What is the Easiest way to swap hard drives

[WheelsCSM]

Just got a new hard drive, and I am going to use it to replace my system files and put the old one in the wife's machine. What is the easiest way in WinXP to transfer everything over? I trid to just copy/paste everything, but it says some of the files are in use so it can't copy them.

I was thinking maybe I could boot back to a command prompt, but I'm not sure my SATA drive will work in that environment. I'm missing the old copy *.* right about now =)

 

[RussianSensation]

I would simply reinstall the operating system and all of the programs fresh on the new hard drive. Then I would connect the old hard drive and transfer any files (ie. movies, songs, pictures, etc.) from one to the other. It shouldn't take too long to reinstall all of the programs you need -- but a fresh install on a faster hard drive will go a long way.

 

[Sforsyth]

Ghost works good if it's under like 10 GB or so

 

[Jeffyboy]

Ghost is good, I use acronis true image v8 which does an image or copy in less time than Ghost. Works great. Ghost and Acronis are best choice and cheap.
Jeff
at yourtechonline.com

 

[Mermaidman]

Originally posted by: Jeffyboy
Ghost is good, I use acronis true image v8 which does an image or copy in less time than Ghost. Works great. Ghost and Acronis are best choice and cheap.
Jeff
at yourtechonline.com

Dumb question: So when I'm replacing HDs, where do you make the image of the existing HD? I just need to visualize the sequence of events.

In the past, I just reinstalled, but I have a situation now where reinstallation would be a big pain.

 

[WheelsCSM]

I just reinstalled everything on my existing HD a couple months ago and I really don't want to go through all that again. I don't want to spend the money on Ghost/Acronis either, I just would not use it enough.

Thanks for the suggestions, guess I'll just put the new drive in my wife's machine so I don't have to mess with it.

 

[furballi]

The new HDD should come with software to CLONE the data from the old HDD. If not, then go to the HDD mfr's website and download the disc cloning utility.