Installing new HDD and moving old to external back up drive.

[Hookster264]

I have a 250Gb hard drive installed in my computer. I want to upgrade to a 500Gb or larger drive and was thinking I could use the 250 for a back up drive.

What all do I have to do to make this exchange? Here is what I am thinking, check to see if I am forgetting anything.

- Save all files, music and video to discs or flash drives.
- remove old HDD
- install new HDD
- Format and partition new HDD
- install Windows on new HDD
- install drivers
- install firewall, anti-virus, programs, games and other software as needed
- save files, music and video from discs to new HDD
- scrub and format old HDD to be used as backup drive.

A couple of questions:
1) Can I re-use my old Windows XP disc on a new HDD since it is still being used on the same computer?
2) Do I have to delete out my old HDD before it is re-formatted?
3) Am I missing anything?

 

[wkramer]

Easiest thing to do would be to clone your old hard drive to the new hard drive. This keeps everything exactly as it was on your old hard drive. No need to reinstall anything.

1. Install new HDD into computer
2. Search on Google for drive cloning software (you can get free trials)
3. Clone drive
4. Switch HDD's around in case
5. Boot up - your done