How to Clone a Hard Drive in Windows XP
If you plan to upgrade your computer's hard drive, you're probably looking for a way to get Windows XP on the new drive without having to completely reinstall everything. The simple solution to this problem is to clone your hard drive.
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Instructions
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Install a cloning software such as Norton Ghost--you can find this program in the common Symantec's "Norton Systemworks" software package. There are freeware packages out there that do the same thing, but make sure any software package you use has good reviews.
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Add the new hard drive to your computer. Turn the power off to the computer and install the hard drive as the secondary drive.
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Reboot the computer and follow the instructions on the screen to enter the BIOS. Your new drive should show up under the slot you installed it, for example Primary master/slave or secondary master/slave, and show the full size of the drive.
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Run the cloning software. Follow the instructions with your cloning software. Choose the old drive as the source and the new drive as the target. Double check the BIOS settings if you are not positive which is the new drive.
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Turn off your computer after the cloning is finished. Replace the old drive with the new drive. Look on the top of your motherboard or on the new hard drive for the jumper settings specific for your computer. There should be one listed for master and another for slave. Set the correct jumper setting for each drive.
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Restart your computer again. If your computer detects the new cloned hard drive, Windows XP should boot up as normal. If it doesn't detect the hard drive automatically, go back to the BIOS and manually select it.
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Check your new hard drive to make sure everything copied over properly.
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Tips & Warnings
You may need to re-activate Windows XP. Simply follow the on screen steps to contact Microsoft for a reactivation key.
Make sure you have an updated backup of all your data before you begin the cloning process.
Stay alert during the cloning process. Skipping one step could result in erasure of your data and or the data not copying to your new hard drive.
