Replacing 160gb hard drive with 500gb in Optiplex 755 SFF

I am looking to replace the hard drive in my Dell Optiplex 755 SFF. It currently has a 160gb hard drive and I have been given a 500gb. Then I was going to put the 160gb in another computer I have, a Optiplex GX520. I can handle the physical side of it thru following a youtube video, it looks ok. Its the whole thing of what am I getting myself into with my files and OS, which is W7 pro. Not too worried about the files, just some pictures, films, music. I can take care of that. Its W7 I don't know what will happen, if anything happens.? At this time I do not have a writable cd/dvd, but that won't be a problem getting one if I really need it. So do I need to back up, is there a way I can transfer files and data onto the new hard drive before I install.? I had a mad idea that maybe I could put the 500gb in the GX520, hook it up to the 755 and do a transfer that way. The GX520 is basic, I was looking to make it usable, connect it to my big tv for entertainment purposes, light browsing, maybe a little poker. I have a few issue I may need to discuss about the GX520, but firstly my main concern is this hard drive swap over. I'm not in a great rush, I would rather get fully prepared before setting about this task. Any and all advice here will be appreciated. I hope I have posted this in the correct area. Thanks.

Not sure if I understood what you want.
As you both computers are desktops, it's very easy.

To replace Optiplex 755 SFF 160G HDD by a 500G HDD you must clone the 160G HDD to the 500G HDD.
- Download Macrium reflect Free - Macrium Reflect Free
- Attach the 500G HDD to the Optiplex 755 SFF (don't need to install, just plug in a power connector and a SATA cable to a SATA port on the MoBo).
- With Macrium reflect clone the 160G HDD to the 500G HDD.
- Detach the 160G HDD and leave attached only the 500G HDD.
- Boot it.
- If everything works fine, shutdown, remove the 160G HDD and put in its place the 500G HDD.

On the Optiplex GX520
- If you just want to add the 160G HDD to the computer, install the 160G HDD taken from the Optiplex 755 SFF (fix it, attach the power connector and the SATA cable), boot from the original disk, open disk manager, delete all partitions on the 160G HDD taken from the Optiplex 755 SFF and create new. Format it as NTFS.

If you want to replace Optiplex GX520 original HDD by the 160G HDD taken from the Optiplex 755 SFF you must clone the original HDD to the 160G HDD.
Do the same procedure you did to clone on the Optiplex 755 SFF

Disk clone software is probably easiest, as MHz said.

If you have a Linux Disc handy, cloning can be done in a live operating environment.
1) Boot up Linux
2) Run GParted, and determine each partition on the 160, and create IDENTICAL partitions on the 500.
3) Then in CLI, execute cp command for each partition to clone; i.e.:

cp /dev/sda1 /dev/sdb1 (this copies partition 1 of 160, to partition 1 of 500).

Then re-size partitions on the 500 accordingly.

I've actually been trying out Linux Mint on the GX520 past week or so. Caused me no end of trouble. Had grub rescue problems, it seems to have wiped XP and all files off my hard drive there when I tried to delete/uninstall Linux partitions. I have managed to get a decent Linux installed again and fixed the grub problem for now. I'm sure the 80gb hard drive is done, altho I can get Linux booted from hdd, it is not straight forward. But I have a feeling XP is still there somewhere, but it doesn't show on boot menus now. There is an 'unknown' partition on there in Gparted. I don't have the knowledge to get it back at this time. When I installed Mint MATE to fix the grub issue I was advised to let it go and take the whole disc drive or something like that, as it could be fixed after. But thats when the advice stopped. I'm not fussed about losing XP, in fact I'm quite happy to run Linux Mint on the GX520 after I get these hard drives sorted out.

Schrade, all of what you have said is the type of stuff I struggle with understanding. Try as I do to search out the meanings of stuff like that, I am not good with terminology. We'll get there with all of this, I won't give up. But first, the hard drive swap in the 755 is my next step in the coming days. After that I am happy to wipe the 160gb in the GX520 and restart with Linux Mint.

Linux will install beside Windows, and not interfere with Windows installations.

If you have GRUBLoader working correctly, and no menu entries for XP / W7 / etc., you need only to update the GRUBLoader. It will find Windows and Linux [other kernels], and will create menu entries for each.

Then you can clone the 160 -> 500, and make adjustments thereafter.

In Linux, bring up a CLI - this is a dialogue window for entering commands manually. If you get a command syntax wrong, it will tell you before executing.

For Linux Mint, Google how to bring up CLI (or 'Terminal'). It will say ochaye13@ochaye13-desktop (or laptop, or your motherboard model, with a blinking cursor) - see screenshot below, mine is Linux Ubuntu.

Then type in sudo (for SUperuser DO [superuser execute] ), or exec sudo -s (same thing), and then you can determine partitions to clone from the 160 -> 500.

Linux is FASTER, MORE secure, better in MANY ways, than Windows. Especially when there's a problem with Windows.

Can I connect the 500gb to my computer as an external drive and do the clone that way.? Just a thought that popped into my mind. Or does it need to be connected to the motherboard.? I have ordered new cables and in the pack comes an external connection.

ochaye13 said:

Can I connect the 500gb to my computer as an external drive and do the clone that way.? Just a thought that popped into my mind. Or does it need to be connected to the motherboard.? I have ordered new cables and in the pack comes an external connection.

Yes, as external drive. Write speed will be slightly lower, even with USB 3.0 however...

Ok thanks, good to know. I may just go that way with it. I should point out that I do not have any recovery/back up discs for either computer. I bought them 2nd hand refurbs with W7 and XP installed on them. Can I make recovery/back ups to usb sticks, if so, what size do I need.? or should I get a rewriter and discs, or should I be ok to proceed and succeed.? My personal files are only music, films, photos and pictures. My concern is keeping W7 in good working order. As with the other computer, I think XP and files have already gone on that one.

I've noticed my time zone is set as Central America. How can I change that.? I'm in Scotland.