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How-To Geek Forums / Windows XP

Portable Hard Drive

(17 posts)
  • Started 5 months ago by boman
  • Latest reply from Xhi
  • Topic Viewed 421 times

boman
Posts: 31

I have been using XP for many yrs. now and it is beginning to slow down, of course. Just wondering, if I buy a portable hard drive I would like to transfer files, pictures, etc. to the portable hard drive. I guess it should speed the old PC up but am wondering about drivers, etc. Can I transfer the whole system (if that's at all possible) to the portable HD. Thanks in advance for any info provided.

BoB

Posted 5 months ago #
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Lighthouse
Lighthouse
Posts: 13598

Best thing would be to transfer all of your personal stuff to an external drive, and then re-install XP. Then copy it back.

Posted 5 months ago #
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tech27
tech27
Posts: 387

I just wan to insert this one, @lighthouse, what external HDD can you recommend that is good and durable? with usb 3.0 with a good price also like 500GB or 1TB capacity.

Posted 5 months ago #
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Lighthouse
Lighthouse
Posts: 13598

tech27 new topic please.

Posted 5 months ago #
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whs
whs
Posts: 17584

@boman, your PC will not get any faster by dumping some user files on an external harddrive. Do what Lighthouse suggested. That will triple the speed of your system - I have just done that for a friend and the result was amazing.

Once you are done with the new installation and all the XP updates and programs are installed, I recommend you take an image of the system to your new external disk. Then you need not go thru the whole installation process again when the time comes to clean-up.

If you need guidance regarding imaging, post back. We'll help.

Posted 5 months ago #
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boman
Posts: 31

@whs, thank you for your help in this matter. Pls bear in mind that I am an old wanna-be geek in this technological universe and would be venturing out alone on this project, not really familiar with even the basics of transferring files to an external hard drive or worse, taking an image of the system. I do admit, however, that I fear nothing in an attempt to learn. If that helps, I sure would appreciate any guidance you would be kind enough to offer

Posted 5 months ago #
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Lighthouse
Lighthouse
Posts: 13598

How much data do you need to save, and what size of external drive are you thinking of ?

Posted 5 months ago #
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boman
Posts: 31

I have a Dell Desktop PC, 750 HD with very little free space. I share the PC with my wife who has Facebook and Yahoo Messenger installed...yikes! Photos are not a problem (use Picasa for online storage)Docs are not over the top, normal I guess. Not many spreadsheets or graphics to make matters worse.
I saw a Western Digital 1 TB for $89...is that overkill for what I just described?
Thanks a lot for your quick response

Posted 5 months ago #
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Lighthouse
Lighthouse
Posts: 13598

Nowhere near overkill. If you can afford a WD Elements at 2TB, I would recommend it.

Posted 5 months ago #
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boman
Posts: 31

I can do that. Do I need a cable for transfer or does that come with the Drive?
Do I transfer the entire system to the Drive?

Sorry to be a pain!

Posted 5 months ago #
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Lighthouse
Lighthouse
Posts: 13598

Not a pain at all :) Cable comes with drive. For total security I propose 2 ways of doing it. That way you should be totally safe.

Posted 5 months ago #
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boman
Posts: 31

Cable hooks up to PC and Drive, data is transferred to drive, everything?

Once transferred your personal data is now on the Drive...how do you get XP back on PC?

Posted 5 months ago #
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Lighthouse
Lighthouse
Posts: 13598

We will tell you how to do it all. First you need the external drive.

Posted 5 months ago #
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Lighthouse
Lighthouse
Posts: 13598

Here is some reading matter in the meantime,
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto.....p-utility/
http://www.howtogeek.com/forum.....replies=44

Posted 5 months ago #
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boman
Posts: 31

i will certainly buy the 2 TB and when I have it I will post...and I thank you for your time and assistance!

Bob (the old wanna-be Geek!)

Posted 5 months ago #
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Lighthouse
Lighthouse
Posts: 13598

No probs at all Bob. Take it easy :)

Posted 5 months ago #
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Xhi
Xhi
Posts: 6298

I hope y'all mentioned that he will need to re-install any and all programs other than the Operating system and know what the keys are. I recommend he take a Belarc Advisor list which will tell him what programs are installed and what the keys are if any. Then he can check the list to see if he has the appropriate disks for the re-install of the programs he requires. Saving and restoring the data is not much good if you do not have the programs that use it.

Posted 5 months ago #
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