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    transferring os to new hard drive

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by e23lc, May 1, 2010.

  1. e23lc

    e23lc Notebook Guru

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    i have a hard drive with an os and a new blank hard drive. how can i transfer the os to the new hard drive?
     
    e23lc, May 1, 2010
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  2. gerryf19

    gerryf19 I am the walrus

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    Depending on the drive, you may be able to download a tool from the manufacturer to IMAGE the drive.

    You can download acronis true image free trial.

    You can download any number of free tools
    Free Hard Disk Backup and Restore, Hard Disk Image and Cloning Utilities (thefreecountry.com)

    The key here is you are CLONING or IMAGING the drive, not copying the drive.

    Copying files from one drive to another will not copy key parts of the drive (mbr, partition records)
     
    gerryf19, May 1, 2010
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  3. deeastman

    deeastman Notebook Deity

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    You will also need a temporary external USB enclosure for your new HD to Clone it, or an external HD so you can create an Image of your existing HD. You will need one or the other unless the software you use will let you image over a network to a HD on another computer. Acronis will.
     
    deeastman, May 1, 2010
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  4. gerryf19

    gerryf19 I am the walrus

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    Not necessarily....some cloning software will clone the active partition--so you can drop the new drive in the existing computer as a slave, image it, and pull the old drive and boot with only the new drive....just depends on what resources you have.

    The OP didn't give much info so he only gets generic answers.
     
    gerryf19, May 1, 2010
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  5. deeastman

    deeastman Notebook Deity

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    True, I never thought beyond single HD laptop :D
     
    deeastman, May 1, 2010
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