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Possible Duplicate:
How do I easily copy or clone a Windows boot partition onto a new hard drive?

Currently I have Windows 7 installed on C: of 20GB capacity. I install software mostly on another drive. But when I run some heavy software like 3d max or Photoshop, I face low disk space problem since only 2GB space is free in C:.

I am planning to buy a new hard disk of large capacity and want to move the OS from C: to a new partition of another hard disk.

I heard that Acronis Migrate Easy can do it in better way. But I am doubtful in the following points:

  1. Would moving an OS from one drive be safer – or should I install a new copy of the OS?
  2. My previous programs are installed on D:. So will references to previously installed software persist, after shifting/migration?
  3. Is there any other easier and safer way for moving an OS to a drive which is different in size?
Community
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Amit Kumar Gupta
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1 Answers1

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I think I understand now. You're not changing letters, you just have

  • a "System disk" [C] and
  • a "Programs disk" [D]

Insert the new drive in the system, test it good, make sure that it works.

Clone the original disk to the new disk as a 1:1 copy, leave the programs disk D, like it was. Use something like Acronis True Image, and the "Clone Disk" function. If you have a WD drive you can get a WD version for free, it will do this fine.

Set the BIOS to boot to the new drive, test it thoroughly.

Alternatives:

Keep the disk you have, and the fine arrangement of having programs off of the system drive. Move more aspects of the system and programs to the programs drive. Move the scratch disk, move the paging, move the temp nets, move the backups, remove any hibernation (if not used).

slhck
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Psycogeek
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