moving windows from old hdd to a new one?

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XPCportables
Posts: 1020
Joined: Mon Aug 08, 2005 3:27 pm
Location: The end of time...

Post by XPCportables »

project_failure wrote:Well you did pay for the programs and games (you did pay right?) so ?
(whispers)
why don't you get other cd keys off the internet?
I DID pay for some of it :wink: but I don't want to get the CD keys off the internet because I want to be able to play online.

@Sparkfist I have SP1 and am not upgrading, I looked in the disc utilities and I couldn't find the backup utility :( could somebody who has SP1 tell me, for sure, if it has the backup utility or not.
olderthanyouthink
Posts: 13
Joined: Thu Feb 02, 2006 2:25 pm

Post by olderthanyouthink »

I've done this before using the Backup utility in windows using the "Automated System Recovery" wizard. It creates a backup of the hard drive and makes a floppy that has some essential stuff on it.

You then boot the computer using the Windows XP cd with only the new hard drive presetnt and hit F2 while it's starting up (just google for "Automated System Recovery").

Works like a charm, and you always have your old hard drive around if anything goes wrong.
olderthanyouthink
Posts: 13
Joined: Thu Feb 02, 2006 2:25 pm

Post by olderthanyouthink »

Opps forgot to mention, the backup utility is only present in "Pro" versions of XP, so if you got the home version or MCE, never mind :)
Sparkfist
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Joined: Tue Apr 20, 2004 7:12 am
Location: Michigan

Post by Sparkfist »

It's not the best why to go but you can do this. Use a Linux live-CD and use the "dd" command to copy the whole hard drive. The down side to doing this is that if you want to use the image on a larger hard drive you should partition the disk so that you have one for the image to go in, then once windows in there you should be able to delete the other partion and make it part of the primary partion.

the command is; dd if=[hard drive partion] of=[external hard drive]
vskid wrote:Nerd = likes school, does all their homework, dies if they don't get 100% on every assignment
Geek = likes technology, dies if the power goes out and his UPS dies too

I am a geek.
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