Transfer of information - HDD to HDD

Channel Hopper

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The old PC has suddenly developed cluster trouble ( well it is nearly seven years old)

If I fitted a second hard drive into the caddy as a slave, is it possible to transfer the whole of the first discs info over to it, including the operating software (Win 98) , or am I likely to find a glitch ?

What other way of doing it, I dont really want to go down the 'copy to CD' route as that means fitting a CDR and the software, which the old drive may not allow.

Thanks
 

rolfw

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You could use something like ghost image software CH, should be some floating around, just install the drive as a slave and then ghost the main drive to the slave.
 

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What does ghost do that a straight dump to the new drive doesnt ?

Any disadvantages? Theres a lot of important stuff on this one
 

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Ghost will also copy the operating system and boot sector, don't think a dump will do that.
 

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If the drive is failing, you will copy any corrupted data over as well - be prepared for data loss. If you just want the data, Id remove the dying hdd and slave it into another machine. Then do a straight copy over. Then bin that drive.
 

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Ghost or Partition Magic are both good for this task, though if the drive contains corrupt sectors, either or both may refuse to play ball. Running a verification task first, like scandisk might help. I've had to contend with this several times.

Don't make the mistake of trusting the drive for a second longer than you have to, or it may bite you in the arse.

When you say 'dump' I assume you just mean copy all the files and directories across manually using Windows Explorer of similar? Do this as well for directories like My_Documents etc. in case the drive doesn't last until your proper backup.

Problem with that, is that some of the files may be in use by the OS and will prevent them from being copied. There are ways around it (like booting to floppy/CD/another HDD first) but a bit fiddly.

I like Norton Ghost, as you can create and boot to a DOS/Ghost backup diskette with network capability, so you can backup directly to another computer on the network.
All you need is 10/100 LAN capability in two boxes and a crossover cable.


STICK
 

Channel Hopper

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I can run another disc in the same machine, at it already has Win 98 on it, but its the useful bundle packages of software on the one with trouble, such as Office Works Suite etc, that Im unlikely to find elsewhere

So put the new disc in as master, and then pull all the goodies off this one as a slave is the best way to go ?. Do I need ghost for that , and if so where can I get it ?
 

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If you just copy the Office Works Suite folders across you will lose the registry entries that make the programme work properly.

First thing to do though is get any vital data files off that failing drive. The actual programmes can be replaced later if necessary, you cant replace your data files. So if you have you tax returns for the last 5 years on there - go for them first! :D
 

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Yes Channel Hopper I had the same problem last week with a W98SE pc at work containing spreadsheets galore. Tried scandisk numerous times in both DOS and Windows mode. Tried Norton Ghost to copy an image onto a new HD which would get to 93% and then give up. Eventually reinstalled the OS on the new HD brought the offending HD home made it a slave and slotted into my W2k machine. Am currently copying off the required files onto my PC and burning them onto CD which is where they should have been in the 1st place as they were so important. If accountants were meant to run companies they would have included some IT basics in their degree coursework. On the other hand a Masters in Computer Engineering one has to do a module on accountancy. Now tell me is that fair???
Hope your problems get solved soon with no data loss. Patience is what is required with computers even if a dos scandisk takes 12 hours let it finish and it will most of the time save most if not all your data. And before anyone asks no Bill Gates is not a pal of mine I too loathe having a gun pointed at my head and doing his beta testing !!!!
 

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toppervte33h said:
If accountants were meant to run companies they would have included some IT basics in their degree coursework. On the other hand a Masters in Computer Engineering one has to do a module on accountancy. Now tell me is that fair???

Nope, but if you're an capable IT kiddie, it means you can also be a smug bstard. :D
 

Channel Hopper

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Hey , no guns, Im just learning the job that shouldheva been basic maintenance of the supplier. To me its like a car thats just outside warranty but the dealer doesnt give two hoots that the problem started from the beginning.

I did a lot on Motorola 6800s 26 years ago, but its more or less useless now.
 

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How old is that Win98 installation?

It might be worthwhile installing windows and all your other programs from scratch on the new drive, then setting up your old drive as a slave and copying over your files.

It might sound like a lot more work but a fresh windows installation is a good idea every so often.

That's assuming you can get hold of installation disks for all your programs and can find all the drivers you need :)
 

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Agree with Polo. But an important thing to do first, is back up or copy anything that you can't afford to lose should things go wrong.
 

Channel Hopper

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I can of course put a fresh Win98 onto the new hard disc, but does that mean that everything else will then copy over without problem (troubled clusters aside) ?

I thought every programme had its own registry values - MS Suite etc, will they simply be happy at moving over to the new place in the same way as the data ?
 

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A clean install just means you start with a clean registry - you dont have all the extra crap from programmes you tried out 2 years ago which didnt uninstall properly...

The slave drive would be seen as an extra drive letter, from which you just copy the data files from the slave to a new directory on the new drive.

You would need to do new installations of whichever programmes you wanted to use again - your MS Works ( which version did you have?) for instance. Then you can manipulate your data again using the original programme.
 

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i agree,
i would disconnect that drive for now, put in a new one Fdisk it, format it, then install your OS and programs (MS Works etc etc) then reconnect your old drive... remembering to change the jumpers for a slave :) then boot up and copy and past all your Docs and files over
once everything is sweet again... back up your valueble files to CD
 
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