Moving my system to another HD


  1. lunaris76
    Posts : 3
    Windows 7 ultimate x64
       New #1

    Moving my system to another HD


    Hello to you all!

    I have a 500 goHDD with WIn7 on it. Sadly it's not a real good HD and I decided to upgrade it.. now I have bought a 1 TO HDD and What I'd like to do is have my system transfered to this new HD (and keep the slower one for backup or to store my music or pics for exemple)

    Is it possible to simply move my system to another HDD or do I have to reinstall everything on the new??

    Thanks
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  3. Ztruker
    Posts : 6,285
    Windows 10 Pro X64
       New #2

    You can clone the old drive to the new one then swap the drives, making the new one master and the old one slave. Macrium Reflect Free will do this.

    Are the hard drives SATA or PATA (IDE)? If PATA then you install the new drive as slave and make sure the old one is master. There is a tutorial for using Macrium for normal backup and it includes creating a REcsur CD which I think you will need to clone the old drive to the new one. If SATA connect th4e new drive to port 1 if the old s on port 0.

    Once cloned, remove the old drive and make the new one master. Make sure everything still works okay. If yes, then you can connect the old drive as a slave and use it for storage.
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  4. lunaris76
    Posts : 3
    Windows 7 ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       New #3

    im on SATA.. port 1 port 0??
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  6. whs
    Posts : 26,210
    Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
       New #4

    The port does not matter. You just have to set the BIOS to boot from the right drive.
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  7. pamccabe
    Posts : 14
    Windows 7 Professional x64 SP1
       New #5

    I've recently done this by using the Windows feature, 'Create a system image...'. You can find the feature from the Control Panel, System and Security, then Backup and Restore. Save the Image to network location, external drive, burn to multiple DVDs or another drive all together. Then create a Windows Repair disc. You can also do this from Backup and Restore. Replace the drive and boot from the Repair disc.
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  8. pamccabe
    Posts : 14
    Windows 7 Professional x64 SP1
       New #6

    Here is a good link on how to do this.

    How to Create a System Image in Windows 7 - How-To Geek
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  10. gregrocker
    Posts : 50,642
       New #7

    Easiest is to use the free premium Acronis cloning/imaging app which can be used with any WD or Seagate HD in the mix, to clone over from old HD to new while both are plugged in.
    Seagate Acronis cloning free util
    WD Acronis free cloning app

    Otherwise use free Macrium, Paragon 11 or Win7 built-in Backup Imaging to save an image externally, swap in the new HD, boot DVD or Repair CD to Recover Using an Image, apply the image to unallocated space on new HD. Win7 backup imaging might have a problem with the size of target HDD - just use another app.
    Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup
    System Image Recovery
    Macrium - Image your system
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  11. lunaris76
    Posts : 3
    Windows 7 ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       New #8

    I tried what Greg said about Acronis WD and it worked perfect!

    Thanks alot!!!
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