How to use existing HDD?

[Bacchus_whine]

I'm a noob. I have a Dell 4600 that i'm looking into hopefully replacing. I'd like to build a new system but need to use the data off the existing HDD (60 GB Ultra ATA/100 7200 RPM).

Can I get a new HDD and copy all the files over? Seems too simple.

Or if i get a new HDD can I just use both? If i use the old HDD (master) with the OS (XP Home) on it with a new PC (new HDD would be slave) will it be recognized right away? Will there be compatibility issues? could i just use the new HDD for games? Would that give me better perfomace? Would I need to match the exact same kind of HDD to get good performance?

I know thats alot of questions, hopefully that made a little sense. Thanks in advance for any answers or insights.

[doctorgonzo]

Yes, you could copy the data over to a new drive if that's what you wanted to do. It is simple. Or you can use both drives at the same time. You would have to partition and format the drive in Windows, then it could be used. You could certainly use that drive just for games, but it probably wouldn't give you a huge performance increase. You don't need to match drives at all.

[tempus]

Originally Posted by Bacchus_whine I'm a noob. I have a Dell 4600 that i'm looking into hopefully replacing. I'd like to build a new system but need to use the data off the existing HDD (60 GB Ultra ATA/100 7200 RPM). Can I get a new HDD and copy all the files over? Seems too simple. Or if i get a new HDD can I just use both? If i use the old HDD (master) with the OS (XP Home) on it with a new PC (new HDD would be slave) will it be recognized right away? Will there be compatibility issues? could i just use the new HDD for games? Would that give me better perfomace? Would I need to match the exact same kind of HDD to get good performance? I know thats alot of questions, hopefully that made a little sense. Thanks in advance for any answers or insights.

well if you are getting a new system then you will need to buy a copy of Xp to install on the new hard drive. You won't be able to use the old hard drive as a bootable drive because it is configured for the dell's motherboard chipset etc. You can make the old drive a slave and copy from it any files that you would need, ie perconal files etc.

[Bacchus_whine]

Hmm. So I would need another copy of XP for the new drive. Does anything need to be done with the old drive if I buy a new HDD with a new XP. Or do I just make it a slave and connect it to the IDE on the MB? Would there be any reconfiguring or possible compatibility issues?

[doctorgonzo]

You can put the old drive in the computer as a slave drive and it should work. You may have to rejumper it, but if it is jumpered as CS and you plug it into the right connectior on the 80-wire IDE cable, you should be set.

[Bacchus_whine]

Let me make sure I got this right. I might not have phrased everything properly.

I can use an existing HDD from a Dell as is (all software programs and OS [Dell]) as long as I have it as a slave to another HDD with a non Dell copy of XP.

[doctorgonzo]

Yes. The Dell drive will have all of your data and programs. It will also have a copy of Windows, but since it will be a slave drive, that copy of Windows will not be active.

However, you will probably have to reinstall all of your software even if it is on the Dell drive so that your new copy of Windows is configured correctly (registry settings, DLL files, and so forth). If I were in your situation, I would burn all the data on your Dell drive to a CD, then format the Dell drive. Then, I would put all the data back on there, and install whatever software I want on that drive. You will spend more time taking the data off only to put it back on, but you will also get rid of the unncessary Windows installation on that drive, freeing up space.

[jayb1234]

Another option would be to get the new copy of windows up and running in the new box, then connect it to the Dell with a serial file transfer cable and use the Windows Files and Settings Transfer Wizard to move what you want to save to the new drive. Then reformat the old one and install it clean in the new machine.

[glc]

You need something a lot faster than a serial cable, that would take days to move data over.