change hard drive

I suspect that the hard drive on one of my PCs is failing (it is getting noisy) and would like to transfer all the data (including OS) to a new drive and then replace the old drive with the new in the PC with the effect that it will run without having to install any thing else.
I have the ability to copy/clone but am not sure which route to take, there are a lot of applications on the old drive that i do not want to lose and i would like to be able to just pull the old drive out and put the new one in,can this be done??
Thanks in advance.
Bill

 

I always use xxClone.
Just remember to use CoolTools to make your target disk bootable.

 

Thanks hrlow but i forgot to mention that i need to copy a Vista 64bit system and XXclone only supports 32bit (or am i mistaken?)
I have Paragon Pro (fully registered version) and i know i can migrate everything with that but i am not sure it is bootable?

 

At least I tried.

 

Hi hrlow.
Just out of curiosity i downloaded XXclone and although it says for windows 98/2000 and XP it runs on both Vista 32bit and 64bit so you made a good call http://bestsmileys.com/clapping/2.gif

Thanks.

 

Glad to hear you are good, even if by "accident".