Upgrading my Hard Drive

[sendintheclowns]

Hi everyone,

My dilemma: My christmas present for my mother (and myself, since she's getting some of my hand-me down parts that I just upgraded) was a new computer, which I'm currently in the process of building. I bought a Western Digital Caviar SE16, and am considering putting THIS hard drive in my rig to replace my old Seagate 320GB HD, since it's a substantial upgrade and I use my computer much more intensively than my mother would. The only problem is that I'm not entirely sure HOW to do this upgrade. My current HD is partitioned off into C: (Windows XP core files) and D: (Programs, Music, Movies, Data, etc), but it isn't necessary to transfer these partitions as well. In fact, I'd prefer not to, since I'd like to upgrade to Vista and would need a larger C: partition.

Quick version: What's the easiest way to copy data to a new hard drive? Preferably, without transferring any existing data partitions.

Thank you in advance, and I'm sorry if I missed this in a previous post!

EDIT: I've noticed a lot of threads talking about Acronis True Image - is there a way to get around the partition problem that I mentioned using this program?

 

[DeathFromBelow]

Quick version: What's the easiest way to copy data to a new hard drive? Preferably, without transferring any existing data partitions.

Thank you in advance, and I'm sorry if I missed this in a previous post!

EDIT: I've noticed a lot of threads talking about Acronis True Image - is there a way to get around the partition problem that I mentioned using this program?

Install Vista on your new drive
Hook up the old drive (but still boot from your new drive)
Click Start->Computer, go to your old drive/partitions
Copy and paste the stuff you want from your old drive to the new drive
Turn off the computer and remove the old drive.

That's how I would do it.

 

[sendintheclowns]

Thanks! That's what I had been leaning towards, but it's nice to hear that I'm not totally off .