A friend has a laptop and he reckons the hard drive is on the way out, part of it is already unusable. He suspects the end is nigh and wants to prepare by installing a replacement hard drive before it totally fails.
Whats the best way to go about this? Hes already backed up the stuff he wants to keep but was asking if theres a way to just clone (if thats the right phrase) the OS onto the new hard drive from the original, then simply remove the damaged one and install the new one and continue without interuption.
He doesn't fancy having to reinstall all the drivers as hes not sure he has them all and is not even sure if he got an original copy of Win XP when he bought the machine about 18 months ago.
Any suggestions?:confused:

If he has a USB2 outlet, the double ended external drive connector would probably do the trick. One side connects to 3.5 drives and the other to 2.5 (laptop) drives. AFAIK there are lots of disk to disk copy progs.

So do you mean clone it to a USB external hard drive, then install the new hard drive into the laptop and clone it back to the new hard drive?
Can anyone recommend any particular program preferably idiot proof for doing this?
Thanks

I have used Norton Ghost for years - there may be freeware programs that perform the same function.

Point to note is that you must boot up NOT off the existing hard disk, for obvious reasons, so you woould need to ensure that USB / Network support is on your bootable media.

There is also a built-in migration wizard in Windows XP that transfers user settings and application configuration from one PC to another.

SD

I have used Norton Ghost for years - there may be freeware programs that perform the same function.

Point to note is that you must boot up NOT off the existing hard disk, for obvious reasons, so you would need to ensure that USB / Network support is on your bootable media.

There is also a built-in migration wizard in Windows XP that transfers user settings and application configuration from one PC to another.

SD

So if we were to Ghost the hard drive on the laptop with the OS and drivers and all the user settings and documents etc to a USB external hardrive, then remove the old hard drive and install the new one into the laptop, then ghost the saved hard drive image from the external hard drive back to the new hard drive on the laptop, then boot up from that:confused:
Will that work?

I have used Norton Ghost for years - there may be freeware programs that perform the same function.
Point to note is that you must boot up NOT off the existing hard disk, for obvious reasons, so you would need to ensure that USB / Network support is on your bootable media.
There is also a built-in migration wizard in Windows XP that transfers user settings and application configuration from one PC to another.
SD

I had to do this and used Norton Ghost. It makes an exact image of your existing C drive. You can download it (version 10) for about 40 quid from the symantec website here (http://www.symantecstore.com/v2.0-img/operations/symantus/site/ghostsnr/save_and_restore_ghost_uk.htm).

Get an external microdrive case with USB support. Fit your NEW (blank) drive to the USB case. You may need to quick format it (can't remember), but when Norton Ghost can see it, you're ready to Mirror your C drive over to it.

This copies EVERYTHING exactly as on the C Drive. OS, Files, Everything.

(Best to take the opportunity to upgrade to a larger disk - they don't have to be the same size).

Once the mirror is completed, it's time to take your screwdriver out and swop the drives over.

One thing to note however, is that the XP OS knows the hardware configuration of the laptop it was installed on. You may find that XP appears to freeze at startup with the new drive installed. What you need to do is reset the HD "Signature" (also known as SID) and XP will then boot up.

There is a utility which will help you do this, and you will either need a second PC to prepare the utility or do this before transplanting your drive!

Download BootitNG (http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/downloads/bootitng.zip)

1) Extract the Zip file, run the BOOTITNG applicaton (or shortcut), it'll open in an MS-DOS window.

2) Accept license agreement, create "floppy boot disk" or "ISO" and burn to CD.

3) Boot laptop from floppy/CD, you will be greeted with "Welcome to Setup.

4) Click OK button to install Bootit NG to the hard drive"

5) Click the Cancel button, "Notice - You are now entering maintenance mode.....", click OK.

6) Click the Partition Work button, click the View MBR button, click the Clear Sig button, followed by OK on the notice box & Apply, click Close.

7) Click the Reboot button, remove floppy/CD whilst PC reboots.

Windows should now restart normally.

You can find more information here (http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=9660&st=0)

Good luck. :-)

Brilliant, thanks very much for all your replies I'll pass it on.

Agree with all the external USB technique stuff

Rather than Ghost, I've purchased Seagate drives, poth for PC and Notebook. Seagate has an included "Ghost" type prog that does the format/mirror - easy to use.

Touch wood the Seagate drives have been reliable as well.

I recommend against cloning for the simple fact that any copy of XP over a year or more old is not as healthy as when it was new. Formatting and placing a fresh copy of the OS on the computer will noticeably improve performance.

Drivers are not a problem if your friend goes to the manufacturers website and downloads what they can find there and back them onto a CD.

The OS issue is not all that difficult - just find someone with the same OS and using their OEM Windows disk run the install. Activation may say your product key is incorrect - when this happens, enter the product code from the sticker located on the laptop somewhere (usually bottom)

The manufacturers website may have service data - some of them give you photos too - on how to open the machine up and replace the drive. Some machines have drives mounted in caddys that can be removed with a push of a catch or an easy removal of screws. Many laptops require disassembling the machine to replace the drive.

Take care if you have not opened one of these things before. There are often hidden catches in the cabinet and some of the ribbon cables (flat wires) can be delicate.

Finally if your friend looks in the hardware list (My Computer - Properties) and divines the type of hard drive installed, they may be able to go to the drive manufacturer's website and download a small utility to a floppy disk and run diagnostics on the installed drive. The S.M.A.R.T. circuitry within the drive keeps tabs on the health and often can report on any pending problems.

Good Luck !

I recommend against cloning for the simple fact that any copy of XP over a year or more old is not as healthy as when it was new. Formatting and placing a fresh copy of the OS on the computer will noticeably improve performance.

I can't say I agree with that at all. Firstly, from the original post, there is no reason to suspect that his installaion of XP isn't just fine and dandy! The question was "how do I replace my hard drive".

But I'd still like to explore your reasoning. There is no reason that XP is not as "healthy", although it is true that operating for any length of time without a decent anti-spyware / anti-virus solution is asking for a load of junk to be written into the registry. Assuming you are clear of mal-ware, then providing you run "clean-up" utilities such as a good defrag and registry repair utility such as Norton System Doctor, (to remove the detritus left by orphaned shortcuts and active-x controls), then XP can run sweetly forever. Assuming your copy of windows is "legal", you should also ensure that Microsoft Update is turned on to keep XP automatically up to date.

The only time the OS would need to be re-installed (IMHO) is if there was serious corruption caused by either: a) A crashed drive in the middle of writing to a system file or B) a Virus Attack. Even in these cases, it may often be possible to run a "repair" from the OS Install disk.

The noticeable improvement in performance you mention, is most often due to a clean installation lacking all those little "start-up" or background services which we may accumulate. I have about 20 background agents doing all sorts of little functions from monitoring my battery, running a local DNS and SMTP server, to checking the weather. Of course I've made the choice to put them there, and am willing to sacrifice some "front end" performance in return for the features they provide. But this is why a good clean-up utility (or two) is important to keep your PC running efficiently and to remove services you really don't want. A clean installation will ultimately suffer from exactly the same problems if not properly maintained - so all the effort of rebuilding your system from scratch will eventually be lost anyway.

Drivers are not a problem if your friend goes to the manufacturers website and downloads what they can find there and back them onto a CD.
The OS issue is not all that difficult - just find someone with the same OS and using their OEM Windows disk run the install. Activation may say your product key is incorrect - when this happens, enter the product code from the sticker located on the laptop somewhere (usually bottom)

...and of course this IS a problem. If you have your own OS Restore disk, then what you suggest is "doable". But I would STRONGLY caution against using someone else's OEM Windows install disk. Apart from violating the EULA, (which goes with the software - not the key), many disks are highly configured for the manufacturer. Be it DELL or IBM or HITACHI or HP or whatever - don't be surprised if your machine suddenly believes it's something it's not, or if the installation fails because the customised OEM installer can't find the right drivers for your hardware configuration. Even if you force the installation through, you can end up with the Windows activation Key not being accepted and / or MSUpdate not working and a pile of other grief to sort out. See this link: http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/moving_xp.html, (thanks to "LostLuggage 34" for posting this in the "XP Migration (http://www.pprune.org/forums/showpost.php?p=2816831&postcount=5)" thread.

It's not just reloading drivers which is (frankly) a real PITA, but many of us have downloaded utilities and shareware for which you may not have the install disks. This may well include things like customised plug-ins for MSOffice programs and a host of other personal tweaks which have evolved over time - and which would be impractical if not impossible to reset.

The manufacturers website may have service data - some of them give you photos too - on how to open the machine up and replace the drive. Some machines have drives mounted in caddys that can be removed with a push of a catch or an easy removal of screws. Many laptops require disassembling the machine to replace the drive.

Take care if you have not opened one of these things before. There are often hidden catches in the cabinet and some of the ribbon cables (flat wires) can be delicate.

Finally if your friend looks in the hardware list (My Computer - Properties) and divines the type of hard drive installed, they may be able to go to the drive manufacturer's website and download a small utility to a floppy disk and run diagnostics on the installed drive. The S.M.A.R.T. circuitry within the drive keeps tabs on the health and often can report on any pending problems.
Good Luck !

Yep - I agree with all of that!!! And you've made a good point that before considering buying a new drive, a diagnostic on your old drive may provide the route to a solution. Norton Disk Doctor provides some useful utilities which can help sort it out. Look up the functions of CHKDISK (http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/chkdsk.mspx?mfr=true) too.

The benefit of a new drive, of course, is the opportunity to get a bigger one - and reduce the risk of imminent failure and the loss of ALL your data.

Apart from violating the EULA, (which goes with the software - not the key), many disks are highly configured for the manufacturer. Be it DELL or IBM or HITACHI or HP or whatever - don't be surprised if your machine suddenly believes it's something it's not, or if the installation fails because the customised OEM installer can't find the right drivers for your hardware configuration. Even if you force the installation through, you can end up with the Windows activation Key not being accepted and / or MSUpdate not working and a pile of other grief to sort out.

I must disagree with this. All of the XP installation and core XP files are identical whether it is Dell or Sony OEM or a retail copy. Only a few customized settings are changed and the start-up wrapper (exe). The drivers within XP are identical. Only the third party drivers change and these are not located within the core installation files. The only true difference after installation would be your manufacturer's link in the start menu. The key will work if you have the same version of XP (IE 2002, SP1 etc). I've done this many times with no troubles. The key will not work if you use a retail CD with an OEM key and vice-a-versa.

It's not just reloading drivers which is (frankly) a real PITA, but many of us have downloaded utilities and shareware for which you may not have the install disks. This may well include things like customised plug-ins for MSOffice programs and a host of other personal tweaks which have evolved over time - and which would be impractical if not impossible to reset.


Completely in agreement here ! It is not for the faint of heart.

One item I didn't mention is the HAL XP creates. (Hardware Abstraction Layer) If you change your drive type and clone the installation, XP will often no longer boot on the new hard drive or it will become unstable. This can be hacked, but not recommended and is also possibly outside of the EULA.

ive used ghost with success over the yrs. however do not use it to copy a drive that has problems. thats just silly. do a fresh install. you should have a copy repair disk that came with the lappy.
that should have the full OS/drivers on it for a reinstall. branded lappys always/usually require their own OS disk. use another at your own risk. it can be done ok but its a pita.


ps.
ghost is not perfect, it has some issues with loosing/corrupting data. make sure you have backed up all important data.
i know from experience. ive lost data using ghost.

pps.
partition the hdd into 3 or more partitions. itll be a great help next time!

I must disagree with this. All of the XP installation and core XP files are identical whether it is Dell or Sony OEM or a retail copy. Only a few customized settings are changed and the start-up wrapper (exe). The drivers within XP are identical. Only the third party drivers change and these are not located within the core installation files. The only true difference after installation would be your manufacturer's link in the start menu. The key will work if you have the same version of XP (IE 2002, SP1 etc). I've done this many times with no troubles. The key will not work if you use a retail CD with an OEM key and vice-a-versa.

I think none of this is for the "faint of heart"... Actually I did have exactly the problem I described, using the disk from one OEM machine to load XP on a "new build". (Which of course was totally against the EULA so it served me right). :hmm:

One item I didn't mention is the HAL XP creates. (Hardware Abstraction Layer) If you change your drive type and clone the installation, XP will often no longer boot on the new hard drive or it will become unstable. This can be hacked, but not recommended and is also possibly outside of the EULA.

The HAL you refer to is a problem, but if it's only a change of HD then rather than trying to "hack" the HAL, it's better to reset the HD's Signature (SID) using the utility I referred to a couple of posts above. This has worked every time so far. (Bootitng is a great little HD maintenance utility by the way). :ok:

partition the hdd into 3 or more partitions. itll be a great help next time!

Hmmm. I've heard this before. Compaq / HP actually ship their machines in two partitions.

I'm sure there must be a good reason, but why waste valuable space? Does it not actually slow the machine down having to read / write data off different partitions all the time? (e.g.: OS and VM on Partition C, Exes on Partition D, files on Partition E).

I've never seen the point myself. Why would spreading your installation across 3 small partitions be preferrable to keeping it all on one large one? I could understand the reliability benefits of having 3 separate physical drives, but the benefit of 3 partitions on one drive is lost on me.

Good thread but I agree with formatting and starting with fresh OS ever year or so. If the hard drive is going out then its fair to say that the OS on the drive is probably fairly old.

Backup the data you want to save then stick the recover CD in and do it right. Then copy the data there and THEN do a Ghost backup somewhere. That way you will have a good clean backup of a fresh install.

Hmmm. I've heard this before. Compaq / HP actually ship their machines in two partitions.
I'm sure there must be a good reason, but why waste valuable space? Does it not actually slow the machine down having to read / write data off different partitions all the time? (e.g.: OS and VM on Partition C, Exes on Partition D, files on Partition E).
I've never seen the point myself. Why would spreading your installation across 3 small partitions be preferrable to keeping it all on one large one? I could understand the reliability benefits of having 3 separate physical drives, but the benefit of 3 partitions on one drive is lost on me.

I always partition my drives in at least two sections. Put the OS on "C" drive and all my data on "D" drive. When there is an upgrade or the installation is getting old I simply format "C" and install the OS in the partition. That way my data is still secure and not at risk.

The only reason I could see for three partitions would be with some of the old BIOS chips that would not recognize a hard drive space larger than 137 gigs. With the older machines we would partition each section in 125 gig sections and get around that limitation but most newer machines do not have this limitation.

Doesn't XP generally come in two partitions with the backup/recovery copy of the OS in the second partition? On my HP laptop the second parition was "hidden". On my new eMachines desktop it is "D:".