Easy way to Clone info to a new HDD

[GoNz0]

Is there an easy way to clone an old hard drive onto a new hard drive ??

(help )

 

[stuy_b]

Not without using something like DriveImage, no. IHMO

 

[GoNz0]

Thanks bro, worked a treat

 

[NaMcO]

It might seem incredible...

But if you XCOPY all data on a drive into another and make it bootable (tested under FAT32 only) it'll boot as the new one did. Just make sure you copy everything (it won't copy the swapfile, but it's not needed, windows will just create a new one).

Remember to XCOPY even empty directories, recreating the structure, hidden and system files, EVERYTHING. Then just boot with a diskette, after the disk is in place and SYS C: to transfer the OS (if transferring your system disk) and boot.

This has been tested several times under windows millennium and worked a charm. It will work for XP and NTFS as well but regarding DATA disks, i haven't tested on a system disk, so i can't say if it works or not.

Hope this helped, don't know if you want a REAL image or just transfer the files...

SMALL NOTE:
This operation has to be done within windows or all the files will be converted to the 8.3 format and rendered useless...

 

[maz4ruth]

I was just wondering...

Where is the registry actually stored?

 

[NaMcO]

C:\Documents and Settings\<username here>\

and it's called NTUSER.DAT.

 

[MiseryQv2.0]

Cloning does not work with Xp... It will lock you out...