Swapping hard drives
I want to replace my current Seagate 60gig internal hard drive with a new WD 120gig Special Edition drive,
What is the best way for me to get everything from my current hard drive to the new one.
I can clone my current internal hard drive to a LaCie external drive, boot from it and then clone it back.
Is this the best way for me to do it? and will I have any problem booting from the external drive?
Your help is appreciated.
What is the best way for me to get everything from my current hard drive to the new one.
I can clone my current internal hard drive to a LaCie external drive, boot from it and then clone it back.
Is this the best way for me to do it? and will I have any problem booting from the external drive?
Your help is appreciated.
Comments
I moved the stock Seagate to the 66mHz bus, and popped a new WD120SE onto the 100mHz bus.
Here's how:
First: you asked a week or so ago for the exact location of the mystery screw holding the back cage in place; I never saw a response on that, so here it is - the screw is directly above the rear drive carrier, attaching the carrier to the side of the case through a metal tab located on the carrier.
the screw is a bit tricky to get out: I use non-magnetised tools when I'm inside a computer, and so could not prevent the screw from dropping out of the hole. The screw is recessed about 2 inches, and there's no room for maneuvers in that small space. You've been warned!
Fortunately, if you have one of those "computer tool kits" (which are mostly filled w/ cheap junk), you may have just the tool you need. That tool is a spring loaded gripper - mine is like a plastic barrel w/ a plunger @ one end, and 3 wires that come out of the other end when the plunger is pressed (you hold it like a syringe).
Once you get the screw loosened, reach in there w/ this little claw-like thingy & grab hold of the screw; then, use the tool to unscrew it the rest of the way & remove it. Set this thing aside w/ the screw still in it, and when you're done, you can use it to get the screw back in its threads easily; then just tighten it up & you're done (careful not to over-torque the screws, of course)!
2 things you'll want (besides the gripper): a good light, and a good angle. A good angle is one where you're squarely facing the side of the case w/ the ring on it (you can do it from an off-angle (I did), but it's awkward); a good light is obvious.
Other tips:
once you've pulled the clip to release the drive carrier (either one), keep it pulled w/ one hand while pulling the carrier to disengage it (UP in the rear (100), TOWARD YOU in the front (66); once you've moved it, you can let go of the clip;
once you've secured the Seagate in the 66 carrier, and attached the cables, make sure you plug in the OTHER END of the IDE cable (mine was simply in the case, clamped down but not connected);
toughest single step for me was re-installing the rear carrier, but I had bad light and a bad angle.
OK: once that was all done, I booted up from the install disk, opened Disk Utility, and verified, erased, and partitioned the 120. For the record, setting up more than 2 partitions resulted in name duplication & mounting problems; went w/ 2 parts instead of the 3 I wanted.
Back in the installer, I did a straight install on the new disk, rebooted, and moved all the stuff from the old $HOME to the new (I do this pretty much directory by directory, so I can see what happens & take notes); then reset some links & aliai, and it's all done.
I haven't removed the old OS installation from the original disk yet: I'm keeping it around just in case I find I've missed something; since disk space is no longer a problem
So, w/ this, and your set-up guide, you ought ot have a much easier time than I did (and mine wasn't so tough).