New HD - Transfer without reinstallation?

[bfar]

Hi folks,

this is probably a silly question so I apologize in advance, but in 10+ years of fooling around with PC gear I've never had to do this.

I've just bought a new faster/bigger Western digital HD. I've recently reinstalled xp on my old disk, along with all my games and apps. These days it takes forever, what with all the new service packs, dotnets, media players, 10 restarts etc.

Is there any way I can just clone my install to the new HD, then switch the cables and continue as normal?

Can it be done without buying more software like Norton Ghost?

Thanks,
B

 

[bfar]

It can be done but its probably best to re-install the operating system then drivers then updates then transfer all the files over.

As then you will have a shiney new os to play with.

Yup, but I just did that last week don't want to go through all that again
So how do you do it?

 

[bfar]

It doesn't take that long anyway. IMO its what I would be doing.

Thanks, but I really don't need to if i can just clone the disk.