. But if
it's not reading CDs now, it's not going to do it for booting from CD.

If you leave things as they are now and try to boot from CD, your system
might move on to the next optical disk when it sees there is no CD in the
broken drive and boot just fine. And it might not. If it doesn't, then
you'll have to deal with moving the working drive into position.

Do you know about jumpering a drive? Drives are jumpered in a certain
manner depending on how they are connected. If you look on a drive's
housing, there is usually a chart showing you which pins to cover for
slave, master and cable select. If necessary, move the little "cover" so
that it is covering the correct pins for the drive's new position. If you
have to move drives around, match the position of the jumpers on the
working drive to the one that you removed from the system.

If you run into access problems on the files you're going to copy over, you
can "take ownership." The following MS Knowledge Base article explains how
to do that:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308421/en-us

If using XP Home, you will need to start in Safe Mode to get at the
permission pages found in the properties sheets. If you have XP Pro, you
can start normally but may have to turn off simple file sharing. The
article referenced above explains all of this in detail.

thanks...I played around with options in safe mode last night and
found out how to take ownership....just wondering if I need to uncheck
read only because I noticed my docs has read only checked and not
really sure what that is...thanks again for the help...

 

[Sharon Fink]

thanks...I played around with options in safe mode last night and
found out how to take ownership....just wondering if I need to uncheck
read only because I noticed my docs has read only checked and not
really sure what that is...thanks again for the help...

Hi there again

Read only as in the attribute sections of properties? You can ignore
this on folders. It has nothing to do with ownership or accessing files.

 

[Sharon Fink]

also, how do I take ownership of my documents on the slave drive to
move them to the new one? I have read where others had to take
ownership of files and folders...if I do that do I have to boot from
my slave drive? I'm a tad bit confused as I have never done this
before....also can I take ownership now of my docs before I even get
the new drive?

Don't worry about taking ownership unless you need to do it. You'll know
that you need to do do this when you try to open one of your files and
get a message stating "access denied." When/if you are in this
situation, that's when you take ownership.

Let's review what you're going to do again:

Take out old drive and place new drive in its place.

Install XP on new drive *** (something I want to mention here - another
option but let's move on for now)

Once XP is in. Play with it a bit. Make sure all your hardware is
working. Install drivers for anything not working or that needs updated
drivers.

Install your programs - those applications that aren't a part of
Windows. If these need to be updated, get that done. I don't know what
kind of files you have saved but if you have Excel spreadsheets or
Photoshop files, those are not going to open unless you have those
programs installed.

Now add your old hard drive back in as a slave. You do not boot this
drive. You will boot to the new Windows on the new drive. You'll see
that old Windows folder on the old hard drive. Don't let that throw you,
it's not doing anything except taking space.

Rummage around to locate your old data files. Copy or move them to the
new hard drive. You may run into "access denied" messages here. If that
happens, "take ownership" and then move them to their new homes. If
using XP Home, you'll need to restart the computer to safe mode. Where
you'll end up: You'll be in the "new" Windows on the new drive and
running in Safe Mode. Now take ownership.

Once the files are transferred and if you're in safe mode. Restart
Windows Normally. Now try those transferred files to see if they open.
You don't have to open *all* of your files but spot check - opening a
few of each type.

Once you're confident that you have everything you need from the old
hard drive, you can toss it or reformat it to use it for whatever (I
wouldn't use it but that's up to you).

****I mentioned another option further up. Most new hard drives come
with a tool that you can use that will transfer the contents of the old
hard drive to the new hard drive. If you're happy with how everything is
working in your current Windows setup on the old hard drive, you might
want to take this route. The tools will transfer everything - no need to
worry about ownership.

On the other hand, if your current Windows setup on the old hard drive
is a little "flakey" - skip using the transfer tools and go ahead with
the "clean install" plans that we've been discussing.

Some more suggestions:
If you have a friend who is knowledgeable enough to help you with this
hardware change, ask them to hope you. You'll learn a lot and they can
work out any "kinks" you may run into along the way. "Knowledgeable"
doesn't translate into someone that thinks they can do this. It means
someone that can expertly guide you through this.

A link to a page that has step by step clean install directions:
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

 

[Sharon Fink]

and by the way my account will be set to admin which it is now...so
would I have to still take ownership?

If you get "access denied" --yes. Ownership privileges override
administrator privileges.

 

[Sharon Fink]

never mind about the add ons....different question...do you think I'll
be able to read my documents files and folders on the slave...most pf
my important docs and files are in my docs..

Yes, you'll be able to "read" them - as in seeing them on the hard
drive.

If by reading, you mean opening the files to see their contents.

Yes as long as
1) you don't run into ownership issues (take ownership to resolve this
problem)
2) you have programs installed in the NEW Windows setup - yes.