Uprading second hard drive under XP

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ken_B
  • Start date Start date
K

Ken_B

Searches didn't produce anything dealing precisely with this question, so
I'll ask you folks.....

I wish to remove my secondary hard drive and install a bigger one.

I know that there are XP system files on the secondary drive, so (unlike
earlier OS's), I can't just simply remove the second drive and replace it
with another.

What would be the correct procedure for this, short of re-installing XP?
 
Ken_B said:
I wish to remove my secondary hard drive and install a bigger one.

I know that there are XP system files on the secondary drive, so
(unlike earlier OS's), I can't just simply remove the second drive
and replace it with another.
Click to expand...

Which system files are you referring to, excactly? If you have installed
program files on the second drive that automatically runs when you log on it
should only be a matter of:
- hooking up your new drive somewhere (remove a CD-ROM or something if you
don't have enough connectors)
- boot in safe mode (press F8 during startup)
- format your new drive
- move files from your old to your new drive
- shut down
- disconnect your old drive and reconnect your new drive in its place
- boot up
 
Searches didn't produce anything dealing precisely with this question, so
I'll ask you folks.....

I wish to remove my secondary hard drive and install a bigger one.

I know that there are XP system files on the secondary drive, so (unlike
earlier OS's), I can't just simply remove the second drive and replace it
with another.

What would be the correct procedure for this, short of re-installing XP?
Click to expand...

Why would there be system files on the secondary drive? What do you have it
setup for? If it is used for storage only, there's not many possibilities:

System Restore, if enabled, will have a System Volume Information folder on
the secondary drive. System Restore will reset when you change drive layout
or configuration, so this is not an issue.

Recycle Bin: If you're in the habit of using the Bin for storing "maybe
delete" items, get them out of the Bin and move them before replacing the
drive.

If the drive is used for more than storage, there may be other
considerations that relate directly to its current use.

Other general considerations: Is the new drive of a size that is
addressable by your system's BIOS? If greater than 137 GB, have you updated
XP to at least SP1? Is your file system of choice NTFS or something else?
Can we assume the drive will be attached to a regular internal (E)IDE port
and not a controller card or some other method?

In general: Power off the system. Hook up the drive. While doing so,
replace the cable if it looks worn. Adjust jumpers for secondary position
or cable select depending on your system's current configuration. Power up.

May be an extra step here to have BIOS look at the drive properly but most
systems will automatically detect the new drive. Example: Some Dell's have
a "Silent Audit" setting that needs to be toggled for the drive to be
recognized. Once it's been recognized, can toggle this back to the original
setting.

If POST recognized the drive, continue to Disk Management in XP
(Administrative Tools> Computer Management> Disk Management). Right click
on the representation for the new drive and select to partition the drive.
Still in Disk Management, format the drive. Before leaving Disk Management,
adjust drive letters if they're not to your liking. All, except the drive
that Windows is installed on, can be changed.

The new drive is ready for use and will now appear in Windows Explorer.
 
Somehow I was thinking if you install XP with a second drive connected, it
placed some system files on the second drive. Perhaps I am thinking of a
dual-boot setup, which I don't have right now.
 
Somehow I was thinking if you install XP with a second drive connected, it
placed some system files on the second drive. Perhaps I am thinking of a
dual-boot setup, which I don't have right now.
Click to expand...

With dual boot, the boot files would go on C: (the letter that the first
partition of the first hard drive usually gets). Operating system files can
be redirected. In other words, there shouldn't be anything critical on a
second drive unless you've placed it there. It's always good to ask when
you're not sure. You get extra points for that :)
 
Back
Top