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Hardware => Hardware => Topic started by: Evans on August 12, 2005, 06:46:29 PM

Title: Switching hard drives and their data
Post by: Evans on August 12, 2005, 06:46:29 PM
Hi. I want to transfer all data from an old 8gig Maxtor HD to a "newer" Western Digital 20gig HD and use that one as the master, the old one as the slave. How do I go on doing that? Do I need a particular software like Maxblast 3? As far as jumpers go, can I use the CS pins? Will the computer be able to use both HD? Thanks in advance.
Title: Re: Switching hard drives and their data
Post by: Raptor on August 12, 2005, 06:52:18 PM
Quote

Hi. I want to transfer all data from an old 8gig Maxtor HD to a "newer" Western Digital 20gig HD and use that one as the master, the old one as the slave.

1. How do I go on doing that?
2. Do I need a particular software like Maxblast 3?
3. As far as jumpers go, can I use the CS pins?
4. Will the computer be able to use both HD? Thanks in advance.


1. You allready seem to know the Master and Slave theory. You are aware that these settings are regulated by the jumpers on the back of the Hard Disk Drives? Instructions should be printed on top.

2. If you connect two Hard Disk Drives to one computer, you can easily transfer files.

3. Yes.

4. If they are connected properly, yes.

The answers to these questions may also depend on what operating system you are planning on installing and wheter you would like to keep using the older Hard Disk Drive's Operating System.
Title: Re: Switching hard drives and their data
Post by: Evans on August 12, 2005, 07:04:48 PM
WOW! Fast and efficient... Thought I just heard my girlfriend! LOL  ;D

The OS is 98SE, which I'll be keeping. (Already on the old HDD)

1)Is there an easy and fast way to transfer everything at once, like a "transfer all" option or key?

2)Do I have to format, partition or do anything else to the new HDD? It as already been used by someone. I also don't know what's on it. Should I check?
Title: Re: Switching hard drives and their data
Post by: Computer_Commando on August 12, 2005, 07:15:09 PM
Quote
Hi. I want to transfer all data from an old 8gig Maxtor HD to a "newer" Western Digital 20gig HD and use that one as the master, the old one as the slave. How do I go on doing that? Do I need a particular software like Maxblast 3? As far as jumpers go, can I use the CS pins? Will the computer be able to use both HD? Thanks in advance.


WD DataLifeguard Tools v10 or v11 looks exactly the same as MaxBlast 4.   WD may require the WD software to perform the copy.

This is all done from bootable floppy.  Make one for DataLifeguard Tools and the other for MaxBlast 4.  When complete, computer will probably boot from Primary Master.  
Title: Re: Switching hard drives and their data
Post by: Raptor on August 12, 2005, 07:37:57 PM
Quote
1)Is there an easy and fast way to transfer everything at once, like a "transfer all" option or key?


Remember, we are speaking Windows here. ;)

Try following Computer_Commando's advice.

Quote
2)Do I have to format, partition or do anything else to the new HDD? It as already been used by someone. I also don't know what's on it. Should I check?


Unless you suspect the person is involved in serious crimes, no.

You can safely reformat which is what you may have to do if there is an operating System installed on it to prevent your current Operating System from clashing.

Repartitioning depends entirely on the needs of the user(s).
Title: Re: Switching hard drives and their data
Post by: Evans on August 12, 2005, 07:42:15 PM
Alrighty then!

One last thing, will the WD and/or Max program do everything required for the HDD to work or will it just transfer the data?

Thanks. :D
Title: Re: Switching hard drives and their data
Post by: Raptor on August 12, 2005, 07:54:20 PM
Quote
Alrighty then!

One last thing, will the WD and/or Max program do everything required for the HDD to work or will it just transfer the data?

Thanks. :D



Transfer the data. The Hard Disk Drive will work the moment you connect it and power on the computer. Automated process more or less.

I am not familiar with WD or Maxblast, though. It may offer more than just file transfer. You should read the manual or consult Computer_Commando.

Ofcourse, reformarting and repartitioning has to be done by the user and so does maintenance such as defragmenting. But I take it  you are familiar with doing so.

Title: Re: Switching hard drives and their data
Post by: Evans on August 12, 2005, 08:06:41 PM
Sure am. I also know of fragmentation, the art of evening out the sectors of a HDD with a ten-pound mace-like object, but that's beside the subject... ;D

Thanks for everything guys(?). Much appreciated. I'll get the rest from the manufacturer's site. Take care.
Title: Re: Switching hard drives and their data
Post by: Raptor on August 12, 2005, 08:12:18 PM
Let us know if you run into additional problems. Always welcome.
Title: Re: Switching hard drives and their data
Post by: Evans on August 15, 2005, 09:04:14 AM
Hello guys. My computer doesn't allow me to place the drives as I want without removing most of the components, i.e. I can't easily access the HDD.

I'd like to know if I can place the drives in any position, regarding the ribbon cable, and use the master/slave jumpers settings instead of the CS? In other words, is the first and second place relevant with the master/slave jumpers?

Plus, when I check the new HDD, set as a slave, with WD Datalifeguard, it's labeled as non bootable. Is this related to it being a slave?

Thanks in advance.
Title: Re: Switching hard drives and their data
Post by: LegoLas on August 16, 2005, 04:01:11 AM
Hello, Evans. You are definitely making your life harder! I know one best way to solve your problem, as I've already had similar problem. I had to add new HDD, instead of old one. So I was recommended to use True Image (http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage), this software creates clone of my old HDD. Then using True Image I make a bootable CD, due to great level compression it takes not much space. After that I took out old HDD and put my new one (it doesn't matter what position, but for sure, you'd better install only one new HDD, as anytime you can add slave one), switch it to master, and insert bootable CD. You'll get the perfect HDD with all data, apps and other stuff. It took me about 20-30 minutes to replace my HDD. I think you could follow up my experience.
Title: Re: Switching hard drives and their data
Post by: Evans on August 16, 2005, 07:59:54 AM
Great advice, but I was only wondering if the position on the ribbon cable is at all important when using master/slave jumpers setting. Thanks.
Title: Re: Switching hard drives and their data
Post by: rs8389 on August 18, 2005, 11:16:31 PM
I'm not 100% sure on this subject, but I believe that the ribbon cables don't matter as long as you set the jumpers on your HDDs to master/slave.  They do matter when you're on cable select.

Good luck! :-)
Title: Re: Switching hard drives and their data
Post by: Raptor on August 19, 2005, 07:29:40 AM
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Great advice, but I was only wondering if the position on the ribbon cable is at all important when using master/slave jumpers setting. Thanks.


The last connector on the IDE/ATA ribbon cable should be Master. The middle connector Slave.

However, you can switch them around.
Title: Re: Switching hard drives and their data
Post by: Evans on August 19, 2005, 12:12:13 PM
Thanks for everything, guys. BTW, that WD Datalifeguard tool works really well, and it does partitions, formatting  and copies file by file or even make an exact copy, a bit like ghost or true image. Very useful.