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General discussion

Moving from internal to external HD

Oct 17, 2006 4:17PM PDT

Hi all,

I've got an external 300gb firewire drive connected to my PC, which has a 160gb internal drive. I'm going to get rid of the PC soon, but it will be a while before I get one to replace it (I'm moving overseas).

What I'd like to do is move all of the programs and data from my internal HD to my external HD so I can still access them with whatever computer I use in the interim (e.g. my girlfriend's notebook PC or computers at work).

Is this possible, and if it is can someone please point me in the direction of how to do it? I don't need step by step instructions, just an idea of how to proceed. Thanks.

Discussion is locked

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Windows doesn't do that.
Oct 17, 2006 10:28PM PDT

If you were using Linux this does work, but not for Windows.

There are some new "Portable Applications" such as Portable Firefox and others that don't require an install but for most people they are thinking office and games which are not portable.

About that firewire connection. Some like it but at the office a few firewire drives (and our customers too) lost all their files. It appears that Windows and firewire is still under development. Connecting the drive via USB 2.0 solved those drive issues. On the Apple however the reverse is true and we connect with firewire.

Go figure.

Bob

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Moving from internal to external HD
Oct 20, 2006 12:52PM PDT

Make winXp boot on external is possible but not recommended due to some program ask for activation i.e norton , etc... I means they don't allow to boot 1 license on both harddisks.
Suggestion: keep the OS on the internal HD, all data is on external HD. Buy another external enclosure , just in case you move . YOu can put the internal hd in the enclosure and take it with you. So you have 2 external hd when moved . 1 for OS and one for data. Program : all genuine from Western Digital, Hitachi give you option to copy from HD->HD . It will make OS bootable if the partition is primary. If not the 7 Tools Partition Manager 2005 will do the work perfectly( boot manager) .
1 thing i should emphasize- buy the enclosure with power adapter and fan . Don't trust the aluminum case will dissipate heat . Some HD is really really hot - the old Desktar hitachi for example. If you have movie and want to watch it directly on TV . buy the enclosure that could display MPG4, AVI, WMA, WMF, etc. format
enjoy the portable