Reinstall Question
(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)Posted by: j2k4
I need to do a reinstall.
I have some goofy problem I created by messing about where I shouldn't have (par for the course).
My question is this:
Can I take a clean formatted HDD, install it as my primary drive, load XP Pro, then install my normal main HDD (with the defective OS) as a slave, and pull all my goodies back onto the "new" primary drive without an OS conflict on re-boot?
I plan to re-format the slave after I'm finished (both drives are 80G WD Caviar).
Anyone see any problems here?
These types of things drive me crazy (although I must say, my luck has been fairly good), 'cuz I'm under the gun to get it done tomorrow.
Posted by: Virtualbody1234
Should work without a problem. I have done the same thing on many machines to recover data.
Just be sure to set the jumper to slave on the older drive.
Posted by: tesco
yes it will work fine. i recomend you make some partitions (if you havent already done that) so that you can format the windows parrtition if you have problems and not loose all of your programs and downloads.
Posted by: j2k4
Man, what would I do without you guys? :D
I'll proceed tomorrow morning with an unfurrowed brow and a clear mind. ;)
Thanks!! :)
Posted by: DWk
I would recommend (for next time), to have a spare HDD in which you can backup the important stuff. I have about 3 or 4 HDD's to spare which I use in emergencies, and only use my 80gig WD, partitioned in 3.
:)
Posted by: adamp2p
Originally posted by DWk@15 May 2004 - 21:27
I would recommend (for next time), to have a spare HDD in which you can backup the important stuff. I have about 3 or 4 HDD's to spare which I use in emergencies, and only use my 80gig WD, partitioned in 3.
:)
Where ya been, DwK, I miss our frequent arguments!!! :P
Posted by: atiVidia
as VB said, yes it will work so long as u change the jumper settings on the old drive to slave :).
if i am not mistaken, you cant boot an os off of a slave anyway...
Posted by: tesco
Originally posted by atiVidia@16 May 2004 - 02:00
as VB said, yes it will work so long as u change the jumper settings on the old drive to slave :).
if i am not mistaken, you cant boot an os off of a slave anyway...
but it has to be written into the master boot file which is on the primary drive...so you couldnt boot off it until you added the entry...
Posted by: j2k4
Originally posted by DWk@15 May 2004 - 23:27
I would recommend (for next time), to have a spare HDD in which you can backup the important stuff. I have about 3 or 4 HDD's to spare which I use in emergencies, and only use my 80gig WD, partitioned in 3.
:)
All good stuff to know, guys.
DWk-
That is my aim; I've got two 80g on-board with a 20G on the shelf (OS, AV, firewall, utilities, etc.) for just the backup you describe. ;)
Anyway-thanks again; I'm off to do the dirty deed! :D
Posted by: peat moss
I wonder if the file transfer wizard would be of any use in this case?
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertz.../november12.asp (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/columns/crawford/november12.asp)
Posted by: lynx
Originally posted by peat moss@16 May 2004 - 16:16
I wonder if the file transfer wizard would be of any use in this case?
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertz.../november12.asp (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/columns/crawford/november12.asp)
A useful link for those who want to do it, but the system you are taking the info from needs to be a working system, if it has already crashed beyond bootable use it is too late to try that method.
In any case, you still have to re-install all your software. Making a Ghost image every so often and keeping your data on a separate partition is far more useful. I even keep the latest Ghost image on the data partition, and also dump it off to dvd.
Posted by: peat moss
Thanks Lynx I was just wondering if it works or not .Its like a lot of XP feature's, I'v yet to try. :D
Posted by: zapjb
My sig, my sig. :01: