Transfering OS

[Jace]

Ok, so I now have my OS, Vista, installed on a 500 GB HDD from WD and I've just gotten a seperate 1 TB HDD from Samsung (F1). I'd like to put all the data from my 500GB HDD onto the 1TB one and now on use that one as my primary HDD, but I've got no idea how I can do this.... I'm sure I shouldn't just copy paste it, so I'd probably need some tool to do it with. Does anyone know?

[Mr. Magoolachub]

Actually I think copy pasting would work just fine for everything that isn't a system file. Or certain programs.

[Jace]

System Files too

I won't to transfer all the data on the HDD. So Vista, programs and everything else.

Anyway to do this?

[BOoBOo]

this is what i recommend -

1. installing OS on new harddrive
2. installing all required software to new HD
3. copy your documents and program settings from old HD

You can also look into - Complete hard disk recovery solution, backup, drive copy, clone and image computer software

Your new drive didn't come with any cd? Usually you can install new HD and use setup cd to copy data to new drive.

[Jace]

To be honest, I'm not really willing to reinstall everything. It's a lot. And I'll get some crap from DRM and stuff (oh, how I hate EA...) Isn't there a simple tool to transfer absolutely everything.


And I've always just received HDD in some anti-static packaging and nothing more. Not even a box. Just the HDD is such little bag.

[krazykizza]

I did this from windows to mac and let me tell you, it took me about a week to be fully setup and running

[Jace]

Well, I don't want to change my OS, I just want to transfer everything from my current HDD to a bigger, faster HDD. That's all.
Can this be done?

[coolwrks]

I used to create backup copies of my harddisk and copy it back when I face problems. For that I used Symantec Ghost. The operating System was Windows XP. I had an older DOS version of Ghost and it works fine. Hope it will work for vista too..

[Jace]

Going to get the HDD today (collect it from the shop).

Decided to just do a full reinstall...
And I'll just have my 500GB one as a secondary HDD on which I'll store important stuff (as it's a very safe HDD).


Still a little question though.

Could I later on buy another 1TB HDD and then put them in JBOD? (so the two 1TB HDD will be seen as a single 2TB one). Possible?

[naives]

I think there is some software available. I have done similar kind of stuff using the Norton Ghost. I made a image of the entire drive in which the OS was installed and copied it to another hard disk and it worked fine for me.