probably very silly question about installing windows on new hard drive

[my_computer]

Hi, i will be receiving a new hard drive tomorrow and want to use it as the primary drive. i'll be leaving my other drive in but wont be using it until my new one is maxed out. i want to put windows on the new drive but i dont have a windows disk. can i just move the entire contents of my current hard drive onto the new one and expect it to work... i'm guessing then changing the bios to boot off it. sorry if this is amazingly stupid but i need help

 

[rpstewart]

Yes but you'll need to use the likes of Acronis True Image to copy the contents of the old disk onto the new one. A simple drag and drop in explorer won't copy all the files.

 

[my_computer]

oh ok thats good then, any ideas of a thing like acronis that doesn't cost lots of money?

 

[--Mike--]

Acronis doesn't cost a lot in the first place. I picked it up for under £30 and is well worth it.

 

[my_computer]

i'm thinking of using this software

http://www.miray.de/download/sat.hdclone.html (HD clone)

and this guide

http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleid=418&page=1

does this sound like a good idea..

hard drive is two days late
boo

 

[Dano]

Most hard drive makers have available for free download software which will transfer the entire drive image across to a new drive, no need whatsoever to pay a thing unless your new drive is some very obscure make.

 

[my_computer]

its the Samsung SpinPoint F1 500GB SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM (HD502IJ)

 

[Dano]

its the Samsung SpinPoint F1 500GB SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM (HD502IJ)

Edit: Nope, samsung appear not to supply a program for doing it. What is the make of your old drive?

 

[my_computer]

i googled its name in its properties (ST3160023AS) i'm thinking maybe seagate. i can't be bothered to look inside the case at the moment

 

[Dano]

Google says it is seagate.

http://www.seagate.com/ww/v/index.j...toid=d9fd4a3cdde5c010VgnVCM100000dd04090aRCRD

Should do the trick.