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General discussion

Possible to transfer OS to other hard drive?

by GD Dec 12, 2003 12:30AM PST

Hi:

My ancient C: drive is about to give up the ghost, but is still limping along. Is there a way to easily transfer the OS (Win 9Cool to the D: drive (or even install it on the D: drive) first, then pull the C: and hook up the D: as the new C: boot drive?

The other option seems to be a clean install on the other drive after yanking the bad one, but I'd rather avoid that.

I don't mind losing all applications and data, so can I do a D:\format/s (is that right?) while things are running. Add the CDROM driver to the D:; then boot with the reformatted hard drive and reinstall W98?

To complicate things slightly, I'm not sure about my disk drive -- I unhooked it sometime back but can't remember why. The CD is working though. (Using this computer only for Internet access on a network).

Basically I'm just after the easiest method here. I've also got Norton Ghost, but have never used it.

Thanks!

George

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2 Posts
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Re:Possible to transfer OS to other hard drive?
by Cursorcowboy Dec 12, 2003 12:54AM PST

Prepare a hard disk drive ready for receiving the C:\ drive information similarly constructed or fashion as the drive from which a copy will come -- partitions or mirrored in construction, for no better words. Don't know how? Then post a reply asking. The reason I mentioned drive structure is because there are most likely files referenced in the old system registry and their location must not change, if the OS is to operate properly. IMHO, from Windows Explorer simply proceed by copying old drive to new drive - as it currently exists to the new drive at a comparable location, until finished. IOW, C:\ (old root folder) to C:\ (new root folder), D:\ (old root folder) to D:\ (new root folder) etc.

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Re:Possible to transfer OS to other hard drive?
by Gatta Dec 15, 2003 11:35PM PST

Yes it is possible to do so, using a free
software. Although I haven't used it as such
to replace a hard drive, I am 99.9% sure that it
will work.

I will post the instructions only if you
undertake the responsibility that after
you follow the instructions and replace the
old C drive with a new Hard drive, you
will post a message at this forum, listing
how you did it and if the operation was successful.


Frankie

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