Clone or?

I purchased a new computer and took the HD out of my old one to use as a slave as an additional drive.

I have a lot - most, actually - of programs on that drive that are not on the new computer drive - new computer is Vista, old one is XP pro.

I am able to use all the programs on the old drive in the new computer this way.

I would like to now set up the old computer again and have a new HD - much larger - I can put in it or put the new drive in new computer and return the old drive to old computer.

First, if possible, I would rather use this new drive as a slave in new computer. Is there a way to put the programs from old drive on either the new computer drive or on the new drive?

Second, if not, is there a way to clone the old drive to the new drive and thereby still be able to use new drive as slave with all the programs off the old drive in the old computer?

If I can clone, what program do you suggest? (Maybe a FREE one?)

Hope this makes sense!

Tks much - jb

 

No one has an answer, huh?

 

Or

http://www.majorgeeks.com/Acronis_True_Image_Home_2009__d2236.html

 

Tks, I really appreciate it.

Now, is there a way to just move programs from one drive to another or to delete the OS from a drive.

The slave I have has Win XP Pro on it with Vista on the new drive. Guess I don't need to take XP off but would be nice to move just the programs to new drive and then I would not need the slave at all - could put it in another computer.

Again, Tks. - jb

 

Navigate through the drive and delete the windows folder,should clear 5 or so gigs,you can then copy and paste the programs over to your vista programs folder,expect some not to work,if not many.

It would be nice,but if you have a fresh install may aswell reinstall your favourite programs ,being sure they a fully vista compatible.

 

Tks, Rikky.

Take care - jb

 

Rikky, do I understand it correctly that if I clone a drive, the cloned drive can only be used as a C drive in the computer that the original drive was in - in other words, I can't clone a drive and then put the clone in a new computer?

Is there a way to do that?

Tks, jb

 

Your asking if you can put an image of windows onto a drive that would then work like normal on other computers?

No,you have to reinstall windows,unless the computers from the cloned windows are exactly the same as in an office or school.

EDIT but you can put this drive in a new computer as a secondary drive which will then show up as D or E depending on the number of drives.

 

That's what I understood.

I can, however, clone a drive and then use it as a standalone drive in the same computer, correct?

Tks Rikky - I appreciate it. - jb

 

Yes NP

 

Tks - jb