swapping hard drives
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| Posted: Apr 10, 2008 2:53 p.m. - Subject: swapping hard drives |
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i have a small form factor computer so i can only put 1 hard drive in at a time the question is how do i switch hard drives and keep my operating system without buying a new one?
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| Posted: Apr 10, 2008 2:59 p.m. - Subject: |
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You’d have to put them both in another computer and copy the entire contents of the one to the other (preferably not using the OS on the first HDD, as there are issues with files changing as programs run), or image the system and burn the image to a set of DVD’s, then restore that image to the second HDD.
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| Posted: Apr 10, 2008 3:02 p.m. - Subject: |
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if i try that it say some file can not be copied
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| Posted: Apr 10, 2008 3:04 p.m. - Subject: |
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That means that either
a) You don’t have enough space on the second drive, or
b)The OS (windows, I assume) is using/writing to/ otherwise disrupting these files, so you should se another OS such as a live CD, to copy the files over.
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| Posted: Apr 10, 2008 3:19 p.m. - Subject: |
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i use windows xp professional sp2 and i want to keep it that way and programs that will work
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Master Egg
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| Posted: Apr 10, 2008 3:50 p.m. - Subject: |
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2 different ways of doing this that I can think of.
Number one. If there is physically enough room to put the new hard drive into the cavity of the computer just be creative on how to mount it, it doesn’t have to be pretty, just secure it with strips of metal that you drill holes in in order to hang it where there’s room. Hard drives don’t care if they are hanging oddly inside the tower! Then you can just use it as a slave drive and keep your OS right where it is on the original hard drive.
Number two. I’m going to assume it’s a legitimate copy of Windows. What version of Windows is it? Is is an OEM version? A corporate version? Find out and get the CD key out of the OS, I forget how to do it, but just Google it and there is a small program out there that will allow you to see the CD key embedded in the OS. Just copy it down. If it’s a legit OEM version, the CD key will be on a sticker on the back of the tower.
Torrent, Rapidshare, borrow or whatever you use to get it, get yourself the same type of copy of Windows and burn it to a CD, now save everything you want to save from the old one, install the OS fresh on the new larger hard drive and use the real and legitimate CD key that is yours anyway, reinstall your programs and all your stuff you saved and you’ll have a fresh install of your legitimate OS.
Hope this helps!
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| Posted: Apr 10, 2008 4:15 p.m. - Subject: |
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Norton ghost and an external enclosure.
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| Posted: Apr 10, 2008 4:21 p.m. - Subject: |
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1 its a small form factor no room for another hard drive if i had a tower i would have done that already
2 i don’t want to risk downloading a virus from torrents.ive had a couple bad happening with viruses and am going to stick away from downloading from limewire or torrents only from legitimate site like download.com. my operating system is legitimate and it might be corporate but i can get the key.
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| Posted: Apr 10, 2008 4:35 p.m. - Subject: |
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No, you use a live CD. No installation of any OS required, although you may not have a program already that can burn the image to disc. Simply download something, say Fedora (NOT Ubuntu, there are technical reasons for this, but they are unimportant), burn it to disc using an ISO-capable program, and boot that computer with the disc inside. It should boot into a "live" environment, where nothing is installed to your hard drive, but you can copy the files between the two drives.
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| Posted: Apr 10, 2008 4:37 p.m. - Subject: |
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Actually, if it’s just a small case, have the other drive hooked up, but don’t put the case back on. Just keep the drive outside the case for a while. It shouldn’t harm the computer, though it may crash due to overheating (computers actually cool better with the cases on, because the case directs air flow). If this happens, simply resort to another method listed in this thread.
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| Posted: Apr 10, 2008 4:51 p.m. - Subject: |
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i dont want to leave the case open and i don’t want to use a live cd i can hook a 2nd hard drive on (but disabling my dvd drive) to copy it but it wont copy the os and i want windows xp professional sp2
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| Posted: Apr 10, 2008 4:56 p.m. - Subject: |
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Quote: i dont want to leave the case open and i don’t want to use a live cd
There is no way to copy the entire system, including the OS, while said OS is running. You must use another OS to do so.
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| Posted: Apr 10, 2008 7:49 p.m. - Subject: |
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its possible to copy the whole os if i use another os to copy it theres no copy wright protections on it
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