I just picked up a new HDD and am at a crossroads. I have 3 internal HDDs plus one external HDD:
1x 74GB WD Raptor (Currently primary drive; SATA or ATA; C: drive)
1x 80GB Maxtor (Currently a secondary drive; ATA; E: drive)
1x 320GB Seagate Barracuda (New Drive, un-installed; SATA)
1x 300GB External Maxtor On-Touch II (USB 2.0)
My Goals are:
1. A clean OS and Application Install.
2. Save all my data on the primary HDD (74GB Raptor). I have a ton of files and don’t have the time to weed through and organize them at the moment. I need to be able to access the files this weekend as well as be able to re-incorporate them into newly organized system storage scheme.
3. Create a “ghost” (or similar) of my fresh install to enable easier/quicker system reinstallation.
In the past I have always just installed a new HDD and use a CD to backup files. That really isn’t an option this time due to the mass of files, so I am debating two options.
Option A) Install the 320GB Seagate as an extra drive (“F:”). Copy my primary drive (74GB Raptor) to the Seagate, and then format / re-install on the Raptor. This seems like a “fast” solution, keeps my fast Raptor as my primary drive, and gives me space on the Seagate to sort out my mess of files and space for a “ghost” of my fresh install.
Q: What is the best way to copy all my files over to the Seagate? I need to be able to copy/paste and move files around (hence a “backup” with *.BAK files won’t work, but manually copying often fails due to the OS actually using files).
Option B) Make the Seagate my new primary HDD and move the Raptor as a secondary drive.
Q: Will I run into issues making the Raptor a secondary drive? Any tips/how-tos on this? I have never made a primary drive a secondary drive while there was still content on it.
Right now Option A sounds the easiest and best use of my resources. And copying files from the Raptor (C
to the Seagate should be extremely simple with little stress.
Q: What applications do people suggest for making a backup of my fresh install? I have heard of Ghost but I have never used it.
Thanks for your tips and suggestions!
Ps- Windows XP Pro SP2 as an fyi.
1x 74GB WD Raptor (Currently primary drive; SATA or ATA; C: drive)
1x 80GB Maxtor (Currently a secondary drive; ATA; E: drive)
1x 320GB Seagate Barracuda (New Drive, un-installed; SATA)
1x 300GB External Maxtor On-Touch II (USB 2.0)
My Goals are:
1. A clean OS and Application Install.
2. Save all my data on the primary HDD (74GB Raptor). I have a ton of files and don’t have the time to weed through and organize them at the moment. I need to be able to access the files this weekend as well as be able to re-incorporate them into newly organized system storage scheme.
3. Create a “ghost” (or similar) of my fresh install to enable easier/quicker system reinstallation.
In the past I have always just installed a new HDD and use a CD to backup files. That really isn’t an option this time due to the mass of files, so I am debating two options.
Option A) Install the 320GB Seagate as an extra drive (“F:”). Copy my primary drive (74GB Raptor) to the Seagate, and then format / re-install on the Raptor. This seems like a “fast” solution, keeps my fast Raptor as my primary drive, and gives me space on the Seagate to sort out my mess of files and space for a “ghost” of my fresh install.
Q: What is the best way to copy all my files over to the Seagate? I need to be able to copy/paste and move files around (hence a “backup” with *.BAK files won’t work, but manually copying often fails due to the OS actually using files).
Option B) Make the Seagate my new primary HDD and move the Raptor as a secondary drive.
Q: Will I run into issues making the Raptor a secondary drive? Any tips/how-tos on this? I have never made a primary drive a secondary drive while there was still content on it.
Right now Option A sounds the easiest and best use of my resources. And copying files from the Raptor (C
to the Seagate should be extremely simple with little stress.Q: What applications do people suggest for making a backup of my fresh install? I have heard of Ghost but I have never used it.
Thanks for your tips and suggestions!
Ps- Windows XP Pro SP2 as an fyi.
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