How to Add a Backup Hard Drive

[Paul Tholfsen]

This is really a WinXP (Home) question, but I'm hoping the procedures are
similar.

My relatively new Dll desktop comes with a 60G C: dive. It has begun making
some noises recently which have me thinking I ought to add a backup hard
drive to retain the entire C: drive, registry, etc.. Dell sells an
identical drive, which I can install and hook it up to power, but beyond
that I have some questions. If there's a link to a web site which answers
them I'd appreciate it.

1. Do commercial HD's (Western Digital WDC699BB for example) come
pre-formatted? In the old days, (pre-Windows 95) one would run a Ds program
to do a low-level format, then run FDisk to create partitions. What's the
procedure today?

2. Once the new disk is installed, formatted, partitioned and given a new
drive ID, say M:, how is the backing up handled? That is, would I require
some special software to make a mirror image, as in a server? Or can I do
it by something equivalent to the old DOS DiskCopy program?

--
Paul Tholfsen
Bellingham, WA


Please Delete XYZ



--
Paul Tholfsen
Bellingham, WA


Please Delete XYZ

[JCW]

GO with a Maxtor, tried and true, cable it as a primary slave , use the
software that comes, or use XP Disk management. I have done it several times
flawlessly. And strange clicking noises coming from your existing can bear
bad tidings and even failure. install a second hard drive as soon as
possible and BACK UP BACK UP BACK UP. Save headaches and loss of important
data and programs etc. Feel free to email directly for my input for what it
maybe worth...
Sincerely JCW
"Paul Tholfsen" > wrote in message
...
> This is really a WinXP (Home) question, but I'm hoping the procedures are
> similar.
>
> My relatively new Dll desktop comes with a 60G C: dive. It has begun
making
> some noises recently which have me thinking I ought to add a backup hard
> drive to retain the entire C: drive, registry, etc.. Dell sells an
> identical drive, which I can install and hook it up to power, but beyond
> that I have some questions. If there's a link to a web site which answers
> them I'd appreciate it.
>
> 1. Do commercial HD's (Western Digital WDC699BB for example) come
> pre-formatted? In the old days, (pre-Windows 95) one would run a Ds
program
> to do a low-level format, then run FDisk to create partitions. What's the
> procedure today?
>
> 2. Once the new disk is installed, formatted, partitioned and given a new
> drive ID, say M:, how is the backing up handled? That is, would I require
> some special software to make a mirror image, as in a server? Or can I do
> it by something equivalent to the old DOS DiskCopy program?
>
> --
> Paul Tholfsen
> Bellingham, WA
>
>
> Please Delete XYZ
>
>
>
> --
> Paul Tholfsen
> Bellingham, WA
>
>
> Please Delete XYZ
>
>