replacing undamaged HD & reinstalling XP

R

Revolver

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Nov 24, 2004
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I have a 120 GB HD that is getting full but is not damaged at all. I have a 500 GB WD SE16 SATA on its way via UPS. I not only want the extra space, but also want to reinstall Windows XP on a freshly formatted HD. Can I achieve this as follows?

  • remove current HD from my machine;
  • physically install the new 500 GB HD in my machine;
  • install Windows XP (Home) from CD onto the new HD;
  • add my old HD as the second HD, connecting it to a separate SATA connection on my motherboard;
  • copy data (not programs) from the old HD to the new one;
  • remove the old HD;
  • reinstall various programs on the new HD.

I will probably later add the old 120 GB drive back in, but for now I mainly just want to know if I can do as outlined above. I want to make sure I end up with a freshly formatted HD and a fresh install of Windows. I am guessing one concern is that when I start up my computer with both drives in it (if the above steps makes sense), I want to ensure that it boots from the big new drive rather than the old drive which I suppose at that point would still have Windows on it.

Thanks for any help.
 
well, when i install a new HD, first i use Fdisk or Partition Magic, (depending on my mood ;)), to get the drive ready for installation, using the format option given by Partition Magic could speed up the whole process of formatting in NTFS, u could also use the formatting option available in the Windows Installation, but it would take like forever in your 500GB HD, after doing that u are set up and ready to go
 
Here is how I would do it, similar to your method, and less confusing (at least to me).

Disconnect power cord from machine
Disconnect old drive (leave it in the machine, just disconnect the power).
Install new drive
Partition drive 15GB for C:
Install Windows on C:
Format rest of drive after drivers are installed and give it a drive letter
Hook old drive back up
Put the data from old drive to new drive
Format old drive and give it a drive letter
Install needed programs and update machine
Grab a beer and enjoy your new drive :)
 
Your process will work fine, and that is how I would do it, though I would just disconnect cables and not bother to physically remove the old drive unless you want the new one in that spot in the case for some reason.
 
Why don't you just clone you old HD onto the new one and then format the remaining space on the new drive as a second partition?

I have done this before using HDclone.

This way you don't have to reinstal XP, drivers or any of your programs (every thing will be exactly as the old HD had it). Just set the new drive as your boot drive in your bios and you're ready to go.

I know this doesn't give you a "fresh" install of XP but it will save a ton of time.

good luck,

~PJ
 
Thanks a lot for the answers guys. I will try the partitioning thing. I don't really know anything about that right now but I will read up on it.

Re: removing drive: When I think of disconnecting a drive I think of removing it b/c in my case it's not attached with screws. I'm fussy about having a quiet computer so I use a rubber-band type of suspension device (NoVibes III) attached to the bottom of the case with velcro. So there is zero vibration/crunching noise from the drive when it seeks, and the drive is really easy to take out. Adding a second drive will be a bit of a challenge though if I want it suspended the same way.
 
Revolver said:
Thanks a lot for the answers guys. I will try the partitioning thing. I don't really know anything about that right now but I will read up on it.

Re: removing drive: When I think of disconnecting a drive I think of removing it b/c in my case it's not attached with screws. I'm fussy about having a quiet computer so I use a rubber-band type of suspension device (NoVibes III) attached to the bottom of the case with velcro. So there is zero vibration/crunching noise from the drive when it seeks, and the drive is really easy to take out. Adding a second drive will be a bit of a challenge though if I want it suspended the same way.
Click to expand...
Please do not do that. You really should secure the drives in the case. You can get some rubber grommets to place between the drive and the drive cages. Check out SVC, I think they have some, but not entirely sure.
 
Rubber grommets are a little tiny bit better than useless at quieting a hard drive. Once you have truly decoupled your HD from the case and hear absolutely zero seek noises...well I just can't go back to the old crunching noise. With my NoVibes III installation, the HD is very secure even though it is completely suspended. "Suspended" doesn't mean hanging in mid-air, it means securely decoupled from the case, held tightly by thick rubber rings on the NoVibes device which itself is securely fastened to the case. I can sit my case upside down and the HD doesn't move. I tried it for fun. :) Actually the suspension would probably save the HD if my box fell off a table or something. The drive would not move but it would be cushioned.
 
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