Drive Migration Steps 2

[HBonner1]

Was wondering if anyone could help me with this - I have a 4 year old Dell, 80 GB Seagate 7200.7 drive in it running Win XP Pro. Want to upgrade to a Seagate 7200.11. What I want to do is install the new drive, set it as the primary, and migrate all my software and settings from the old to the new and set the "old" primary as a backup drive.
Does anyone know of a site that systematically lays this out? I have an option of getting a retail system with the migration software in it but it's an older version (7200.10) and I want this to be the last upgrade. I can get an OEM version of the 7200.11 but don't know it it even comes with an SATA cable.
Will the software moved onto the new drive recognize itself as new and adapt, or will I have to reload Windows? Thanks in advance -

 

[goombawaho]

This post should be in the XP forum or General since it's not really about hard drives - it's about system cloning.

 

[wahnula]

You could do a clone with Ghost or Acronis True Image, or just about any cloning app including the ones that HDD maker provide. Steps are:

1. Backup your data
2. Connect the new drive to the PC to be upgraded
3. Initialize, Partition and Format the new drive (Start->Run->diskmgmt.msc)
4. Clone the drive using any cloning utility NOTE: Be sure you are cloning in the correct direction!
5. Before the PC reboots after cloning is complete, shut down the PC
6. Remove the old drive
7. Boot into Windows, Hardware Wizard will install and configure the new drive
8. Reboot into Windows, check operation
9. Shut down, re-connect old drive; delete "Windows" folder

OEM drives do not contain a SATA cable, but cables are cheap and you sometimes get a longer warranty than with retail drives.

Tony

Users helping Users...

 

[HBonner1]

You're right, I was fixated on "drive migration" and a search of the site turned up nothing to direct me there. I appreciate the help...