I am Using Vista Ultimate 64. I would like to tranfer my entire drive incuding all files and the Operating system From my current IDE HDD to a new SATA Drive of the sames size (500 Gig) I need the IDE Drive for an older computer ( The 40 Gig IBM Deathstar still functions great, but all programs seem more bloated these Days)

Anyway I went to Administrative Tools and Formated the New Drive NFTS with no Drive Letter. But I cannot get it recognized as a transfer device when I go to system backup. Can I use 'C' on the second and soon to be only drive? If I have to use E or F for now can I change it back later. would that affect the file system?

I intend to Low level Format the IDE and try cloning the old machine's XP Drive (32 bit) to it in the second place.

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Operating Systems: Six Win XP Home, One XP 64, Two Vista HP 64, and one of Vista 64 Ultimate, One Suse 10.3 64 bit and One Suse 10.3 32 Bit.

Hi Pandaz3, don't worry you can change the drive letter pretty much to what you want (within reason).
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I would like to tranfer my entire drive incuding all files and the Operating system From my current IDE HDD to a new SATA Drive of the sames size
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You won't be able to transfer your os over I'm afraid. You'll need to install it as you would normally do..

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AMD X2 6400+ 3.2GHz BLACK EDITION::SCYTHE SAMURAI COOLER::GA-M51 M/B::3GB DDR2 6400RAM::GEFORCE 8800GTS320/625/900MHz DRIVER '174.74' BETA::160 RAID 0 SATA2::SOUND BLASTER AUDIGY/'DANIELS' DRIVERS::LITE-ON DVD RW/PIONEER DVD::HIPER 530W MODULAR::THERMALTAKE ARMOUR Jr CASE::RAZER COPPERHEAD MOUSE::VISTA HOME PREMIUM SP1

In another Forum they suggested that I first shrink My IDE Drive and then make a second partition for a "Backup" Then transfer the backup to the new drive. A little more Complicated than that, but you get the gist of it. For some reason I cannot shrink it enough.

Other suggestions were to use Norton's "Ghost" or Acronis "Easy Migrate" or "True Image" I might have a copy of "Ghost" I'd have to buy "True Image"

No hurry, I''l get it sorted. Thanks for your help

And I could just re-install, nut then there are all the updates, not just for Vista, but Office 2007, MS Flight Sim X and add-on's. COD4, the list goes on.

Just lazy mostly.

Thanks Again.

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Operating Systems: Six Win XP Home, One XP 64, Two Vista HP 64, and one of Vista 64 Ultimate, One Suse 10.3 64 bit and One Suse 10.3 32 Bit.