how do i do a hard disk swap for back-up?

[Peter Thompson]

Hi Peter, I’ve just done something similar to what your looking at doing, I used a maxtor 300gb hd and i used the software on maxtors site (www.maxtor.com), it will do all the copying of data from one h/d to another for you and even set it up as a new boot drive so all you have to do then is power down the pc swap drives over (inc any jumpers if you used them master/slave or cs select etc ) and switch on again, the program is called maxblast 4, the windows version is by far the easier to get on with

Hope this may help!

Big-Pete

[Peter Normington]

Cheers Pete.

I will check it out

Peter

[David Rowland]

hi peter….

if running windows XP legit or hookey, the Activation key uses the main harddrive as part of the number… so, changing the main harddrive is a difficult process as Windows may not allow you to do it and may require activation and speaking to Microsoft when they want to know why your computer primary things are different… however this maynot be the case.

Copying your entire setup from one drive to another requires special program, I use Acronis tools for this purpose..

My suggestion is this:-

Put your new harddrive in the computer on the same connection lead as the existing harddrive. (3 or 4 harddrives can be fitted to a computer)
Test this for about 24hours… give it a format and scan disk to make sure its healthy as they can arrive damaged.
Backup your data onto DVD and any other means, your data maybe more important then your computer.
Then transfer your data to the new drive and hope it all works okay.

So you end up with c:\ and d:\
If you use “My Documents” you can redirect My Documents by pressing “right mouse” on the icon and change its location to “d:\My Documents” for example.

My best advise is to scrap the plan and get a computer with RAID Mirror harddrives (two harddrives working together)…Dell sells systems like this or a local pro PC Shop (not PC World) could help. If you drive fails then your data is safe until you replace the failed drive.

We have about 10-12 harddrives, they work near enough 24hours… i have had 7 harddrive failures in 4 years… need i say more! Mainly Maxtor as they are cheap drives

[Peter Normington]

Thanks dave,
Hd is not failing, just getting full, its a compaq work station, and Im not sure, but I dont think a second hd can be fitted, (size limitations) thats why I asked.
I will have a look inside tomorrow, if there is no room for another drive I think I will by another comp and just transfer the data. then.

Peter

[David Rowland]

is it little desktop thing like this?

The one in the picture doesnt have room… if there is a spare drive bay where a CDROM would fit then it is fine.

But I am going go one step further and suggest just getting one of these
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=16559036269&action=c2hvd3N1YmNhdGVnb3J5X3BhZ2U=&subcat_uid=128 and plug it in when you need it and dont use it all the time.

Your bios may be limited to Drive size also… so take advise.

Free up your main drive and away you go.

[Nicola McIntosh]

quote Dave Rowland:

i have had 7 harddrive failures in 4 years… need i say more! Mainly Maxtor as they are cheap drives

sound advice there peter from dave 😀

yep me too used maxtor …….lost four in recent months 😮

what u using now? 😀

nik

[David Rowland]

i also lost 2 seagates but I think a few of these drives didn’t have decent airflow around them, so they got too hot. If you got a vinyl-wrap heat measurement tool and your drive is in the 50degrees then it can fail.

I am using Western Digital but our last lot are Raid Editions of drives which are more designed for 24hour operation and has additional checksum stuff… trying not to get too geeky here

My advice make your staff reduntant tomorrow and close down or make a backup now.. saves time in the long run as you spend more money when your large clients ask where their complicated logo designs have gone and sue you.

If your network sharing, then these might be worth looking at
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=16559072261&action=c2hvd3N1YmNhdGVnb3J5X3BhZ2U=&subcat_uid=247

but I would look for one with 2 harddrives in RAID Mirror

like this:-

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=16559265238&action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=92325

Also, if you end up on the Digital Printer route you may need hi-speed/hi-spec new computer… so consider that too.

[Peter Normington]

Dave it this

I have my data backed up on a separate network drive, I just want to increase the storage on this comp, so perhaps a usb hard drive?

Do they work as good as an in situ drive?

Peter

[Peter Normington]

Dave, Just looked at the link you posted I already have a buffalo, not as big as that one though, but thats where I back up my two comps to.

Peter

[David Rowland]

Picture of inside

Just opens up… the floppydrive could be chucked and a longer IDE Harddrive cable could be used to get two drives, hmm not sure if i want to reconmend that.

Well if you do want to chance it, then get a large harddrive and install it with a fresh copy of XP and install Signlab etc… stick the old drive on the CD Rom cable for a small period and copy your data across (or use your external drive)… you may or maynot have to talk to microsoft, the XP license maybe Bios protected instead of parts protected… so the answer is maybe okay to try and you could explain to Microsoft that your swapping harddrives in the same computer or activation may not trigger.

Also, 300GB is about the limit (a 400GB might not work without bios updates (if available))…. I would be more confortable buying a 7200rpm 80GB or 160GB Western Digital or Seagate ATA-100 IDE drive, this possible more compatible.

Take the old drive around the mother-in-laws and hide it there, then if you have a fire then you are backed up a little bit and could get going buy buying a £100 Compaq Evo off ebay and back in business.

[Peter Normington]

Thanks again Dave,
But just to clarify,
I should not try and copy my existing data and system to a new drive.
Even though the dats is backed up independantly?

so is the best answer to buy a new comp, plug it into ther router, transfer the data, from the old comp and reinstall any progs i want to use?

is this the hassle free route?

Peter

[David Rowland]

the usual story is .. do you backup thoroughly?
Favourites/Outlook inbox/My Docuemtns/Fonts/Signlab files/invoice software/etc.
You got a P4, I suspect that is fast enough and MAY work with the newest harddrive types… i would have to google model numbers etc.

My advice regarding new computers (which u dont need)… is get one inline with future “printing” plans as you will need to house a RIP somewhere which requires a fair bit of speed and good communcaition to the printer.

Im going now… cya later

[Peter Thompson]

If Your Going to Mirror Hard drives I’d recommend using the netgear sc101 We have 2 of these and they are great,You can pick up an SC101 on the likes of ebuyer and eBay for around £50 to £60 the sc101 holds upto 2 hd’s of any sizes and make (which have to be bought separately) and these drives can be used by any PC on the network it just plugs into the router, Its a lot better than the buffalo type which cannot be upgraded easily…
I had to phone Microsoft when i changed hard drives recently, its no hassle, i explained that i swapped drives over and they reset it and gave me the activation code for xp pro straight away!
Info on the SC101:-
http://www.netgear.com/products/details/SC101.php

I’ve never had any problems with maxtor drives in the 15 or so years that I’ve been building my own pc’s, The maxtors We use have a 16mb buffer which speed access times up..! seagates are another story though, We’ve lost a few of these in the past, although seagates replacement process is quite good!

Big-Pete

[David Rowland]

Maxtor warantys are caarp.. although I found one of the drives on a 3 year but the rest were on 1 year, will never buy another maxtor again and they are always the cheapest on ebuyer.

In my early PC building years I struggled with Seagates but now its maxtor… oh well… cooling is ever so important today.

I saw the SC101, think its great that a lot of NAS stuff is around now. Bought lots of Netgear stuff over the years, really like it accept there VoIP box was a bit dodgy, but general always found Netgear a good solid build. Had a few failures but mainly down to age of power cubes.

The SC101 does remind you of a toaster though.