Hello,
I have a desktop pc running Windows XP pro. It has one hard drive, 20gb which is running out of space. The HDD is a pata IDE, set as master.
Can I install (set as a slave) a second, 60gb HDD (same type), from an older computer, which still has 45gb of free space on it? I would like to use this space and also would like to access the files on it. It too ran on wxp pro. Can I do this without resetting partions and Bios settings? As I boot from the master anyway, I would remove the redundant OS from the larger disk after install. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks much.
Yes you can is the short answer.
However If I were you I would be tempted to invest in somthing a little larger
Then CLONE your first drive to your second one (second one being clean) and then just set the new one as master or if you are using the CS (cable select) jumpers on your hard drive swap the connections over.
The advantage would be increased speed that should prove notcicable.
Even if you do it with your 60 GB I would do somthing similar by transfering what you need from it to the old one then wipe it and then clone the old one to the new one.
For clone software there are quite a few FREE packages around but I tend to use clonezilla or those available on the "hirens" boot cd or the UBC available here
http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/download.html
Bob
Testimonial: "Thanks Bob, I will pick up a new HDD and consolidate all I need to keep. I will then make the 60gb clean and available."
Yes, your plan is feasible.
However, any 20GB disk-drive has a warranty that expired *YEARS* ago. So, that disk could "crash" at any time.
So, consider buying a brand-new PATA disk-drive, which comes with a 3-year warranty, temporarily disconnecting the "old" drive, connecting the "new" drive, installing Windows onto it, and then making your "current" disk-drive into a "slave" disk-drive. Reconnect the "old" drive, and copy all your "data" from the "old" disk to the "new" disk.
Note that if you buy a SEAGATE/MAXTOR disk-drive, their MAXBLAST software can automatically copy "everything" from the "old" disk to the "new" disk, and will expand the partition from 20GB to the maximum size of the new disk. Very slick!
Then, disconnect the "old" drive, and boot from the "new" drive.
Testimonial: "Thanks much, Sounds like a good plan. I keep forgetting I can buy a 250gb or 500gb HDD for a small amount of money these days. "
Can't see any reason why not.
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