Transfer files from IDE to SATA (130 posts)

Bill McCallum Posted 3 years, 6 months ago Joined: 12 years, 5 months ago

My old computer with XP was getting on in years (PC years = dog years?.) So I recently bought a new "Upgrade box" (complete, less operating system and peripherals).

I bought a retail copy of Vista Home Premium and installed it successfully. I wanted to copy data from my old 120GB IDE drive to the new PC (3 partitions) and used Partition Magic to minimize the data partition size in preparation, to allow me to "Drive Copy" the partition and install to the new PC's (partitioned) drive. Somehow I stuffed up, and I'm now stuck with non booting XP pc, which, using utilities on Hiren's Boot CD, gives a "partition improperly mounted" message.

My new PC's motherboard supports 2 IDE channels, (one IDE burner is connected to this) I would like to know how/if the old IDE drive can be temporarly mounted in the new?

I have also considered getting a USB/IDE enclosure, which I could also use later as a backup drive, but I would value any constructive comments. As I am unsure of how best to overcome my problem (data transfer) I look forward to your input!

Bill

Chris Burrage Posted 3 years, 5 months ago Joined: 12 years, 5 months ago

Re: Transfer files from IDE to SATA

OK. As you have now spotted, partition magic is a dangerous tool in inexperienced hands. It is also very old, and should not be used on a Vista system. I don't really understand why you would want to partition the new drive, and if you did, why you didn't do it at Vista setup time using the facilities available on the Vista disk.

I suggest you start again, either simply installing Vista on the new disk as is, or select the advanced option and split the disk. Once that is sorted, plug the old disk into the spare IDE plug on the ribbon (if there isn't a second plug, just use the cable from the old machine or lose the burner temporarily). Copy the required data into a folder on the new disk (you don't need a separate partition), and away you go. If you have damaged the file structure on the old disk though, you may need to use a tool such as GetDataBack to recover. Hopefully not. If you want to plug the drive into a USB port the very best tool for this is an IDE/SATA to USB cable. Incredibly useful and cheap. Grab one on Ebay. Exanple here - http://cgi.ebay.com.au/USB-2-0-to-IDE-SATA-CABLE-ADAPTER-FOR-HARD-DRIVE-HDD_W0QQitemZ230310511028QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Components?hash=item230310511028&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

Chris B

p.s. As with all MS operating systems, you may install/activate Vista as many times as you wish provided the hardware doesn't change.

Steve Hagivassilis Posted 3 years, 5 months ago Joined: 12 years, 5 months ago

Re: Transfer files from IDE to SATA

If you want, you can buy an IDE/SATA adapter for around $20 (I bought one the other day). You at least get to have a spare drive as well as transfer your files easily.

Bill McCallum Posted 3 years, 5 months ago Joined: 12 years, 5 months ago

Re: Transfer files from IDE to SATA

Thanks Chris!

I did actually Partition the new drive at Vista nstallation. It was the old drive I used Partition Magic on. Vista was fine.

However, after posting here, I got a bit impatient, read all the info I could take in via "Google", and did exactly as you have suggested.

Vista chewed on the info for a while, then ran diagnostics, and finally announced it had installed drivers for the "guest" drive. I was able to copy the required information successfully.

I reinstalled the drive back in the old PC, and it booted into XP! Some of the program link were affected, but reinstalling the programs fixed that! Again, thanks for your help, and I appreciate your additional advice re "old" software.

Bill

Ben Posted 3 years, 5 months ago Joined: 12 years, 5 months ago

Re: Transfer files from IDE to SATA

This may be a bit off-topic, but I have to address the statement made by Chris Burrage. The fact that Chris has been a fixture on these boards for many years makes it even more puzzling.

When he said "I don't really understand why you would want to partition the new drive" you could have knocked me over with the proverbial feather.

Anyone who has used a computer for anywhere north of 6 months has run into that sickening feeling in the pit of your stomach when you boot up and get the dreaded BSOD or worse, can't even get your computer to boot at all. Then, after hours of trying to fix things, you finally give up and realize that you have to do a reinstall of the OS. What are you faced with if you DON'T have your HDD partitioned? You will LOSE EVERYTHING on your box. Your Tax records, Music files, pictures of your kids/grandkids, the list goes on and on and on.

Now take the same scenerio if you have all of your data files safely sitting on partition D or E or F: You're still faced with the daunting task of reinstalling the OS, BUT all of your goodies are safe and sound and you don't have to set aside another week OR TWO trying to re-assembling those lost files.

Now if you throw in using Norton's Ghost, you'd be in fat city. OS takes a dump? No 1-2 days of reinstalling and tweaking to your liking, just do a restore from your latest Ghost image and be up and running in 4-6 MINUTES. Spend a bit of time surfing around at http://radified.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl? and see how Ghost can make your life MUCH easier.

Also, I'm a big fan of a poster here named "Big Al" and his take on Ghost will show you what a great tool it is. See http://www.helpscreen.com.au/forum.php?msgid=824119700&cid=15&enotifypost=1 for his comments and links to his detailed use of Ghost.

Just my 2 cents.

Bug_zs

Chris Burrage Posted 3 years, 5 months ago Joined: 12 years, 5 months ago

Re: Transfer files from IDE to SATA

Dear Ben/Bug_zs

You are correct regarding the merits of separating data from programs, I have long advocated just that. I have however not partitioned a drive for quite a while, preferring to use separate drives for such purposes. Given that a terabyte drive is under $300, and a 250 for the OS is $100 or so, there is no point in putting all the eggs in the one basket, but I didn't fill in the detail in this instance. If you can get a new PC to boot to a ghost disk, you are doing well. Try Acronis, much better. Of course the photos etc should never be left to the vagaries of any PC. Backup often. Personally I use MS Home Server for this purpose. It backs up everything daily and can rebuild a PC on a new HDD in minutes, can't beat absolute redundancy.

Chris B

ALAN ROSCOE Posted 3 years, 5 months ago Joined: 12 years, 5 months ago

Re: Transfer files from IDE to SATA

Chris Partition Magic won't even install on Vista !

Bill McCallum Posted 3 years, 5 months ago Joined: 12 years, 5 months ago

Re: Transfer files from IDE to SATA

Hi Guys, Thanks for your responses.

There is always something for me to learn from them. Re the partitions, they have saved my bacon previously. I had occasion to use "Langa Letter: XP's No-Reformat, Nondestructive, Total Rebuild" using options in the Windows XP CD. I have had varied success using either Ghost, or Nero Backup, so I just backup my photos etc. to CD/DVD these days.

Cheers, Bill

Chris Burrage Posted 3 years, 5 months ago Joined: 12 years, 5 months ago

Re: Transfer files from IDE to SATA

Dear Al,

You don't install Partition Magic on the machine you are partitioning, you run it off a utility CD or floppy. Don't though, you will rarely need it.

Chris B

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Transfer files from IDE to SATA (130 posts)

Transfer files from IDE to SATA (130 posts)

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