Need to transfer old OS to new HD

I've got an older Dell D800 with a 40gb HD and I'm constantly bumping the limit. It's the PATA style and I have one of those converters that plug directly to a drive to jump it off the USB port. I'm thinking I just use it like a slave and copy the OS over then jumper it back as a master and swap it out with the old one. My concern is how do I make sure I got all the OS copied from the old one? I have an app called partition magic for XP to format the new one as bootable. What am I missing? If anyone has a link on a better way to do this that would be great. TIA.

 

If you have a WD HDD, you could use this

http://support.wdc.com/product/downloaddetail.asp

otherwise, a tool like GHOST works also.

 

Yes, actually my new drive is a WD 320gb. Thanks for the link. That software looks like exactly what I need. I read the bios limitation is 137gb so I guess I should chop it up. I'd rather leave it just one large partition but I would be relying on XP to do all the heavy lifting. Think I should be concerned about this or not

 

use Gparted and make partitions and then use HDDclone to clone the current OS over onto a partition

 

Bios limitations on drives usually don't care how many partitions you make...the drive is limited to 137 GB on all partitions.

 

Say again? I won't be able to access more than the first 137?

 

You shouldn't even be using a drive over 137gbs on a computer that doesn't have 48bit addressing at the bios level which effectively limits you to a 120gb hard drive. Trying to force the system to use anything larger is just asking for problems. One day you'll try to power up the system and the hard drive will be blank.

 

It's a limit on the drive, not the partition. You'll have to confirm what your particular model is capable of, but I would be surprised if it works. On older desktops I've had to install accessory IDE controllers to work around this.

 

I've used Symantec Backup Exec System Recovery at work to basically create an Image of an entire HDD and replicate it on another. So it gives you an exact copy of the OS and working program files.

 

Ok, well rats. Guess it's a good thing I didn't open the drive then so I can take it back. I'll go back to looking around for a drive that's smaller than the 137 max. That Symantec software looks interesting but a little pricey at $900. Thanks Guys!

 

you can use 'acronis true image' to clone the content (data + OS) from your 40gb hdd to a new hdd. You don't have to buy the software as you can do the clonining with its 30 days trail version.

 

I have a clone and an image on an external drive. Does Acronis let me make a clone of another hard drive on the same external drive without erasing the previous items. I am asking because I think these backup software just erase everything on the drive before making a clone or images. Am I wrong? Thanks.

 

Acronis should give you the option of what to name the backup as well as where to put it. I normally put each backup in a different folder to keep them separate.

 

I took my drive back to BB and got my money back. Found a new 120gb WD for $41.99 including shipping online so I bought it. Thanks everyone for the great advice!

 

Dang!, I never realized it cost so much. Well, i've heard alot about Acronis, as others are mentioning; but never got the chance to use it....so you can give that a try. Good luck!

 

Active@Disk image. Trial version. 30days.

Will happily allow you to 'clone' your drive to another one.

Plug in the 'new' drive to the usb, transfer ALL your data.

Re-Fit new drive inside the machine- it will boot- forever.

Great little program, quick download. Works perfect.

I may even buy it oneday so I can make images I can access after 30days.

Only $49. Bargain.

(I often install windows (any version) unactivated on a spare hdd just to use it for a clone when I need to, usb to usb) easy.

 

Since you are getting a WDC drive go to the WDC Support Site and download their free version of Acronis True Image. It will do exactly what you want to with no problems.