Copying Windows from one hard drive to another

[Amen Ra]

How can I copy my windows program(XP) from my old hard rive to my new one? I tried to drag and drop from the old C drive to the new G drive but it couldn't finish copying because it was already in use.

 

[manojgj]

you cant copy Operating system by simply copy & paste.. you need special tools to do it,..
get hirens boot cd, and boot it, select hirens boot cd,
then disk cloning tools->norton ghost

see this video for step by step guide
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuPAixxURoQ

http://www.hirensbootcd.net/

 

[liquidsnake718]

ghost is for hidden files?

 

[Onus]

It wasn't fast, but I used Acronis True Image Home to clone a few drives recently, and had no problems afterwards.

 

[huron]

Another vote for imaging software (ghost or Acronis True Image). I've never had a problem using them to do just this type of thing.

 

[Amen Ra]

Best answer selected by Amen Ra.