How to copy your operating system from one hard drive to another

Zazula · 12-27-2006, 04:14 PM

If you wish to read the original article you can find it by clicking on this link

Kudos, John, on compiling such a useful and thorough article. PC users nowadays keep upgrading their system drives to bigger hard disks, yet the challenge of re-installing their operating system from scratch is a much-dreaded side effect of this venture. Your article shows the clearly easy path to follow in these cases - and anyhow cloning one's system disk comes always handy. Congratulations, and keep this great material coming!

JohnthePilot · 01-02-2007, 02:16 PM

Thanks for that Sakis.
There are still some refinements I want to make, but can't do anything til I get back home.

zemdarin · 01-30-2007, 09:13 AM

This article is excellent and I have read it after I managed to do it myself. What I would like to know is why I can't see step 10 in my BIOS. All I am able to do in the BIOS is change it from floppy/CDROM/HDD0/USB-RMD-FDD there is no indication of HDD1 although I know it works fine because I changed the jumper on the slave to master and disconnected the C:\ drive altogether.

Step 10. To boot directly from the new drive it is necessary to edit your BIOS so that HDD 1 replaces HDD 0.

I have posted about this in XP Forum but have had no answers as yet.

JohnthePilot · 01-30-2007, 09:29 AM

Hi Zendarin

Quote:

Originally Posted by zemdarin

This article is excellent and I have read it after I managed to do it myself. What I would like to know is why I can't see step 10 in my BIOS. All I am able to do in the BIOS is change it from floppy/CDROM/HDD0/USB-RMD-FDD there is no indication of HDD1 although I know it works fine because I changed the jumper on the slave to master and disconnected the C:\ drive altogether.

Step 10. To boot directly from the new drive it is necessary to edit your BIOS so that HDD 1 replaces HDD 0.

I have posted about this in XP Forum but have had no answers as yet.

Thanks for your comments. I'm glad the procedure worked for you even if you couldn't follow step 10. Rather than answer here, where few people view, I'll answer in your other thread. In the meantime, can you tell me which BIOS you are using?
Regards,
John.

zemdarin · 01-30-2007, 10:03 AM

Hi John thank you for quick reply. I do know how to change the BIOS from HDD0 to HDD1 but that is what I said in my post it isn't showing in there, only Floppy/CDROM/HDD0/and USB-RMD-FDD when I press the + to alter the settings. BIOS: American Megatrends Inc. 07.00T 08/27/2002 that is when I last updated them.

JohnthePilot · 01-30-2007, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zemdarin

Hi John thank you for quick reply. I do know how to change the BIOS from HDD0 to HDD1 but that is what I said in my post it isn't showing in there, only Floppy/CDROM/HDD0/and USB-RMD-FDD when I press the + to alter the settings. BIOS: American Megatrends Inc. 07.00T 08/27/2002 that is when I last updated them.

I guessed so. I don't think AMI gives the option of specifying HDD1. I wrote this for the Award BIOS. I doesn't really matter. The only reason I included that was so that you could check that it had copied OK before swopping over. BTW, having swapped them over, it's worth keeping your original version on your now D:\ drive in case your main drive fails - believe me, it does happen. If it does you can simply clone back again. It's one of the best backup systems.

Any further questions, please ask.
Regards,
John

Dwozzer · 02-10-2007, 01:27 PM

Hello,
Any idea how to do this cloning process if your trying to transfer your operating system to a new bigger drive in a laptop.Is there some lead you can get to transfer data to new drive i.e perhaps through the usb ports to achieve cloning,before swapping the drives over.Any help on this one appreciated.

JohnthePilot · 02-10-2007, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dwozzer

Hello,
Any idea how to do this cloning process if your trying to transfer your operating system to a new bigger drive in a laptop.Is there some lead you can get to transfer data to new drive i.e perhaps through the usb ports to achieve cloning,before swapping the drives over.Any help on this one appreciated.

Hmm. You've got me there. Don't have much experience of laptops, but I have cloned to an external drive on my desktop using USB so no reason why it shouldn't work on a laptop. Give it a go. At least you won't harm your original drive. Just make sure that you make the new drive bootable.

**kodi** · 02-10-2007, 01:59 PM

Use an External Drive case connected to the USB Port on the laptop.
I use this method all the time on my desktop,but there will be no difference for a laptop

Dwozzer · 02-11-2007, 02:35 AM

Hi ,
Worth a try ,the only thing is >>>These usb external hard drive cases ,will they accomadate a smaller laptop drive ,are the case internal connections the same ?

( i thought thet were designed for the larger desktop drives)

**kodi** · 02-11-2007, 10:38 AM

You can get 2.5" (laptop) external cases.
I use a3.5" with the top open and an adapter to convert the IDE connection to the laptop connection

chauffeur2 · 03-02-2007, 01:43 AM

You ought to be Congratulated John!

Your XxClone™ Tutorial is easier to follow than learning how to ride a push bike!

It is a very good and simple program to follow.

I have just XxCloned my entire HDD; however, only one program did not like the 'change', and that was SpySweeper™ by Webroot® Software.
This might be attributed to the fact that the subscription is due for renewal at the end of the month....it doesn't matter, as I have uninstalled it anyway and will rely entirely on AVG™'s Internet Security Suite and Ad-Aware™.

Thanks for the great effort and explanations.

JohnthePilot · 03-02-2007, 02:58 AM

Thanks Dave. Glad you were able to follow the instructions OK. It's much better when someone else tries it because if I've made a mistake, they will pick it up if they are following step-by-step. As I use it on a regular basis (have now got the Pro version) I was thinking of adding a few other things into the article, such as using the alternative wallpaper feature (great if you get confused about which drive you are on) and the Quick Start Disc.

Regards,
John.

**carsey** · 03-02-2007, 08:31 AM

Make sure not to cross feature between pro and free edition John

JohnthePilot · 03-02-2007, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carsey

Make sure not to cross feature between pro and free edition John

Don't worry, I shan't

12-27-2006, 04:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
Zazula Manager Emeritus, I'm blond, James Blond Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Athens, Greece Posts: 7,644 OS: Win XP Pro SP2	How to copy your operating system from one hard drive to another If you wish to read the original article you can find it by clicking on this link Kudos, John, on compiling such a useful and thorough article. PC users nowadays keep upgrading their system drives to bigger hard disks, yet the challenge of re-installing their operating system from scratch is a much-dreaded side effect of this venture. Your article shows the clearly easy path to follow in these cases - and anyhow cloning one's system disk comes always handy. Congratulations, and keep this great material coming! __________________ "Time is the wisest because it discovers everything" Thales of Miletus (ca.624BC-ca.546BC) "Everything flows, nothing stands still." Heraclitus of Ephesus (ca.535BC-475BC) "One thing I know, that I know nothing" Socrates of Athens (ca.470BC–399BC) Last edited by JohnthePilot : 01-22-2008 at 02:45 AM.

01-02-2007, 02:16 PM	#2 (permalink)
JohnthePilot Asst Manager, TSF Articles Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cheltenham, near Wales. Posts: 27,351 OS: XP Home SP3, PCLinux, Vista Home Premium SP1 My System Blog Entries: 1	Thanks for that Sakis. There are still some refinements I want to make, but can't do anything til I get back home. __________________ Submit New Articles Here If you feel that TSF has helped you please make a donationand help to keep the forum free Cenedl heb iaith, cenedl heb galon Folding@Home - Team 85015

02-10-2007, 01:27 PM	#7 (permalink)
Dwozzer Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 2 OS: xp	RE :How to copy your operating system from one hard drive to another Hello, Any idea how to do this cloning process if your trying to transfer your operating system to a new bigger drive in a laptop.Is there some lead you can get to transfer data to new drive i.e perhaps through the usb ports to achieve cloning,before swapping the drives over.Any help on this one appreciated.

02-10-2007, 01:59 PM	#9 (permalink)
kodi Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 6,576 OS: Windows Vista Ultimate, XP Professional My System	Use an External Drive case connected to the USB Port on the laptop. I use this method all the time on my desktop,but there will be no difference for a laptop __________________ Brian

02-11-2007, 02:35 AM	#10 (permalink)
Dwozzer Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 2 OS: xp	How to copy your operating system from one hard drive to another Hi , Worth a try ,the only thing is >>>These usb external hard drive cases ,will they accomadate a smaller laptop drive ,are the case internal connections the same ? ( i thought thet were designed for the larger desktop drives)

01-30-2007, 09:13 AM	#3 (permalink)
zemdarin Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: UK Posts: 9 OS: Windows XP SP2	This article is excellent and I have read it after I managed to do it myself. What I would like to know is why I can't see step 10 in my BIOS. All I am able to do in the BIOS is change it from floppy/CDROM/HDD0/USB-RMD-FDD there is no indication of HDD1 although I know it works fine because I changed the jumper on the slave to master and disconnected the C:\ drive altogether. Step 10. To boot directly from the new drive it is necessary to edit your BIOS so that HDD 1 replaces HDD 0. I have posted about this in XP Forum but have had no answers as yet.

01-30-2007, 10:03 AM	#5 (permalink)
zemdarin Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: UK Posts: 9 OS: Windows XP SP2	Hi John thank you for quick reply. I do know how to change the BIOS from HDD0 to HDD1 but that is what I said in my post it isn't showing in there, only Floppy/CDROM/HDD0/and USB-RMD-FDD when I press the + to alter the settings. BIOS: American Megatrends Inc. 07.00T 08/27/2002 that is when I last updated them.

02-11-2007, 10:38 AM	#11 (permalink)
kodi Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 6,576 OS: Windows Vista Ultimate, XP Professional My System	You can get 2.5" (laptop) external cases. I use a3.5" with the top open and an adapter to convert the IDE connection to the laptop connection __________________ Brian

03-02-2007, 01:43 AM	#12 (permalink)
chauffeur2 Manager, TSF Articles Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 10,025 OS: Xp Sp3 with all updates + Vista™ Ultimate SP1. My System	You ought to be Congratulated John! Your XxClone™ Tutorial is easier to follow than learning how to ride a push bike! It is a very good and simple program to follow. I have just XxCloned my entire HDD; however, only one program did not like the 'change', and that was SpySweeper™ by Webroot® Software. This might be attributed to the fact that the subscription is due for renewal at the end of the month....it doesn't matter, as I have uninstalled it anyway and will rely entirely on AVG™'s Internet Security Suite and Ad-Aware™. Thanks for the great effort and explanations. __________________ Dave T. Submit New Articles If it works, Don't fix it! Especially if Bill Gates had anything to do with it!!

03-02-2007, 02:58 AM	#13 (permalink)
JohnthePilot Asst Manager, TSF Articles Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cheltenham, near Wales. Posts: 27,351 OS: XP Home SP3, PCLinux, Vista Home Premium SP1 My System Blog Entries: 1	Thanks Dave. Glad you were able to follow the instructions OK. It's much better when someone else tries it because if I've made a mistake, they will pick it up if they are following step-by-step. As I use it on a regular basis (have now got the Pro version) I was thinking of adding a few other things into the article, such as using the alternative wallpaper feature (great if you get confused about which drive you are on) and the Quick Start Disc. Regards, John. __________________ Submit New Articles Here If you feel that TSF has helped you please make a donationand help to keep the forum free Cenedl heb iaith, cenedl heb galon Folding@Home - Team 85015

03-02-2007, 08:31 AM	#14 (permalink)
carsey Moderator, TSF Articles Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Hunwick, Co. Durham England Posts: 9,678 OS: XP Pro SP3 My System	Make sure not to cross feature between pro and free edition John __________________ Submit New Articles Here