Replacing system drive on Windows ME OS

[Byrocat]

My C: drive (4Gig) is full, for all but 300 Meg.

Yes, more than time to replace the drive.

I'm going to have to check my motherboard/IDE specifications to see
waht the maximum size that I can put in.

What I need to know is the sequence of actions that I should be
taking.

Obviously, back-up to the D: drive is step one. Will doing an xcopy is
DOS mode be sufficient to pick up all the files?

Should this job be handed over to my local computer store (Aurora
Computers on Wellington St East, Aurora Ontario0?

 

[Rod Speed]

My C: drive (4Gig) is full, for all but 300 Meg.

Yes, more than time to replace the drive.

I'm going to have to check my motherboard/IDE specifications
to see waht the maximum size that I can put in.

That isnt a trivial exercise, and its only the motherboard and its bios that
matters.
Try http://www.lavalys.com/products/overview.php?pid=1&lang=en&pageid=1
It can make it rather easy to see the motherboard and bios details.

What I need to know is the sequence of actions that I should be taking.

Obviously, back-up to the D: drive is step one.

Not necessary with a replacement drive, its better to clone the
4G drive to the new one and keep the original as a backup.

Will doing an xcopy is DOS mode be sufficient to pick up all the files?
Nope.

Should this job be handed over to my local computer store

Probably in your case.

(Aurora Computers on Wellington St East, Aurora Ontario0?

I obviously know nothing about them.

 

[Byrocat]

Thanks Rod!

I'm going to be paranoid about this so I'm going to do a backup of the
C drive into a file on the D.

I have this feeling that doing a restore unto the new drive probably
would not work as well as getting a "ghost" copy done.

 

[Peter]

Thanks Rod!

I'm going to be paranoid about this so I'm going to do a backup of the
C drive into a file on the D.

I have this feeling that doing a restore unto the new drive probably
would not work as well as getting a "ghost" copy done.

Where is D: ?

 

[Rod Speed]

Thanks Rod!

I'm going to be paranoid about this so I'm going
to do a backup of the C drive into a file on the D.

I have this feeling that doing a restore unto the new drive probably
would not work as well as getting a "ghost" copy done.

It'll work fine, just will take a little longer to do.

 

[Byrocat]

New drive arrived on doorstep lat night (spouse works for an
electronics firm)

Current configuration is
C: (4 Gig) as primary on primary cable
D: (40 Gig) as slave on primary cable
E: CD-ROM as primary on secondary cable

New drive will be F: until I can get it configured as system drive and
swap for old C: drive

Steps to perform are
1) Backup C: to file on D:
2) Install new drive and configure BIOS to read drive
3) Format new drive as system disk
4) Restore original C: backup to new drive and verify settings
5) Record BIOS settings for C: and new drive
6) Replace C: with new drive
7) Configure BIOS to recognize new drive as C:
8) Boot! (fingers, toes, elbows, knees and eyes crossed)

Worst case scenario is opacking both drives to lcoal computer shop and
getting old C: ghosted unto new drive.

 

[Rod Speed]

New drive arrived on doorstep lat night
(spouse works for an electronics firm)

Current configuration is
C: (4 Gig) as primary on primary cable
D: (40 Gig) as slave on primary cable
E: CD-ROM as primary on secondary cable

New drive will be F: until I can get it configured
as system drive and swap for old C: drive

Steps to perform are
1) Backup C: to file on D:

It was never very clear what you plan to use to do that.

2) Install new drive and configure BIOS to read drive

Best to just use the AUTO drive type.

3) Format new drive as system disk

That isnt necessary if you use an imaging app like
Ghost to backup the C drive to an image on the D drive.

4) Restore original C: backup to new drive and verify settings
5) Record BIOS settings for C: and new drive

They should both use the AUTO drive type.

6) Replace C: with new drive
7) Configure BIOS to recognize new drive as C:

See above on the AUTO drive type.

8) Boot! (fingers, toes, elbows, knees and eyes crossed)

Could be a problem, you could stay like that if there is a wind change.

 

[Thomas Wendell]

I'd rather:
(BIOS settings for HDs usually "Auto")

1: Disconnect current D: -drive
2: Jumper and connect new drive as slave (on primary)
3: Using ghosting software, like Norton Ghost or Acronis TrueImage,
"diskcopy" the old C:-drive to new
4: Disconnect old C:-drive, jumper new as master and connect in place of
old. DON'T CONNECT OLD C:-drive
5. Boot and check for functioning.
6. Connect D:-drive as slave and do whatever with old 4GB C:-drive


--
Tumppi
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