Copying hard disk drive to another for using on the same computer.?

Question

I have a Dell Latitude D820. Unfortunately it as got only 60GB hard disk SATA drive. I want at least 120 GB hard disk drive because it is not sufficient for running all my study related programs. I am planning to change my hard drive.

I have installed Windows Vista Ultimate and some other programs for my studies. I don't want to lose them. I can reinstall them later also, but only as a last option. Using an external hard drive for the OS is ruled out.

Is there any way by which I may be able to copy my entire hard drive to another hard drive with more capacity to be used in the same computer??? I mean the whole Vista OS should be usable after the entire hard drive is copied.

No critical reason. Just that I don't like the idea of using an external drive.

For "thedeath"

I have mentioned that I am going to use the new hard drive on the same system as a replacement for the old drive. So I think the issue for system compatibility does not arise. Does it?

Answer 1

There is no way within Windows itself to transfer Windows and apps to a new hard drive. You would need to use a third party program such as Norton Ghost or Drive Image. They allow you to clone hard drives.

The problem you will have is that to clone them, you have to have both drives attached to the computer at the same time, or you have to have room enough to make a complete backup your hard drive. If you are running out of space on your 60G drive, you probably do not have room to make a full back up on it.

So you would have to find a way to attach the 120G without removing the 60G. Best method is to use a USB enclosure. You put the 120G into the special case and then attach it as an external drive, do the clone, and then swap it into the laptop.

The 60G drive can then be put into the enclosure, formatted, and used as an external hard drive for file storage and backups.

Answer 2

You can copy images of your entire hard drive (or partitions of it) by using Norton Ghost by Symantec. It's very easy indeed. You can restore those images at any time. You can back up your image either on an external hard drive or on dvd's. Before taking your hard drive image install the driver of your replacement hard disk (the 120 GB one) in your current hard drive. Then all you have to do is mount the new hard drive and have the Ghost image restored. Everything will be the same as you left it and you'll have your new hard disk's increased capacity.

Answer 3

You cannot "copy" any applications, softwares onto another hard drive and expect them to function normally. Softwares are "installed" through their setup files and hence become a part of the system and their information is added into the registry and other system files for that particular system and hard drive.

The best option will be to get another hard drive and to make it a slave. This way your current hard drive can be used to run the OS and other applications already installed while allowing you more space through the slave drive.

Answer 4

The above solutions are ok, yet oftentimes fail to repeat records, even the backup software. once you're in straight forward terms apprehensive approximately "your" records then those solutions might desire to be ok. you may additionally set up a scheduled replica using the xcopy command. this might enable for all styles of strategies, inclusive of copying hidden and equipment records, and can paintings in the history. in case you like a precise replica, then obtain the force application frpom your force producer. Their instructions will provide you advice for making a precise replica of one force onto yet another using their strategies.

Answer 5

why not use a external hard drive.