HDD Question

SimpleSimon

SimpleSimon

New Member
Alright, I'm sure this question has been asked several times, but after looking for 10 min I'm just gonna be lazy about it. I recently bought a 320GB HDD to add on to my 60GB. The problem is I only have 1 EDI slot on my motherboard so I can't run 2 HDD and my CD/DVD drive. Is there a way I can transfer all my info on my 60 to my 320? Also would I have to reload my OS or would that transfer too?
 
You would better off first partitioning and formatting the new drive when booting with the installation disk to see a working OS and all drivers installed on the new and considerably larger drive. Once the system is up and running properly, knowing that the drive is good as well, you would temporarily unplug the optical drive for direct copying of anything you plan to save from it.

The other option is to first create data dvds for backup there and copy to the new drive directly as you go along. With XP a fresh partition on a new drive usually sees the best results. What make and model board is this being seen on?
 
I already formated the 320 drive and it seemed to work without any complications, I'm not sure what partitioning is though?
I tinkered around with the CPU for a couple hours last night and I can run both HDD at the same time, but then I wouldn't have the proper set up left to run the DVD drive.
Now, unpluging the optical drive? I'm confused on that? Does this mean while I have both HDD running I unplug the 60 and everything will copy over to the 320?
As for the back-up discs option, the only problem is I can't have my 60, 320, and my DVD drive hooked up at the same time due to only having 1 EDI port and a FDD port...which I did try to use for my DVD drive with no luck :(
I'm running a Intel Pentium 4 CPU 3.40GHz.
PCI Express P4 Dual-915GL.
 
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Partitioning has to be done before you format the partition or boundries on which data like the OS you are running installs onto. A bare drive is unusable until you create a primary or an extended partition. Formatting then makes the partition available for access, moving files onto, deleting files, installing the OS, etc..

You don't unplug anything while a system is running. In order to copy the files you are trying to save from one drive to the other you first open two explorer windows. When you double click on the MyComputer desktop icon or go into "Start>Programs>accessories" to click on Windows Explorer a window opens up showing the default folders(user name's documents, shared) and the drives on the system. You open one drive in one window and the other destination drive in the second window opened.

Highlight or right click(choose copy in the right click menu) on the folders/files to be copied from the source drive to the destination drive by then dragging the highlighted items to the other window or again right clicking in it and selecting the "paste" option in the right click menu. The "copy/paste" option is the more commonly used. Since the 320gb drive is already partitioned and formatted the XP installer will readily detect and copy the installation files right onto it for the clean install of Windows there.
 
PC eye said:
Partitioning has to be done before you format...
Click to expand...
So if I understand you correctly, you can't format unless you partition, so I've already unknowingly partitioned? :P

You don't unplug anything while a system is running. In order to copy the files you are trying to save from one drive to the other you first open two explorer windows. When you double click on the MyComputer desktop icon or go into "Start>Programs>accessories" to click on Windows Explorer a window opens up showing the default folders(user name's documents, shared) and the drives on the system. You open one drive in one window and the other destination drive in the second window opened.

Highlight or right click(choose copy in the right click menu) on the folders/files to be copied from the source drive to the destination drive by then dragging the highlighted items to the other window or again right clicking in it and selecting the "paste" option in the right click menu. The "copy/paste" option is the more commonly used. Since the 320gb drive is already partitioned and formatted the XP installer will readily detect and copy the installation files right onto it for the clean install of Windows there.
Click to expand...
So basically I just open both drives in windows explore and it's just a case of drag and drop? Sounds too simple to be true! lol.
You've been a great help! Thank you so much!:D :D :D :D
 
Try doing it with a few "less important" files first like something easy to replace like a Windows bmp file. This way if you hit the "delete" instead of copy option in the right click menu you can simply restore it from the recycle bin. Most of the time you will see an automatic prompt for confirmation if that happens however. The idea is basic there.

It does take time depending the size and amount of files and folders involved. With identical drives on systems with two not one ide channel many will use a drive cloning software like Norton Ghost to create a disk image where all files and folders are compressed. If you were moving files on the same drive you would simply open two windows with one the source and the other the destination folder and simply highlight to drag from one to the other. The files are quickly found in the destination and no longer in the source folder there. When you do that betweein different drives the files are automatically copied. The same is seen with the right click menu's copy and paste options between windows. Have fun!
 
Alright, I'm still having problems. I tried to "copy & paste" everything and there were files that every time I tried to copy them they wouldn't copy because they were "in use elsewhere." So I figured I'd make a backup copy like you suggested and copied it directly to the 320, no data disks were made. Now when I try to start up the CPU with only the 320 I keep getting an error message at the black window start up screen saying I'm missing this file or another. I've hunted down, copied, and pasted the files a time or two. Each time it askes for a new file. Now it's asking for the DLL files for "Kernel"?
Now I'm back to just trying to copy every item individually and moving it to the new HDD.
Is there a simpler way? I'm guessing that the OS is on the new HDD, but I'm not exactly sure. I don't remember doing anything that said, "Install OS to new drive", lol. Help?:confused: :confused: :confused:
 
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You only partitioned and formatted the 320gb. Without an OS running on it you can't boot the system unless setting the drive as first in the boot order. That already has Windows on it. Now since you are replacing one for the other your first step is to install Windows. The efforts to start copying were to get familiar with the process by trying it with "nothing important". The fresh installation of Windows on the 320gb will also install new bmps in the Windows directory. So if you accidently delete one from the old drive no worries there!

To get everything going set the 320gb as the master at the end of the cable and reconnect the dvd drive. When you first turn on the system be ready to press the DEL or other designated key to enter the bios setup. Once there go to the boot order section and assign the cd rom as the first device. While in there you can put the installation disk in and nor worry about the installer starting up.

Once you have the boot order set you choose the exit and save option if the F10 key doesn't exit the bios. The system will then restart and the installer's first screen appears right after the post tests. Then you press the enter when prompted to install now or press "R" to repair Windows at the recovery console. Inside the installer will(should show right off) the new drive and list the total amount of drive space available. You then create the new primary partition and follow the remaining onscreen instructions.
 
I ended up just reformating the new drive and putting windows on it :P
I just keep messing with it til I somehow got it right, hehe. That's the most rewarding part really. I felt great once I got it working....until the sound didn't work :P For some reason the driver for the sound was not being recognized so I messed around with that for another hour before figuring it out...or at least something that worked?
I just had to select an audio driver option manuelly. don't remember how I did it, but at least I have sound :D
Thanks again for your help! :D
 
There are two methods to see drivers go on. The first is to use the add new hardware wizard to see if Windows will autodetect the new card/device or manually select the item from a list and browse for the drivers. That can be on an installation disk or a folder where you saved an updated set.

For hardwares already installed where drivers are still needed or need repair the simple right click on the MyComputer icon, clicking on properties, and then on the hardware tab leaves you looking at the device manager button 3/4s of the way up that small screen. Once you click on that and the DM screen opens scroll down to the "Sound, Video< and Game Controllers" section to see if your model is one of the items at the top of that list. If not look for an "other devices" section. Either way you simply right click on the item and choose the update driver option and browse for the correct drivers for Windows to then copy and install.
 
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