Problems transferring computer hard drive onto external hard drive

um06hg · 09-25-2008, 03:37 PM

Hi,

I want to copy my entire computer hard drive onto my new external hard drive so that I can restore factory settings onto my laptop without losing any of my work or programs. I tried simply copying my C: drive and pasting it onto the external hard drive, however it comes up with a message saying that it cannot transfer the file 'hiberfil' because it is being used by another programme, and that I should close the programme and start again. However I was not aware of any programmes running on my computer whilst I was trying to transfer all the data, I tried searching for 'hiberfil' on m computer hard drive but the search came out with no results. Is there any way I can close down all the pograms on my laptop, so that I can transfer my hard drive to the external one?

any advice much apprecated!

Cheers

**stressfreesoul** · 09-25-2008, 03:44 PM

You dont need to transfer the whole drive over to restore it to default. You only need to transfer your data (in my documents, my pictures, my music etc) and then reinstall XP. Any programs you have installed you will have to re-install after this restoration, though this isnt a massive task really, just a bit boring!

um06hg · 09-25-2008, 03:56 PM

thanks for your help. the only programs I am worried about not being able to reinstall are microsoft office (which I installed on my computer after i bought it but I don't have the re-installation cd) and mcAfee security centre which I bought and downloaded from the internet. Can I transfer these programs to my external hard drive and transfer them back onto the computer after I restore factory settings?

09-25-2008, 03:37 PM	#1 (permalink)
um06hg Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: London Posts: 2 OS: xp	Problems transferring computer hard drive onto external hard drive Hi, I want to copy my entire computer hard drive onto my new external hard drive so that I can restore factory settings onto my laptop without losing any of my work or programs. I tried simply copying my C: drive and pasting it onto the external hard drive, however it comes up with a message saying that it cannot transfer the file 'hiberfil' because it is being used by another programme, and that I should close the programme and start again. However I was not aware of any programmes running on my computer whilst I was trying to transfer all the data, I tried searching for 'hiberfil' on m computer hard drive but the search came out with no results. Is there any way I can close down all the pograms on my laptop, so that I can transfer my hard drive to the external one? any advice much apprecated! Cheers

09-25-2008, 03:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
stressfreesoul Semi-Absent (life, eh?) Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: County Durham UK Posts: 1,852 OS: XP, Win7 RC x64, Ubuntu x64 multiboot My System Blog Entries: 7	Re: Problems transferring computer hard drive onto external hard drive You dont need to transfer the whole drive over to restore it to default. You only need to transfer your data (in my documents, my pictures, my music etc) and then reinstall XP. Any programs you have installed you will have to re-install after this restoration, though this isnt a massive task really, just a bit boring! __________________ TSF Folding@Home, find out how to do your bit in the fight against Cancer "Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut" xbox Live tag: storiedmedal Warning!! GTA IV addict! Join my game at your peril!

09-25-2008, 03:56 PM	#3 (permalink)
um06hg Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: London Posts: 2 OS: xp	Re: Problems transferring computer hard drive onto external hard drive thanks for your help. the only programs I am worried about not being able to reinstall are microsoft office (which I installed on my computer after i bought it but I don't have the re-installation cd) and mcAfee security centre which I bought and downloaded from the internet. Can I transfer these programs to my external hard drive and transfer them back onto the computer after I restore factory settings?