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Help changing a hard drive

pipfan

Likes # 0

Posted July 12, 2011 at 5:25PM

Hi

I have a Compaq desktop PC that came with a 250gb SATA hard drive, and I've managed to fill it !

I want to install a 1TB in its place - probably Seagate or WD - but as the original drive contains Windows and just about everything I need, I'm not completely sure what I need to do.

I assume I need to

1) Make a clone image of my original drive to an external drive 2) Swap out the old and hook up the new drive 3) Put the cloned image on to the new drive 4) Carry on as normal

Is that about right - have I over-simplified it? Any help very much appreciated.

Thanks

Pip

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gengiscant

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Posted July 12, 2011 at 5:38PM

Nope you are right.

You can use this to clone your drive.http://www.todo-backup.com/download/ the free version is all you need.You can either put your 1TB drive in an external caddy or just install it in your PC, it really does not matter,then start the above program and clone your old hard-drive to the new 1 TB drive,once finished remove the cables from your old drive and boot your pc.That should be that and you will have a working PC will a bigger drive.

You can then format your old drive and use it as backup or spare.

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pipfan

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Posted July 12, 2011 at 5:46PM

Many thanks, but my PC can only take 2 internal drives and the second is occupied by a 10gb drive with the recovery bits and bobs on.

Hence, looking to put everything on an external drive first before switching internals over. That still OK?

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Taff™

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Posted July 12, 2011 at 6:09PM

You've only got one phsical drive in there. It`s partitioned (Split) C and the hidden recovery partition. Have a look inside.

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gengiscant

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Posted July 13, 2011 at 8:07AM

As 'taff' has said, open up your pc I think you will find that you only have the 1 drive.

What make/model of PC have you the details will be on a silver sticker somewhere.

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