Moving data from one external hard drive to another (1 Viewer)

[Road Runner]

I have to transfer some data from one hard drive to another is it possible without loading all the data in to the computer and then moving it?

 

[American Dream]

Are these both external hard disks in caddies John?

USB?

If so they will just create 2 new drive letters.

What size 2.5 " or 3.5" and IDE or SATA?

Sorry so many questions.

BTW I use a bit of software called Beyond Compare which is brilliant.Can be used for a short time on trail.We got the registered version.Enabled transfers to carry on from where they left off in case of a problem.

 

[Road Runner]

It would just be an old 40gb maplins jobby to a 340gb maplins one via my laptopoh:

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Wildman]

if both will plug in the laptop you will have two extra drive letters, using windows explorer just drag and drop from one drive to another. good luck may take a while.

 

[pappajohn]

while we're on the subject....is it possible to copy the whole hard drive from a pc to a standalone usb hard drive so the original can be formatted then most files and programmes reinstalled to the original hard drive after being scanned for viruses

 

[GJH]

while we're on the subject....is it possible to copy the whole hard drive from a pc to a standalone usb hard drive so the original can be formatted then most files and programmes reinstalled to the original hard drive after being scanned for viruses

You can certainly copy the contents of the drive. However, in order to register (within Windows rather than with the publishers) the software properly, programs would have to be re-installed rather than just being copied back. OK to copy the data files back after the disk formatting though.

Graham

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[pappajohn]

You can certainly copy the contents of the drive. However, in order to register (within Windows rather than with the publishers) the software properly, programs would have to be re-installed rather than just being copied back. OK to copy the data files back after the disk formatting though.

Graham

cheers graham,
that was the bit i wasnt sure of.
some of the progs discs are now lost/unavailable so they may have to be missed out.
the reason for the reformat is its running so slow due to so many viruses being downloaded over the last few years..(bloody kids, music and vid files all over the place)it can take upto 20/25 mins to boot some times and 5/10 mins to shut down.oh:

i'v tried defrag and disc cleanup so many times but it dont really make any difference.

there are far too many files to check each one as it is but after the format a lot wont be going back anyway.

BTW john, sorry to hijack your thread.:Blush:

 

[GJH]

<snip>
some of the progs discs are now lost/unavailable so they may have to be missed out.
<bigger snip>

In that case, John, I'm guessing that the software is fairly old. If the software is useful to you it might be worth looking on eBay where copies of older software discs are sometimes available reasonably cheaply.

Another source to consider is budget publishers like Focus (which I've bought in shops like PC World and Staples in the past). Some of their titles are older versions of "full price" programs which are also reasonable cheap.

There are also programs available on-line (sometimes free) which can read old files and "translate" them for use by newer software.

Graham

 

[Road Runner]

I have the 40gb downloaded via XP whereas my new puter is vista will it copy over OK?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[American Dream]

while we're on the subject....is it possible to copy the whole hard drive from a pc to a standalone usb hard drive so the original can be formatted then most files and programmes reinstalled to the original hard drive after being scanned for viruses

It is possible and we use Ghost for doing exactly that.

That, apart from using dos, is the only way you're going to get the whole data (including locked system files) on to the other drive.

We normally use it when a customer is replacing the original Hard disk with a much bigger one.

Used with PartitionMagic these are 2 very valuable tools.

 

[American Dream]

I have the 40gb downloaded via XP whereas my new puter is vista will it copy over OK?

Yes,

Both use compatible file formats (FAT32 or NTFS):thumb:

 

[GJH]

It is possible and we use Ghost for doing exactly that.

That, apart from using dos, is the only way you're going to get the whole data (including locked system files) on to the other drive.

We normally use it when a customer is replacing the original Hard disk with a much bigger one.

Used with PartitionMagic these are 2 very valuable tools.

I thought about Ghost, Steve, when I replied to John. However, I didn't mention it because I thought that would just replace the original image when John's requirement was to rid himself of unwanted "litter".

It isn't a program I've used (even though I have a copy which came with an external CD drive) so I'm not sure if I'm correct or not - be interested to read your advice.

Graham

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[American Dream]

I thought about Ghost, Steve, when I replied to John. However, I didn't mention it because I thought that would just replace the original image when John's requirement was to rid himself of unwanted "litter".

It isn't a program I've used (even though I have a copy which came with an external CD drive) so I'm not sure if I'm correct or not - be interested to read your advice.

Graham

We usually get rid of all the Virus' and Spyware/malware first and then Ghost it across to the new drive.

That's if the customer has lost the original installation disks/activation keys.

Depends on the state of the drive data etc.John mentions running slow etc.

You are right though.Corruption and other problems can be copied across.