Laptop to USB and Back to Laptop

calebchristie · 10-19-2006, 07:44 AM

Okay I've searched around and have found some good advice and I'm not really clear so I'm just going to ask and I apologize for bringing up what is probably a stale topic.

I have a laptop that is full of everything I need. The problem is... is that I need the data as well as the programs from this laptop but it needs to go in for a repair that will take possibly a month. I have the exact same laptop but it doesn't have anything on it. I also have an external hard drive. The two laptops have 60gigs and my external is 80gigs. Is it possible to mirror the laptop's drive that is going in for repair onto the external and use it as a bootable drive through the other laptop and be able to start up programs etc? Alternativeley... can I swap the hard drives and be confident that all would be well? Please let me know if you have any advice. Thank you! - Caleb

**Terrister** · 10-19-2006, 08:03 AM

What is getting repaired on the laptop?
If it does not involve the hard drive, I would just swap the hard drive to the other laptop.

calebchristie · 10-19-2006, 08:09 AM

Okay thanks. And you think everyhting will boot and programs will work etc? Technically that is?

calebchristie · 10-19-2006, 08:10 AM

The repair is for the touchpad.

calebchristie · 10-19-2006, 08:31 AM

Is it possible to use the usb external as a bootable operational drive? I would like to avoid if possible actually handling hardware. Thanks again.

dai · 10-19-2006, 10:10 AM

not unless your bios supports boot from usb

calebchristie · 10-19-2006, 10:56 AM

Okay great. I'm sure I can set my boot priority to removable disk or usb. I was kind of anticipating a little more discussion on here but I will just swap drives as sugested if I don't here anything more. Thanks!

**hwm54112** · 10-19-2006, 09:19 PM

Actually terrister gave you the best option. My daughter and I have the same laptop. When her's breaks, I swap drives while I fix hers. When her drive went up, rather than fresh install all the programs, I just cloned my drive onto her new drive. It's really nice having two of the same laptops. When you do the cloning, there's no activation, no having to be online for 100 or so updates, it simplifies life incredibly

ebackhus · 10-21-2006, 11:03 AM

That does work great, if they're the same. Different models may use a different chipset which would prevent Windows from loading properly.

10-19-2006, 07:44 AM	#1 (permalink)
calebchristie Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 5 OS: Windows XP	Laptop to USB and Back to Laptop Okay I've searched around and have found some good advice and I'm not really clear so I'm just going to ask and I apologize for bringing up what is probably a stale topic. I have a laptop that is full of everything I need. The problem is... is that I need the data as well as the programs from this laptop but it needs to go in for a repair that will take possibly a month. I have the exact same laptop but it doesn't have anything on it. I also have an external hard drive. The two laptops have 60gigs and my external is 80gigs. Is it possible to mirror the laptop's drive that is going in for repair onto the external and use it as a bootable drive through the other laptop and be able to start up programs etc? Alternativeley... can I swap the hard drives and be confident that all would be well? Please let me know if you have any advice. Thank you! - Caleb

10-19-2006, 08:03 AM	#2 (permalink)
Terrister Moderator Hardware Forum Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: West Georgia, USA Posts: 7,081 OS: Xp	What is getting repaired on the laptop? If it does not involve the hard drive, I would just swap the hard drive to the other laptop. __________________

10-19-2006, 10:10 AM	#6 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 53,622 OS: vista 32x 64x ultimate retail	not unless your bios supports boot from usb __________________

10-19-2006, 09:19 PM	#8 (permalink)
hwm54112 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 2,233 OS: WINXP	Actually terrister gave you the best option. My daughter and I have the same laptop. When her's breaks, I swap drives while I fix hers. When her drive went up, rather than fresh install all the programs, I just cloned my drive onto her new drive. It's really nice having two of the same laptops. When you do the cloning, there's no activation, no having to be online for 100 or so updates, it simplifies life incredibly Last edited by hwm54112; 10-19-2006 at 09:21 PM.

10-21-2006, 11:03 AM	#9 (permalink)
ebackhus Manager, Design Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SATX Posts: 12,970 OS: WinXP Pro SP3 My System Blog Entries: 26	That does work great, if they're the same. Different models may use a different chipset which would prevent Windows from loading properly. __________________ ----------------------------- There are no dumb questions, unless a customer is asking them. Help in the fight against cancer and other serious illnesses.

10-19-2006, 08:09 AM	#3 (permalink)
calebchristie Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 5 OS: Windows XP	Okay thanks. And you think everyhting will boot and programs will work etc? Technically that is?

10-19-2006, 08:10 AM	#4 (permalink)
calebchristie Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 5 OS: Windows XP	The repair is for the touchpad.

10-19-2006, 08:31 AM	#5 (permalink)
calebchristie Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 5 OS: Windows XP	Is it possible to use the usb external as a bootable operational drive? I would like to avoid if possible actually handling hardware. Thanks again.

10-19-2006, 10:56 AM	#7 (permalink)
calebchristie Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 5 OS: Windows XP	Okay great. I'm sure I can set my boot priority to removable disk or usb. I was kind of anticipating a little more discussion on here but I will just swap drives as sugested if I don't here anything more. Thanks!