operating system?

Question

i have a 20gb and an 80gb hard drive on my comp, can i transfer operating system from 20gb to 80gb without installation discs

Answer 1

Yes you can but there are some requirements and since you haven't mention what operating sytem you are using it is bit complicated but lets start
Step 1. You need Norton Ghost or Norton Save & Restore which you can download a trial version from the link below.

http://www.download.com/Norton-Save-Restore/3000-2242_4-10620379.html?tag=lst-0-1

After installing the program you can make a bootable disk to transfer you backup to you new drive

It is quite easy but all you need is some space to back you information if you have some space left in your old harddisk use that to make a copy if not depending on your computer if u have a Cd writer or a DVD writer just burn your file on the disk (Remember it will be a Big file) or if you manage to save it on you hard disk just remember the location of file try saving it on C drive.

Step 2

Once you have finished backing the file you need to change the cables of your hardisks or set the Big one as Master disk then boot your computer using the bootable disk you have made and follow the instructions

It is bit different for Window users but just writing down the instruction will be helpful.

There is another way if you are using Windows XP

Click on Start----> Programs or All Programs (depending on your settings) -----> Accessories -----> Sytem Tools and Click on Files and setting Transfer Wizard.

Just follow the instruction its quite easy to do but remember you need to install Windows to you new hardisk to use that method

Good Luck

Answer 2

Hello,

(ANS) Well the real answer here is depends, if you are extremely clever then yes! you can transfer the OS and all its files (assuming you know which the right files are!) but wheather it would boot correctly and work as a full OS is another question entirely.

**In some situations you can as a sys admins run a remote install i.e. over the network re-install or repair of the OS but this often uses images of the OS and not the raw OS itself.

**You might be able to run a remote install if you had ALL the installer files (installer package) on a shared networked folder or drive. But it requires an advanced or experienced user.

**For most ordinary users the answer has to be No! NOT without the installation CD disk/s. Your best option is a system rebuild from scratch using OEM disks to install from, yes! its a long process but the end results are far more robust in my experience.

IR (trained to MCSE level)

Answer 3

Yes it is possible. You need an application like : Norton Ghost , to make a complete copy of your 20gb drive and then copy the image to the new drive.

Answer 4

Yes.
XXCOPY the files from C to D ( if the 20 Gig is C, do the reverse if otherwise), and it will copy virtually all files.
After a copy ( or if needed , an image) all you may have to do is resize the Disc using Administrative tools for the Drive.

Answer 5

You need to use disk imaging software. However, when you image from one disk to another, the destination disk is wiped clean.

You can use Symantec Ghost

Answer 6

No it will not work, you need to install operating system and other programmes onto new hard drive

Answer 7

No. Why would you want to, anyway? Keep your O/S where it is and use the larger hard drive to store your data files, where they won't be susceptible to problems should your O/S crash on you.

Answer 8

Norton Ghost will do that very easily. Otherwise, you can try:
http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,3973,1151566,00.asp

or look at this discussion:
http://www.computing.net/windowsxp/wwwboard/forum/146512.html

Answer 9

no,

keep you o/s were it is and use the bigger hard drive for your file ect.

this way the files will protected if if your computer crashes.

Answer 10

partition magic 8.5 !!!! its easy to use