Does anyone have any experience cloning hard drives? Its just im getting a new PC that comes without an OS. Want to know what awaits me first. Thanks!
Why not add in your existing hard drive and use the hard drive in the new system as a second (slave) drive? It makes backups a lot easier too... Alternatively, if you know the manufacturer of youre new drive and don't want a second hard drive on your new system, go to the manufacturer's website and download a disk image for setting up a new drive. For example, Maxtor has images for MaxBlast which allow you to clone drives. Or use a program like Ghost or Drive Image.
Search google for ghost copy hard drive you'll find loads of resources to do such a thing, also believe partition magic has a function like that. But as minstrel suggested use a second harddrive for your data, I did it some years ago and switched computers without any pain.
I was just thinking about using both computers. On top of that my HD is 3 years old. I can see it getting corrupt or something, some time soon. Also the new HD should be much quicker. Hmmmm... -edit- WhatiFind Il have a look around...
Personally I'd start over from scratch if you're going to use both computers, transfer anything you need over via your network..I've had to many problems with clone software, and find it easier and more stable to just start from scratch, install any software on the new machine and transfer any files over that you need instead of going the clone route.
The point is that my XP is preinstalled. I did not even get an OS CD. I guess in the worst case i just go buy another copy. Its not that much at the end of the day.
I was assuming he was trying to avoid purchasing a new OS. <edit> ^^ There you go. I guess I assumed correctly. </edit>
Windows: Use Ghost. Macintosh: Just go ahead and kill yourself. There is no good method I've found Actually, for your purposes, I agree with HRLBCANTRA, network 'em and transfer over the LAN, reinstalling Apps as needed.
I've had three hard drives cloned and had no probs. I have also done as someone suggested and made new one a slave. My guru used Norton Ghost It or a Norton Ghosting product. Shannon
With XP I'd personally pay the extra $$ and get another legit copy. Older versions of windows made what you're talking about easy and doable using the same reg code, XP however is different and while not impossible the $100 or so dollars you'll be out it nothing compared to the possible headache you could have in the future for technically running an illegal version of the software. Good product, my X brother in law was one of the original programmers for it.. some clone operations can turn out just fine, I simply prefer a fresh install in almost all cases
Micro$oft are getting pretty hot on checking that people don't install the same copy of XP on two machines - I would guess that after a while you might get asked some pretty interesting questions. I have had to pass my PC through Micro$oft's "Authentication Tool" a couple of times already. Oh, and yes it does know if it has been copied onto a different machine... unless that second machine is an exact hardware copy of the original.
I did a little research and it may detect a bunch of new hardware thinking its a new machine and get all fussy. -edit- Yep, like MattBeard said. Smyrl I wonder what will cost me more, the Ghost or a new copy of XP
Trust me go for a copy of xp...If you were going to run one system it'd be one thing, running 2 you're going to need more than one OS especially if it's XP you wish to run. I have 4 systems here running XP currently, all 4 have their own xp license. Costs a bit, but with XP it's almost a must, it's legal, and it saves alot of headaches..
I believe Longhorn is for '07. That said, ORIGINALLY, it was set for, like '03 or '04 I believe, so take 2007 with a grain of salt.
Right, i got my new computer but i cant install the new HDD as a slave. I Can see it in device manager but not my computer. DM tells me the hardware is working fine. Any ideas guys?
Device Manager sees it as there and working and My Computer doesn't recognize it as a drive? Is the drive formatted yet?