master/slave HD copying and imaging question

[vbportal]

Hi,
This is a question about XP Home (but I think it is so general it doesn"t matter).

I have 2 HDs I use on a particular PC. Both HDs have similar partitioning:
C: WinXP Home, D&E&F&G hold data/backups etc.

HD1 is an old installation (I would like to reformat this HD as its been through many installations/de-installations).
HD2 has newly installed WinXP Home on C and other partitions are empty - I now want to copy all data from HD1->HD2 and then reformat HD1.

(a)I can do the copying via network i.e. copy from HD1 to another PC and then back to the PC with HD1 removed and HD2 installed (rather slow/extra work).

OR

(b)Have HD1 as master,install HD2 as slave and do a copy HD1-> HD2(I have removable HD trays in the PC).

What I'm concerned about regarding solution (b) :
(1)Does installation of HD2 as slave include any changes in registry/OS of XP Home on either HD1 or HD2 which will have some negative effect when either HD1 or HD2 are again used separately on the PC (I'm not sure what XP Home on HD1 does when I install the 2nd HD). I ask the question since I want each of HD1 and HD2 to be able to work separatelly in this PC later on without any negative repercussions from the copying task.

(2)Later when data is copied and I can use either of the HDs in the PC , I will make an image of partitcular partitions as needed. Are there any special precautions I need to take to make the partitons independant of each other so that each partition can be imaged and restored as needed ?
At the moment I do the following - not sure if I need to do anything more :
-keep OS + programs on C: (not sure if I need to also eg make sure virtual memory files are not on other partitions
-deinstall virus scanner so that no "virus vault" files
are across all partitions

BR,Vjeko

 

[bcastner]

See the discussion here: thread779-691281

 

[GWINTO]

This is simple, simply adjust the jumper on hard disk HD2 to slave connect it to the IDE ribbon and boot the PC, your master with the first OS on will see the drive and assign new letters. There is nothing to worry about.

The more you know, the more you realise there is to know....
CCNA MCP

 

[wolluf]

If you are keeping HD2 and zapping HD1, I would boot from HD2 with HD1 as slave to do the copying (though you should have no prblems doing tit the other way).

When resetting up HD1, do it in machine on its own.

As for taking images for backup - as you have 5 drives per disk, presume only the system drive is primary - the others are logical drives in an extended partition. I'm not sure, but think you may have to take image of the whole extended partition to be able to restore it properly (I never use extended partitions any more - so am not sure). You should be able to check this in documentation/faq for the tool you are using. (btw - do you really need 5 drives on each disk? You could have 4 primary partitions - these are independent - could save/restore images of each no problem).