Moving a bootable Windows XP partition to a new hard drive?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Gandalph
  • Start date Start date
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Gandalph

Hi,

I just got a new hard drive (the transfer rate is about 2x the old
one) and would like to move the OS (winXP) and all the files on the
old disk to the new disk to boot from the newer, faster disk.

I've tried both Norton Ghost (clone disk) and Partition Magic 8.0
(copy partition): the files copy, I get the first winxp loading
screen, then it freezes on the second screen.

Is there a way of doing this without reinstalling windows XP? Thanks
in advance,

Jacob
 
Hi,

I just got a new hard drive (the transfer rate is about 2x the old
one) and would like to move the OS (winXP) and all the files on the
old disk to the new disk to boot from the newer, faster disk.

I've tried both Norton Ghost (clone disk) and Partition Magic 8.0
(copy partition): the files copy, I get the first winxp loading
screen, then it freezes on the second screen.

Is there a way of doing this without reinstalling windows XP? Thanks
in advance,

Jacob
Click to expand...

Check the Drive maker's site.They usually have a free downloadable
disk copy program just for that job :)



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Yep, or it will frequently come on a floppy with the hard drive if you
bought it retail.
 
Gandalph said:
I just got a new hard drive (the transfer rate is about
2x the old one) and would like to move the OS (winXP)
and all the files on the old disk to the new disk to boot
from the newer, faster disk.

I've tried both Norton Ghost (clone disk) and Partition
Magic 8.0 (copy partition): the files copy, I get the first
winxp loading screen, then it freezes on the second screen.

Is there a way of doing this without reinstalling windows XP?
Click to expand...


You've been doing it, for the most part, the usual way. I
suspect, though, that you left your old HD connected when
booting up the new HD for the 1st time. Try doing the copying
again, using one of your imaging utitlities and telling it to set the
new partition "active". But before booting the new HD for the
1st time, disconnect the old HD so that it is invisible to the
new Windows XP. After that 1st boot-up, you can re-connect
the old HD and re-format it or use it as a backup copy of the
files that are then on the new HD.

If you want to be conservative, follow the advice given me
by tech support personnel at Symantec - uninstall the anti-virus
software before doing the copy, and then re-install it on the new
HD after the HD's 1st boot-up.

*TimDaniels*
 
You've been doing it, for the most part, the usual way. I
suspect, though, that you left your old HD connected when
booting up the new HD for the 1st time. Try doing the copying
again, using one of your imaging utitlities and telling it to set the
new partition "active". But before booting the new HD for the
1st time, disconnect the old HD so that it is invisible to the
new Windows XP. After that 1st boot-up, you can re-connect
the old HD and re-format it or use it as a backup copy of the
files that are then on the new HD.

If you want to be conservative, follow the advice given me
by tech support personnel at Symantec - uninstall the anti-virus
software before doing the copy, and then re-install it on the new
HD after the HD's 1st boot-up.

*TimDaniels*
Click to expand...

Going a bit further with what you wrote, it's likely the drive needs
be the same channel and master/slave setting as the original, else the
boot.ini file would need edited to reflect the new "position" of the
drive.


Dave
 
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