Copying HDD

~~Sourcer_2002~~ · Jul 19, 2002, 05:10 PM

I need to copy my current HDD to a larger one. Im using the NTFS format on windows XP. Can i use a program like Norton Ghost and make an image of my hard drive with out the OS and (i.e. C:\windows directory) then extract or whatever to the other hard running XP using the NTFS file system?

I used to use a program called XXCOPY in dos but i dont think it will work with NTFS?

Or could i use a Windows 98 boot disk to get into dos (after i get a program for NTFS in dos) and the use the windows XCOPY to copy the HDD? ( I highly doubt that will work though)

IDK any ideas will be helpful!

JavaFox · Jul 19, 2002, 05:21 PM

Sourcer, you always pose the most difficult questions -- you're a valid asset to DH in that you are a real challenge sometimes.

Why don't you just GHOST your HDD to a larger one? Your OS, programs, and data will be intact -- in fact, you won't even be able to tell that anything has changed, except that you'll have more hard disk space.

DallasStar · Jul 19, 2002, 05:34 PM

I have a suggestion

Once you've migrated all your files to the larger hard drive, I recommend that you keep your old hard drive and then configure windows to use that harddrive for the main paging file (but make sure to keep a 2 megabyte paging file on the large drive too). This will speed things up significantly because windows won't have to access the same partition and harddrive at the same time causing the harddrive to be slow. Also, this will help your OS stay defragmented and it will only fragment the other harddrive with whatever crap windows does to the paging file

~~Sourcer_2002~~ · Jul 19, 2002, 05:35 PM

Thanks JavaFox i try my best to bring "somewhat" of challenge to people in DH lol i really never though of doing that but does windows not cave info on my hdd and it's partition that why i was concerned because i thought that windows would not work right or become corrupt but ill give it shot thanks a lot

Jul 19, 2002, 05:10 PM	#1
~~Sourcer_2002~~ BANNED Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Indiana , USA Posts: 2,677 Rep Power: 0	Copying HDD I need to copy my current HDD to a larger one. Im using the NTFS format on windows XP. Can i use a program like Norton Ghost and make an image of my hard drive with out the OS and (i.e. C:\windows directory) then extract or whatever to the other hard running XP using the NTFS file system? I used to use a program called XXCOPY in dos but i dont think it will work with NTFS? Or could i use a Windows 98 boot disk to get into dos (after i get a program for NTFS in dos) and the use the windows XCOPY to copy the HDD? ( I highly doubt that will work though) IDK any ideas will be helpful!

Jul 19, 2002, 05:34 PM	#3
DallasStar Junior Join Date: May 2002 Location: Wave Existence Posts: 2,065 Rep Power: 0	I have a suggestion Once you've migrated all your files to the larger hard drive, I recommend that you keep your old hard drive and then configure windows to use that harddrive for the main paging file (but make sure to keep a 2 megabyte paging file on the large drive too). This will speed things up significantly because windows won't have to access the same partition and harddrive at the same time causing the harddrive to be slow. Also, this will help your OS stay defragmented and it will only fragment the other harddrive with whatever crap windows does to the paging file __________________ "A picture of my existence... would show a useless wooden stake covered in snow... stuck loosely at a slant in the ground in a ploughed field on the edge of a vast open plain on a dark winter night." --- Franz Kafka

Jul 19, 2002, 05:35 PM	Thread Starter #4
~~Sourcer_2002~~ BANNED Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Indiana , USA Posts: 2,677 Rep Power: 0	Ok Thanks JavaFox i try my best to bring "somewhat" of challenge to people in DH lol i really never though of doing that but does windows not cave info on my hdd and it's partition that why i was concerned because i thought that windows would not work right or become corrupt but ill give it shot thanks a lot

Jul 19, 2002, 05:21 PM	#2
JavaFox E Pluribus Unum Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 3,203 Rep Power: 0	Sourcer, you always pose the most difficult questions -- you're a valid asset to DH in that you are a real challenge sometimes. Why don't you just GHOST your HDD to a larger one? Your OS, programs, and data will be intact -- in fact, you won't even be able to tell that anything has changed, except that you'll have more hard disk space.