[R44MS_K]

My new SATA hard drive should be here by monday!!

it will replace my primary (C drive and i want to put the current C drive into my sisters room

1) whats the best way (best prog?) to image my current partition and copy it to my new SATA hard drive?

2) also my mobo is SATA ready but my PSU does not have the SATA ready connectors for the HDD...

i hope i can get some sort of converter?

 

[ct.p]

SATA's should use the same power plug as an IDE HDD, so no probs there.

Is your MOBO able to run ONE SATA only, be careful as if it's old (mobo) chances are you'll only be able to run it (sata) as a slave and not be able to boot from it (sata) in which case you'll end up keeping your current IDE.

As for imaging what's on your current HDD, I asume your talking about the operating system here ? I wouldn't bother and would do a fresh install of the OS to the SATA and then temporarily plug the IDE drive back in to transfer your data files.

Best advise though is make sure you've downloaded ALL the latest drivers for the SATA and have them on a floppy so that you can install them when windows (XP) asks you to hit F6 to install any 3rd party drivers.

Also, if your going this far.... get another SATA the same and run them in a striped raid config, it'll fly !

Good luck.

 

[s8utt]

If your hdd doesn't have the normal power connections ( some have sata and normal power inputs ) you can get a converter, I got on included with my mobo.

Here is a convertor for ?2.50

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=6866486631&action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X3Jldmlld3M=&product_uid=57666

You should be able to boot from the sata drive, just change your boot order to boot the scsi drive first

Norton Ghost is my prefered software, it'll clone the drive exactly and never had any problems with it.

 

[Mister_E]

Use norton ghost to duplicate the drive

 

[NikB]

I would also suggest doing a fresh install as you'll not take full advantage of the SATA's higher speed without a new install. Out of interest which SATA drive have you gone for?

 

[R44MS_K]

thanks for the replys!

a fresh install of XP it is then!!

I went for the Maxtor diamondmax 9 160gb

 

[NikB]

Not a bad drive. However if you want the best performance then get a raptor drive. This is a 10,000rpm sata drive which is great for a boot disc.

 

[EN4CER]

Use Powerquests Drive Image 7 to image amd thransfer the drive. Get a covert for the HD. Try ebuyer

 

[ct.p]

R44....

Wise choice, I do a fresh OS install about every 6 months which clears all the junk you pick up and by doing that in itself will make your system faster. Saying that it's getting a bit painful these days with the massive SP2 and all the other poo that XP wants, especially if your XP install disk is an 'old' one like mine with zilcho updates on it.

Your motherboard is older ?

If so, really DO check to see it supports a single SATA as a bootable drive before you start.

Mine is about 18-20 months old now and it won't. It'll run one sata as a slave but can't boot from a single sata, you have to use a RAID setup which means a minimum of 2 drives.

Again, don't forget to have your sata drivers ready on floppy when F6 calls ...

Good luck

P.S. Anyone done a re-install and then put their anti-virus back on and found out that they've blagged another years subscription ? ... I have, not blagged, no lies told, purchase date as was but it still happened. Saying that it's Norton which really doesn't give you much faith to the ability of it if you can blag an extra 12 months update subscription..

 

[R44MS_K]

so basically i cant boot from a SATA hdd?

damn!

i dont think the copy of XP that came with my PC was able to boot from cd !

i have a MSI 845PE MAX mobo - defo supports SATA but not sure if it supports SATA bootable!!

the HDD should be here 2day so i will check if it takes the standard power!!

thanks for the help again!! (i am excited a little bit now!!)

 

[ct.p]

No no no,

You might be able to boot from one sata, depends on how your MB supports sata's. I understand that later MB's allow you to do it with 'one', sure someone can elaborate...

 

[Milkfloat]

I boot from SATA, and had no problems getting it recognised by XP, the motherboard also had no problems and that is 2 years ago. Maxtor have some great utils on their site, which really help. I suggest you try them. Reinstalling the OS is a real PITA so I used Norton Ghost to copy the entire partition from my old IDE drive(I also use this to create a backup on a weekly basis of my OS partition).

 

[mh]

if you need a power converter let me know i'll send you one for free.

 

[R44MS_K]

got it earlier

takes standard connectors

thanks MH for the offer

no time to migrate 2night

will go 4 it 2morow eve after work!

 

[R44MS_K]

just noticed it takes the normal power connector and a serial ata type power connector

do i need to connect both or either?

 

[NikB]

I've had them using either or, doesn't seem to make any difference.

 

[Milkfloat]

Quote: posted by R44MS_K on 19/04/2005 00:53:02

just noticed it takes the normal power connector and a serial ata type power connector

do i need to connect both or either?

DANGER DANGER! Don't connect both, you can fry the drive. Pick whichever one you like.

 

[R44MS_K]

phew

thanks!!