Installing a new drive -- Ghosting

[timmy]

I have found this procedure to work when wanting to copy an image of an old hard disk to a new one, including all system and registry files, under Win95 and Win98.

Microsoft has an extensive procedure and there are expensive disk tools available, but I have found that the DOS "xcopy" command will work if the following procedure is used:

(Note: you need a DOS boot disk to do this, so have it ready before you begin!)

1. Set up the new drive as a slave on the same IDE channel as C:

2. Open an MSDOS window and execute "fdisk"

3. Using FDSIK, create a primary DOS partition on the new drive

4. exit fdisk and restart your system

5. Format the new disk, copying the system files with this command: format D:/s

6. After the format of the new disk is complete, enter this DOS command:

xcopy32 C:\*.* /E /F /H /R /K /C

7. This command will take awhile and make an image of your old disk on your new one. Exit Windows and shut down your system

8. Configure your new drive as a master and your old drive as a slave according to the manufacturer's specs. If you are not goingto use the old drive on the same IDE channel, make sure that your new drive is configured appropriately.

9. Restart your computer with the boot disk. Enter FDISK and set the partition on your new disk to active (this lets you boot from it).

10. Exit fidsk and type the command:

sys C:

from the A: prompt

11. now you can restart your system, booting form the new disk. Your files and settings will be intact.

I will not guarantee that this procedure will work in all situations and all conditions, but it has worked for me. For those wanting to install a new C: drive, this process will be helpful

[walter degroot]

the ghost that i have came with my motherboard ( epox) it is 3 years old and doesn't see cd's
it will work with a dos-type boot didk withg a mouse driver ( makes it easier)
it works well and dependably
one has to accept it's oddities
that you should go partition- to partition
when one " end" is a partition
and never look at the destination before you reboot! it looks like a big mess, but straightenes
out after the reboot ( normal)
I don't have a high " trust factor" with xcopy
as I have had it miss an entire directory.

[q9]

I agree that Ghost is a much better, more successful method for copying drives. Worth the money if you need to do this on a regular basis.