Author Topic: transferring stuff to new HDD (Read 481 times)

Fredulus · April 18, 2011, 10:25:00 PM

okay so this is something i haven't done before
I've run out of space on my current HDD so i'm going to buy a 1tb to replace it. should I do it like this?:

1. install new hdd
2. boot up from old hdd
3. copy all files on C: drive to new hdd
4. shut down
5. configure BIOS to boot from new hdd, take out old hdd

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Nickelob Ultra · April 18, 2011, 10:27:24 PM

How big is your current HDD?

If anything, I suggest just moving over stuff like games and savegames and all that into separate folders into your new 1TB HDD from your old one. Then reinstall Windows (if you can/have a copy) on your old HDD. Then if for some weird reason you need to install Windows you can do so without losing all your games that are on one hard drive.

Miga · April 18, 2011, 10:28:57 PM

Quote from: Nickelob Ultra on April 18, 2011, 10:27:24 PM

How big is your current HDD?

If anything, I suggest just moving over stuff like games and savegames and all that into separate folders into your new 1TB HDD from your old one. Then reinstall Windows (if you can/have a copy) on your old HDD. Then if for some weird reason you need to install Windows you can do so without losing all your games that are on one hard drive.

This is what I've done. I've installed Windows 7 Beta (a long time ago) on my 80 GB HDD, and when that expired, I went back to Vista Ultimate without losing anything on my 1.5 TB secondary HDD.

It saves a lot of frustration in the long run.

Bisjac · April 18, 2011, 10:29:08 PM

why copy all files on C

just copy things you need

Fredulus · April 18, 2011, 10:31:08 PM

nick: its 80gigs. i suppose i COULD use it as just an OS drive but i wanted to just retire it.
miga: hhmmm
bis: well i didnt want to reinstall windows, originally

i think i'll download a program and run a SMART test or whatever the hell they're called to see the condition of the current drive

Miga · April 18, 2011, 10:32:42 PM

You can't just transfer Windows over, it'll still be missing the master boot record and whatnot.

Fredulus · April 18, 2011, 10:35:11 PM

Quote from: Miga on April 18, 2011, 10:32:42 PM

You can't just transfer Windows over, it'll still be missing the master boot record and whatnot.

okay thats really what i was asking i guess, thanks. just wasn't sure how that'd work.