Hello,

I'm trying to change my laptop harddrive and I want to install the same program, driver and setting as before. I don't wanna do them by using the set up disks that come with the computer. I tried norton gost but did not work. thank you

The only way to swap drives is to use some sort of ghosting utility. Other-wise you have to install all programs from scratch.

The only way to swap drives is to use some sort of ghosting utility. Other-wise you have to install all programs from scratch.

This is right go to tucows.com and download Norton Ghost Utility
It's the same old song and dance. Later pentium 6 :eek:

goto the mfg of the new hard drive. they should have a image tool for copying files from one to the next.

guys this is a LAPTOP hardrive, the idea is that U can't ussuallu have 2 drives at the same time in a laptop unless one of them is external or u have an extra bay! This makes Running Norton Ghost a Bit Tricky as u can't ghost to te same source partition... In a Desktop all u have to do is attach a second drive to the secondary IDE!

Norton usually does not work if you are trying to ghost the drive you are booting from,
Why is the Norton Not working for you? Is it giving u any errors?

what I would do is get a program called ERD COMMANDER (it's kindda Windows in a CD), with this software u can Boot to a Windows XP which runs from your CD, get your network connection working (in your laptop) and use Norton Ghost to create an image which will copy through the network to another PC (make sure you have another PC sharing a folder with full rights)

Then, replace the HDD and do the same thing but this time run the restore with Norton!

Another way will be to use particion magic to:

create a second partition in your laptop (in you have free space)

Boot to DOS and use a utility called NFTS.exe to be able to access NTFS File system from DOS, and run Norton ghost to IMAGE partition 1 into partition 2,

Then you will have to split this file (so you can get it into DVDs) so you can do a Norton Restore after installinf the NEw HArd drive...


There are many ways, but u don't give enough details of why is not working for you!!!


Now, unless you have a specific software for which u can't get the installation CDs I would recomend reinstalling Windows Again,

The last thing you want to do is start partitioning drives. You really need to plug that laptop drive into a desktop. (10 buck adapter)

Run any good image utility, create an image and save it to your pc. Plug in the new drive and restore the image you just made to the new drive. Remember never to plug or unplug anything with your computers still running.

Lastly, do not destroy the data on the original drive until you are satisfied with your new drive and its functionality.

I'm a PC TECH trust me.

all u need to do is buy the 3.5 to 2.5" drive adapter cables. i have done many hard drive transfers in my desktop using laptop hard drive. also had a laptop hard drive in my desktop for fun for awhile but then wanted the speed back. using 2 of these adapters, you can boot the drive copy utility and do the transfer live.

guys this is a LAPTOP hardrive, the idea is that U can't ussuallu have 2 drives at the same time in a laptop unless one of them is external or u have an extra bay! This makes Running Norton Ghost a Bit Tricky as u can't ghost to te same source partition... In a Desktop all u have to do is attach a second drive to the secondary IDE!

Norton usually does not work if you are trying to ghost the drive you are booting from,
Why is the Norton Not working for you? Is it giving u any errors?

what I would do is get a program called ERD COMMANDER (it's kindda Windows in a CD), with this software u can Boot to a Windows XP which runs from your CD, get your network connection working (in your laptop) and use Norton Ghost to create an image which will copy through the network to another PC (make sure you have another PC sharing a folder with full rights)

Then, replace the HDD and do the same thing but this time run the restore with Norton!

Another way will be to use particion magic to:

create a second partition in your laptop (in you have free space)

Boot to DOS and use a utility called NFTS.exe to be able to access NTFS File system from DOS, and run Norton ghost to IMAGE partition 1 into partition 2,

Then you will have to split this file (so you can get it into DVDs) so you can do a Norton Restore after installinf the NEw HArd drive...


There are many ways, but u don't give enough details of why is not working for you!!!


Now, unless you have a specific software for which u can't get the installation CDs I would recomend reinstalling Windows Again,


I used norton gost to create an image of the harddrive and copy it to an external harddrive then using dos utilities I moved that image to the new drive and then run norton (windows software built with norton). most of the function worked but some didn't like I have soudblaster software that came with the computer.

by the way when I ran norton cd built in windows utilities it did not detect my external harddrive.
anyway thanks very much for the reply.

I think I'm going to do this. it is a good idea.