Hard Drive Swap - First Time

[Zebulin]

Greetings everyone!

First off, I apologize if this topic is similar to something already posted, but, being a complete neophyte in this kind of computer operation, my nerves compelled me to start a new thread.

I have been asked to switch a couple of hard drives at my new job. The first is a 80GB IDE that I will be changing out for a 160GB ATA/100 Maxtor Hard drive. Using the software that came with the new drive, I created an image of my existing hard drive on an external drive.

Question 1: Is this image significant for backup purposes if something goes horribly wrong, or should I do something else as well?

Next, I would prefer (if possible) to just clone the existing drive onto the new drive.

Question 2: Would is copy everything, including OS, application/program files, etc?

If this is the case, then should I follow the step by step instructions that are listed on this sight? They seem pretty straightforward.

I appreciate answers to these questions in advance, and I am sure there will be more post tomorrow (when I actually start to change the drive)

Thanks

[pam123]

The image will do for back up, just remember to check it to make sure there's no corruption.
I back up "My Documents" separately for convenience sake, less of a hassle to grab a music file if you have to, but that step isn't strictly necessary.
A clone is a full duplicate, so just remember that the hard drives has to be the same type.

[glc]

You can use the Maxtor setup software to do a direct clone from the old drive to the new. You boot with the CD or floppy to do it.