So I have a 37gig WD Raptor as my main drive and I only have 2 gigs left on it. I want to install another larger drive but I don't want to have to reinstall windows. My current windows install is fast, stable and I just have a lot of stuff on it. So I'm looking for the best and safest way to create an image of my drive to dump it on another.

any ideas??

You can use Ghost or anything like that if you have it, just don't forget the partition table afterwards .

Hmm... You could just stick the drive in, format it and run XCOPY from one drive to another...
XCOPY C:\*.* D:\ /h /e /k /r

/h : Copies files with hidden and system file attributes. By default, xcopy does not copy hidden or system files.
/e : Copies all subdirectories, even if they are empty. Use /e with the /s and /t command-line options.
/k : Copies files and retains the read-only attribute on destination files if present on the source files. By default, xcopy removes the read-only attribute.
/r : Copies read-only files.
/x : Copies file audit settings and system access control list (SACL) information (implies /o). (Use with an NTFS drive)
/v : Verifies each file as it is written to the destination file to make sure that the destination files are identical to the source files. (Optional)

Or do the same with a bootable linux CD and the cp command (slower but again no filesystem changes need to be made)...

If you don't mind resizing the partition afterwards, you can make a bit-to-bit duplicate of the drive with MBR and all just by typing (form a linux boot cd):
dd if=/dev/hda of=/dev/hdb
That'll copy the mbr, partition table, etc. Then you just run partitionmagic or whatever and resize the partition to have all the extra free space. By far the fastest method.

You can also do this remotely if the big drive is in another system.
Source runs: dd if=/dev/hda | nc <ip address> <port>
Destionation runs: nc -l -p <port> | dd of=/dev/hda

The infile (the file that's read) is transferred over the network and written bit-by-bit to the other drive.

most new drives come with software to do this, it has always worked for me, and I just did what you are talking about last month, worked like a charm.

Ghost is always useful too.

I hate command line, but that works also

Posted by kc most new drives come with software to do this

Gah! I can't believe I forgot that

If you buy your drives retail (I never have) then you usually get a CD with such utilities on it (You'll likely still need to edit the partitioning though).

Hey thanks Beryl, again! :p

Yeah the drive isn't retail, It's a 74gb 10K Raptor. I bought the OEM one cause it's way cheaper but all I get is an anti-static bag and screws. Future-Shop doesn't sell those... ;)

It's formatting as I'm typing this so I'll give it a shot this afternoon. I'm guessing I have to boot in dos for xcopy to work?

Posted by Professor Chaos I'm guessing I have to boot in dos for xcopy to work?

I'm actually not sure, to tell you the truth. I haven't used the XCOPY method in many years.

I think "Safe Mode Command Prompt" in XP would be fine, but I am not sure, otherwise I'd recommend downloading BartPE and taking the 10 minutes to make yourself a bootable XP disc that you could boot into and xcopy with. It'll come in useful later one anyways .

(Had to do a bit of thinking about what boot discs support NTFS and the like...)

Not exactly sure what to do with the PEbuilder?

Posted by Professor Chaos Not exactly sure what to do with the PEbuilder?

It'll make a CD that'll boot a complete Windows XP environment for you, full NTFS support, ability to run XCOPY, etc.


# Download the latest self-installing package of PE Builder and install it. See the Download section on this page.

# Start PE Builder (pebuilder.exe). At the main PE Builder dialog, enter the source path to your original Windows XP/2003 Installation/Setup CD. You can use the "..." button to navigate. If your Windows XP is not integrated with service pack 1 or 2, you must slipstream your files first.
Please read Slipstreaming files from the help files to do this.

# At the main PE Builder dialog, enable the "Create ISO image" and "Burn to CD" option. Select your CD writer device from the Device listbox.
If you use a CDRW media, also check the "Erase CDRW" option.

# At the main PE Builder dialog, hit the "build" button (or press F7). PE Builder will now ask you to create a directory, answer with "yes".
http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/

I was able to create an ISO from my SP2 install cd but is the ISO bootable? My computer refuses to boot from the CD and yes it's my first boot device.

Posted by Professor Chaos I was able to create an ISO from my SP2 install cd but is the ISO bootable? My computer refuses to boot from the CD and yes it's my first boot device.

Yes, the BartPE discs are bootable, are you sure the burning worked?