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Copying hard drive

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Original Message
Name: dave_c
Date: January 16, 2008 at 11:26:03 Pacific
Subject: Copying hard drive
OS: Windows XP
CPU/Ram: p4 2.8 775; 512 ddr2
Comment:

im gonna get a new hard drive, but i don't want to start all over with the windows re-install, downloading updates, re-installing programs, etc., etc.

so, is a program like norton ghost the solution to my problem? ie, i make a copy of my hard drive using norton ghost and then i copy it onto my new hard drive? then i simply make my new drive the new primary master?


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Response Number 1
Name: The_Oracle
Date: January 16, 2008 at 11:49:29 Pacific
Reply: (edit)

most new hard drives today ship with all necessary software to clone your existing hard drive making the migration as easy as possible.

if not included you can download the tool (e.g. Seagate's MaxBlast) from the manufacturer's website and create a bootable CDROM.


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Response Number 2
Name: dave_c
Date: January 16, 2008 at 11:56:35 Pacific
Reply: (edit)

actually, im getting the hard drive from my friend, and he bought an OEM drive.

so seagate's maxblast is all that's needed? however, norton ghost would do what i want, though, right?


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Response Number 3
Name: The_Oracle
Date: January 16, 2008 at 12:10:26 Pacific
Reply: (edit)

MaxBlast is 'powered by' Acronis (True Image), personally i prefer Symantec Ghost Enterprise Edition (Ghost 8 or 11).


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Response Number 4
Name: chrismr
Date: January 16, 2008 at 13:55:16 Pacific
Reply: (edit)

I too would choose Acronis True Image, its simple to use and does a very good job!


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Response Number 5
Name: helpoort
Date: January 16, 2008 at 14:16:22 Pacific
Reply: (edit)

You can copy using Maxblast if one of the drives is a Seagate or Maxtor.
Cannot copy to a lesser drive size. BUT can copy to a drive of 'EQUAL' size or larger.
Have copied several times using Maxblast, seems OK.
Tried the 'only' Norton Ghost (a Boot Floppy) I have in DOS, failed to work with Vista, although used many, many times with XP.


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Response Number 6
Name: The_Oracle
Date: January 16, 2008 at 15:06:26 Pacific
Reply: (edit)

"Tried the 'only' Norton Ghost (a Boot Floppy) I have in DOS, failed to work with Vista, although used many, many times with XP."

the problem with a 'DOS floppy' is the controller support or the lack thereof.

since ghost.exe does not work in a windows environment, use ghost32.exe with a Windows PE CD (XP or Vista ... google for a PE builder)


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