• A way to copy Windows to a new hard drive without reinstalling
    18 replies, posted
I'm doing a much-needed upgrade to a relative's computer, swapping in a bigger hard drive, but I don't have a working Windows install CD. The only one I have refuses to accept any CD key. I tried directly cloning the disk image, but I must have done something wrong, as the BIOS did not recognize it as bootable. Is there a way to duplicate the contents of the hard drive and keep it bootable?
I did this just the other day, going from a 250gig to a 500gig using a live [url=http://clonezilla.org/]clonezilla[/url] usb drive. After it copied it booted up fine and I just extended the windows partition into the empty space.
I think they sell discs that have vista, xp etc. Is that what you're looking for? To install and operating system like vista or XP?
Why don't you just keep the first harddrive in?
I actually had a similar situation recently. In the end, multiple bootable CDs didn't work, so I installed Acronis True Image Home and saved a backup of HDD1. I then restored the backup to HDD2 and it worked perfectly. I actually stuck HDD2 into an exact same system, without an HDD and it booted up fine, and all programs work. :dance:
[QUOTE=Donutsalad;16480195]I think they sell discs that have vista, xp etc. Is that what you're looking for? To install and operating system like vista or XP?[/QUOTE] I have two options. I can do a fresh install, load up all the programs, then copy over her documents. Problem is, my XP disk doesn't work and there were issues activating it last time. Option two is to just clone the drive and swap them out. [QUOTE=Yumyumbublegum;16480213]Why don't you just keep the first harddrive in?[/QUOTE] The relative is not computer-savvy enough to save things on another drive. I actually had to teach her how to find "My Documents". [QUOTE=SirDigby;16479634]I did this just the other day, going from a 250gig to a 500gig using a live [url=http://clonezilla.org/]clonezilla[/url] usb drive. After it copied it booted up fine and I just extended the windows partition into the empty space.[/QUOTE] Great! Downloading the ISO now, since I don't have a USB drive handy. Thanks!
[QUOTE=gman003-main;16480539] The relative is not computer-savvy enough to save things on another drive. I actually had to teach [b]her[/b] how to find "My Documents". ![/QUOTE] hehe :smug:
[QUOTE=reedbo;16480630]hehe :smug:[/QUOTE] Yeah teaching your mom how to move documents is so sexy... Wait nevermind, I forgot I was on Facepunch.
1.) Install the new drive, keeping the old drive in. 2.) highlight all files and folders (hidden ones too) with CTRL+A, then CTRL+C 3.) Paste them into the new drive with CTRL+V 4.) Shutdown, remove old drive, and pc should boot like normal. 5.) Profit.
Ghosting. Clonezilla which was already mentioned is ghosting.
Norton Ghost works too... along with Nero BackItUp. (Nero BackItUp came free with my BD-ROM drive.)
[QUOTE=Pixel Heart;16492923]Norton Ghost works too... along with Nero BackItUp. (Nero BackItUp came free with my BD-ROM drive.)[/QUOTE] This, Norton Ghost is a great disc cloner.
I've had good luck with DriveImage XML.
[b][i][u]Well, first you can POST IN THE RIGHT MOTHERFUCKING FORUM.[/u][/i][/b] [url]http://www.facepunch.com/forumdisplay.php?f=107[/url] [b][u] Can YOU fucking see it? It isn't that hard. [/u][/b]Bitch :hist101:
[QUOTE=Pixel Heart;16492834]1.) Install the new drive, keeping the old drive in. 2.) highlight all files and folders (hidden ones too) with CTRL+A, then CTRL+C 3.) Paste them into the new drive with CTRL+V 4.) Shutdown, remove old drive, and pc should boot like normal. 5.) Profit.[/QUOTE] Never ever do that. It won't work.
just ghost it...
[QUOTE=Luc1f3r;16493129]just post it in the right forum...[/QUOTE] fixed :eng101:
Ghosted, everything is there, but it refuses to boot. When I turn the computer on, it does not boot, and (after the BIOS splash) presents a blank terminal screen with blinking cursor. Normally, this means it's a problem with the BIOS 137-gb limit, except for one thing: the hard drive is only 40 gigs. I have attempted the following: 1) Transfer the drive to another computer. Same problem. 2) Boot off an OpenBSD drive, make sure that the correct partition is marked as active. Still does not boot. 3) Stick an XP install disk in, try to boot to Recovery Console. Cannot remember Administrator password. Tried everything I normally use. Search file cabinet for anything I wrote down. Useless. 4) Stuck the drive in yet another computer (one with XP). Drive does not appear. At all. Any suggestions?
[QUOTE=Pixel Heart;16492834]1.) Install the new drive, keeping the old drive in. 2.) highlight all files and folders (hidden ones too) with CTRL+A, then CTRL+C 3.) Paste them into the new drive with CTRL+V 4.) Shutdown, remove old drive, and pc should boot like normal. 5.) Profit.[/QUOTE] hahaha
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