Dell Computer and New Hard Drive Install

[rjm65]

I have a Dell Dimension 2400 computer that I want to install a new larger master hard drive. The computer currently has a 30GB hard drive. I would like to remove the 30GB hard drive, reformat, and use as a slave on an older computer.

Will I be able to reinstall the XP operating system that came with my Dell on the new hard drive? I think I recall reading where the operating system CD's that come with Dells are specific for those systems (I couldn't use the Dell CD to install XP onto a homebuilt computer for instance), and I just want to confirm that installing a new larger hard drive as master won't be an issue in installing the version of XP that I have.

Thanks,
Raymond

 

[c2rich]

There shouldn't be a problem in doing this, however, contact dell and ask there tech support, but be careful how you ask, you may want to say "I just received a hard drive from you to replace a hard drive that went out on my DELL machine, I need to make sure i can reinstall the windows disk i received from you without problems." Another solution is use a disk copy utility of some sort to transfer all of the old drive to the new drive.

-Kerry

Those that know, do. Those that understand, teach. -Aristotle

 

[wahnula]

rjm65

The best and fastest way to replace your hard drive is by cloning via your app of choice...I have both Ghost2003 and Acronis True Image and I prefer Ghost2003 for my everyday clone jobs. It goes like this:

1. Install new drive either as a slave if IDE or just plug in if SATA
2. Right-click My Computer, Properties, Manage, Disk Management. Initialize & format disk. Do not convert. Create a boot partition if the drive is more than 100 GB, 30Gb should be fine.
3. Start your cloning application PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE SOURCE AND DESTINATION DRIVES...more than one of us has cloned the wrong way before! You want the 30GB as Source and the new drive or boot partition as Destination.
4. Let the app do its thing.
5. Remove 30 GB drive, boot to clone, reboot if needed.

At this point you still have your original disk intact. I would leave it unplugged as-is for a few weeks to be sure the clone functions properly. After you are positive the clone is good, reconnect 30GB and format in Disk Management.

Another way to look at this is to use your new drive for a data drive while leaving your 30GB for programs and the OS. Do this by locating all your files in the "My Documents" folder. Right-Click the folder, Properties, Move, and point it towards your new drive. Now all future data goes there, and makes for easy backups and migration.

Tony

 

[rjm65]

Thanks Kerry and Tony,

I wanted to start off with a fresh install of windows if possible on the new hard drive.

 

[c2rich]

rjim

If you want to do a clean install then you may have to purchase Win XP from a retailer, the reason is that when you purchased your dell it came with OEM version and now that you have changed the configuration it is no longer the same machine, and keep in mind the WIN XP disk that comes with DELL's is not a complete version on windows it is the version created for your pc. Either way you want to go to DELL's website and download the drivers for everything before you do anything, as the recovery disk i have found is hard to get them.

-Kerry

Those that know, do. Those that understand, teach. -Aristotle

 

[rjm65]

I guess my worst case scenario is I buy the HD, install it, then when I try to use the restore disk it tells me it won't work because the new hard drive is not the original. Could this happen?

I guess I could back up my data, reformat the old drive, restore, then install new HD and then clone.

 

[vacunita]

I think its highly unlikely that the OEM CD won't work on new drive. That's like telling you that your Car won't work with with any brand of gasoline other than the one stated by the manufacturer, or that you can't install new tires ointo your car, unless they are from the Manufacturer.

So yeah the worst is it wont install. but as i said i think its highly unlikely it wont.









----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

 

[wahnula]

There's no reason why the Dell CD shouldn't work. I changed out the HDD in my old Inspiron 4000 and it took. The Dell installation is "married" at the MB level. You should not have to buy another Windows license...you already have one.

My recommendation is to put the OS on a smaller partition if you're using a large (like 250GB) drive. The performance difference is noticeable, especially over time.

Also, as a warning, have ALL your drivers on-hand before fresh installing, especially for add-in cards. There's nothing like trying to download your NIC driver when you have no connection! The sequence is OS, chipset drivers, add-in card drivers, A/V, Windows Update. Stay disconnected from the Net until it's time to update A/V. Make sure all peripherals are disconnected too, add them in one at a time.

Tony

 

[rjm65]

Thanks everyone. I didn't know how picky the Restore disk would be, but makes sense about the being married at the mother board level. THANKS!