manzfrank

Recently my primary hard disk died and my computer has been sitting inoperable. Is it possible to take my second hard disk and make it the primary and still keep all the data (music, games, movies, etc). I am guessing I would have to partition it somehow to place the OS (Windows XP) on it but how do i do this, and is it possible without deleting all the data.

And i know it would be easier to just buy a new hard disk but financially I am unable.

HigHTecHReDNecK

Totally possible to partition the drive and load an OS onto the empty partition , just need to make sure to wgen you load the OS you put it on the empty partition.

You'll need a working pc to do the partition , and you'll also want to make sure that once partitioned, your pc is going to boot from the partition you load an OS on to.

__________________

manzfrank

Quote: Originally Posted by HigHTecHReDNecK Totally possible to partition the drive and load an OS onto the empty partition , just need to make sure to wgen you load the OS you put it on the empty partition. You'll need a working pc to do the partition , and you'll also want to make sure that once partitioned, your pc is going to boot from the partition you load an OS on to.

But this disk is not partitioned already. So if I boot up the PC that has all this data on it, will if find an empty block on the disk to partition and leave all the other data alone.

Example:

Before partition:

========DATA=======

After partition:

===OS==DATA===

How big should I make the XP partiton so that the operating system runs smoothly?

HigHTecHReDNecK

I dont know or havent used any partition software that can run from disk , so from my experience , you need a working pc then you just hook up the disk that you need partitioned to it as a slave and make your partition. Reinstall the disk in your pc and install the OS on the new empty partition.

example - 200 gb disk with OS and data , install disk on different PC,make a 20gb partition , re-install in your pc, boot using OS disk, install OS on 20gb partition, set PC to boot from 20gb partition .

I try never to install an OS on anything smaller than 10gb

__________________

Spectrum

You can do that with PartitionMagic. You'll resize the current partition, with all the media files, etc, and then create another partition. You can set the new partition to be whatever letter, primary, etc and then go on from there.

__________________

FeRaL

Try one of these...
(in no specific order...)

Hard disk drive management software, partitioning manager and partition recovery utility

Norton PartitionMagic: Partition Software - Partition Hard Drive

You can probably find them for cheap on amazon or ebay.

__________________

boardboyd

Quote: Originally Posted by manzfrank Recently my primary hard disk died and my computer has been sitting inoperable. Is it possible to take my second hard disk and make it the primary and still keep all the data (music, games, movies, etc). I am guessing I would have to partition it somehow to place the OS (Windows XP) on it but how do i do this, and is it possible without deleting all the data. And i know it would be easier to just buy a new hard disk but financially I am unable.

You can use a linux live cd and use gparted. But I think Partition Magic might be an easier option.

__________________

musclecars&computers

Ultimate boot disc has a good amount of partitioning tools that can be run off the disc.

__________________

Sk8forMaple

Wouldn't you want to defrag a drive before resizing partitions?

__________________

Slaymate

For less than $50 you can just get a new drive and not worry about losing your data. While everyone of the programs suggested will work perfectly most of the time, if something happens your screwed. And they all screw up every now and then. So the question is. How much is that data worth to you?

Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, Digital Cameras and more!

Though if you use HTRN's suggestion you should be fine.

__________________

manzfrank

Thanks everyone for the suggestions, I will try something out as soon as a get a free moment, which is hard to come by these days.

I also look forward to jumping in on some posts and getting to know everyone on this forum better.

edit:: I actually just bought a Seagate barracuda 80Gb drive for relatively cheap off newegg. I'll just format that guy and keep my old working drive as is. I feel like a kid on Christmas, I can't wait to install the new hard disk.

Slaymate

Your welcome manzfrank. When you get it working let us know. And stick around, browses around, we have a lot of good info around here. I can't wait to read your 1000th post :-)

__________________