Previous Post regarding changing HD's Using WD software

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general (More info?)

Hi all:

Just finished completing the exchange from my old HD running XP Home to a
new larger (120GB) WD HD. After a great discussion previously and a lot of
great suggestions from others (especially Anna), I would like to make a few
comments of the exact procedure of how all this worked with a WD tech on the
phone with me.

1. First bootup into your existing XP program from the old HD.
2. Insert the WD software CD "Western Digital Data Lifeguard Tools--Version
11.1) in your CD drive (it is a self booting CD).
3. Choose the first (top) option "Run Data Lifeguard Installation Software"
4. Next Screen: "Are you sure you want to remove Data Lifeguard Tools from
this computer" ?---Choose O.K.
5. Next: Click on "Finish"
6. Next screen (previous original screen): Choose the 1st (top) option again.
7. Nextn the Installation Wizard, choose NEXT
8. Make sure there is a check mark in the little box that says ""Run
DataLifeguard Tools Now".
9. Click on Finish then click on O.K.
10. Choose the 2nd option from the top "Set Up your Hard Drive". On the next
screen, click on the "Primary SLAVE" drive Icon (Assume this is your new
drive you want to transfer OP sys and files to) and make sure you place a
check mard in the little box that says you want to make a new bootable HD.
11. Click on next and the whole transfer takes place---Done deal !!!

Please note that when I first started, and before I initially booted the
computer, I changed the pins on my old HD to Primary drive with a slave, and
after installing my new HD, I pinned my new HD as Secondary drive as slave.
After all transfer had been completed, I removed the old HD from the computer
and re-pinned the new HD as single primary drive with no other slave drives.
Rebooted and everything went great.

ALSO, please nOTE that when I rebooted I had to go through Microsoft's
Activation again, which only took a few minutes (Did it by Phone as I was not
connected to the internet yet). I asked the Microsoft Rep if this would
always be necessary when using this procedure to transfer an XP system to a
new HD. He said YES.

Also, Please not that you CANNOT run this transfer proceedure in Windows by
just installing the WD software to your old drive and trying to run the
proceedure after that, in windows. It will transfer all your OP sys and files
but you will not be able to get passed the welcome screen in XP, as it will
make the new drive the next letter that your last drive has. If your last
drive is say "D", it will make the new drive "E" and when done properly it
has to name the drive a "C" to be bootable after the transfer. (On my first
try, I did just that and when it didn't work, That's why I called and was
helped with then WD tech. Hey, How did I know. Their software actually tells
you to do this----DUMB me !!

I truely hope by posting all this information that it will help others that
wish to use Western Digital transfer software to do what I did. It really
works great when done properly !!! Thanks again to all the others that gave
me some good advice on my initial post.

Cheers
Redwagon....