[Vince]

so, I have a drive that's starting to get bad sectors. Can I just buy a new drive, format it, and copy everything over from my current drive to it?

I ask because I really don't want to go through the hassle of re-installing every program I have and re-doing all of my settings. Is there any way like this to just make a mirror of my current computer on another drive, make that the C: and go?

[Zepp88]

A program like Norton Ghost you let you make an image of that drive and copy it to the new one.

Or you could try hooking the new one up alone side the old one and try copying the files over?

[Vince]

I want the settings too, not just the files. Plus it'd be absolutely stellar to keep all the windows settings the same too & not have to re-install a new OS.

[CoachZ]

Originally Posted by Vince

I want the settings too, not just the files. Plus it'd be absolutely stellar to keep all the windows settings the same too & not have to re-install a new OS.

Sounds like you could use DriveImage XML which does what Norton Ghost does but free.

Data Recovery Software - File System Utilities

[Uber Mega]

Interesting question, so you just want it to be exactly like before but on the new (healthy) disk, pretty much a carbon copy without even the settings changing...

...could work, the only problem i see happening is that when formatting a harddrive and installing Windows normally, boot files and other crap are created in deep dark places on the harddrive, so just duplicating your C: drive across might miss important files out.

Ofcourse, giving the time of night, there is a high possibility that i am talking out of my behind.

[Chris]

Acronis TrueImage is, imo, the best cloning software out there bar none.

[Zepp88]

Originally Posted by Uber Mega

Interesting question, so you just want it to be exactly like before but on the new (healthy) disk, pretty much a carbon copy without even the settings changing...

...could work, the only problem i see happening is that when formatting a harddrive and installing Windows normally, boot files and other crap are created in deep dark places on the harddrive, so just duplicating your C: drive across might miss important files out.

Ofcourse, giving the time of night, there is a high possibility that i am talking out of my behind.

Programs like Norton Ghost do this fine. Schools, Government agencies, etc use this method.

[Uber Mega]

Originally Posted by Zepp88

Programs like Norton Ghost do this fine. Schools, Government agencies, etc use this method.

Ah ok, now you mention it, ofcourse, i used this program during my (short) stint as an IT tech at a school, imaging numerous machines with ghost...

...thanks for the clarification dude!

[Vince]

The new maxtor SATA harddrive I bought has a program on the disc that comes with it that the company says will do what I'm wanting, a full system ghost. I'm going to give it a try this week and see if it works. If not, I may opt for Norton Ghost, that sounds like a good alternative. Thanks guys.