Copying System Disk to new disk

I formatted my HDD and partitioned it for C:windows (XP pro) drograms, e: data and f:Swap file. Allocated about 15GB to C:; 25GB for programs on D:; 26 GB for data drive e:; and about 7 GB for the swap files,

Has worked fine until recently. Problem has been that some programs won't accept using just d: and end up putting all all part of its file into drive C: which was intended just for Windows. NOw getting critically low on required memory on the idsk to operate the virtural disk. All of this is on a 80GB

I have another 80 GB disk that I would like to install, format to boot and partition it with more space for the operating system on C:.

I may format the disk to have at least 25GB for the operating system, C:,
I can move my data disk e: to my 2nd drive and reallocate to the replacement HDD which is also 80GB.

Question is can I simily install the replacement drive in the slave position, format it for booting and partition it C: 25GB (Operating System), D: (Programs) 25GB, a smaller Data E: (23GB)and keep the swap file space at about 7GB, F: . Then just copy drive C: onto the newly formated and partitiond C: and continue for each of the other virtual drives, Will this work OK. Thought about a program like Partion Magic but don't want to buy it for only one use and besides I have the drive.

Any comments would be appreciated. Jayboy67

 

Well, formatting & partitioning your new drive the way you want is easy enough to do. The problem is going to be cloning your current 15GB 'C' drive to the new 25GB 'C' drive. You can't just simply copy all the files from one to the other through Windows explorer & expect it to work. You'll need a third party back-up & restore utility, such as what you would find on this Major Geeks Back-Up page:

http://www.majorgeeks.com/downloads3.html

Since you're looking for free, I'll link to some of the more promising looking freeware ones:

http://www.majorgeeks.com/DriveImage_XML_d4919.html

http://www.majorgeeks.com/HDClone_Free_Edition_d3809.html

http://www.majorgeeks.com/ImageMaker_d3914.html

http://www.majorgeeks.com/HDCopy_d1288.html

I say it would be easier to simply resize your existing 'C' partition. There are several freeware programs which look like they might do the trick:

http://www.majorgeeks.com/CPM_Cute_Partition_Manager_d5369.html

http://www.majorgeeks.com/Partition_Resizer_d4701.html

I've used Paragon Partition Manager for this with 100% success, but it's not freeware.