Copying Windows9x to Another Hard Drive
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If you are upgrading to a larger hard drive and don't want to go through the process of re-installing Windows9x, it is very easy to copy your existing version to your new drive |
The first steps are to: |
| 1. | Install your new hard drive as a secondary |
| 2. |
Boot to Windows9x |
| 3. |
Using FDISK, partition your new hard drive. Make sure it is the active
partition if it not the only partition on the drive or if it it not the
full size of the partition. |
| 4. | Format the new hard drive with the /S parameter. This will make it bootable. |
With either of the following solutions,
boot Windows to Safe Mode.
This is so only a minimal amount of programs will be loaded.
|
Method 1 - Using XCOPY |
|
1. |
From within Windows, open a DOS Window . This will allow you to copy the necessary Hidden files. You cannot use the XCOPY by just booting to DOS
due to the long filenames You have to have Win9x running for all the switches to be available. |
|
2. | Assuming you are copying everything from the C: drive to a new D: drive:
run XCOPY C:\ D:\ /S /E /H /C /K /R |
The /S switch includes subdirectories The /E switch includes empty subdirectories The /H switch includes hidden files The /C switch continues copying on an error The /K switch keeps the file's current attributes The /R switch writes over any read-only files |
Method 2 - Using the Explorer |
| 1. | Open the Explorer |
| 2. | Make sure you can view hidden files - View / Options / Show all files |
| 3. | Move to the root of your C: Drive |
| 4. | Highlight the first directory in the right hand panel |
| 5. | Press Shift-End to select all files and subdirectories |
| 6. | Unselect the file WIN386.SWP |
| 7. | While over one of the highlighted files or directories, right click on the mouse and select Copy |
| 8. | Move to the root of your new hard drive |
| 9. | Right click the mouse and select Paste |
| When you are done with either method, remove your original hard drive, set your new hard drive to be a Master, and re-start the computer. |
Method 3 - Using Imaging Software
|
| 1. | In the past
several years, there are some good programs available that will let you
image your current hard drive to a new one |
| 2. | Basically
they let you create bootable floppies or CD's, you boot with them
(rather than DOS or Windows) and directly copy your old hard drive to a
new one. |