Windows XP transfer

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Matt

I recently purchased a new hard drive which I want to run windows off of but
I have already reinstalled windows three times. I am pretty sure if I try to
reinstall windows, it will stop working. Is it possible to just transfer
windows on to my new hard drive without reinstalling it?
 
"Matt" <Matt@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:B87A3231-F570-420B-958F-960D129A0C9F@microsoft.com...
> I recently purchased a new hard drive which I want to run windows off of
but
> I have already reinstalled windows three times. I am pretty sure if I try
to
> reinstall windows, it will stop working. Is it possible to just transfer
> windows on to my new hard drive without reinstalling it?

The new drive might come with data cloning software...if so
use it

othwise you can use Acronis (will come up on a Google search)

BTW: Though it may be a bit of a hassle to reinstall Windows...
you could still re-activate it...
though it *might* take a phone call
 
"Matt" <Matt@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:B87A3231-F570-420B-958F-960D129A0C9F@microsoft.com...
>I recently purchased a new hard drive which I want to run windows off of
>but
> I have already reinstalled windows three times. I am pretty sure if I try
> to
> reinstall windows, it will stop working. Is it possible to just transfer
> windows on to my new hard drive without reinstalling it?


What leads you to believe that after three installs of XP it won't work
anymore? I've installed XP literally dozens of times and it has never
stopped working except when I've changed out the hardware too many times and
had to call the activation center.

You will need third party software to "Clone" or Drive Copy - the contents
of the old drive to the new drive. There are several good programs for doing
this. Personally I use Acronis TrueImage but it is possible that the
manufacturer of the new drive has a drive copy program you could download
for free. When I do a drive to drive copy (or clone) as you wish to I
disconnect the old drive and remove it from the computer. Connect the new
drive. If the new drive is SATA just connect it. If this is an IDE drive you
need to ensure the jumper plug is set to Master. Now connect the old drive.
If the old drive is also an IDE then change the jumper to the Slave
position. Once the drives are installed boot with the drive copy software.
Ensure you copy the correct way OLD Drive-> NEW Drive. This may take a few
minutes to several hours depending on your system specs and the amount of
data being copied. DO NOT interrupt the transfer. When finished shutdown and
remove the old drive. Boot the computer for the first time with only the new
drive attached. Ensure it boots to the Desktop. If you plan to use the old
drive as a second storage device you may wish to reconnect, leave it as
Slave and boot to the Desktop. Use the Computer Management Console to delete
the partition on it and repartition as a Logical partition and format as
NTFS.

--

Xandros
 
On Sat, 29 Dec 2007 17:10:01 -0800, Matt
<Matt@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> I recently purchased a new hard drive which I want to run windows off of but
> I have already reinstalled windows three times. I am pretty sure if I try to
> reinstall windows, it will stop working. Is it possible to just transfer
> windows on to my new hard drive without reinstalling it?



Yes, but you can also reinstall Windows again. In fact you may do that
as often as you want to. There is no limit on this.


--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
Please Reply to the Newsgroup
 
Matt wrote:
> I recently purchased a new hard drive which I want to run windows
> off of but I have already reinstalled windows three times. I am
> pretty sure if I try to reinstall windows, it will stop working. Is
> it possible to just transfer windows on to my new hard drive
> without reinstalling it?

You can install Windows XP on the same computer *as many times as you
desire*.

I'd recommend using the utilities that the hard disk drive manufacturer
provides to transfer from the old drive to the new drive (you may be able to
get it from the manufacturer's web page) or some imaging utility...

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
 
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