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Install vista on new hdd via an external hdd

  • 15-01-2011 02:55AM
    #1
    Follow the Plan
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 83 ✭✭


    I bought a new hdd for my laptop(old one knackered i think) but I am unable to boot from cd drive( to install vista on my new hdd) with my vista cd (i think cd/dvd drive is also knackered).

    So wat i wanted to do was transfer vista to the new hdd via an external hdd i have by taking out the drive out of it and placing my new hdd in and installing vista on my new hdd. My external hdd is the same as my new hdd, Sata 2.5''. Is it possible or am I wasting time.

    Be gentle if this makes no sense.


Comments

  • #2
    Fysh
    Moderators, Arts Moderators, Regional Abroad Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 11,207 Mod ✭✭✭✭Fysh


    I suppose you could try. You'd need to get an ISO image of the vista install media, put that onto your external hard drive and then make the external drive bootable. then you'd have to boot from the external hdd and run through the installation process.

    If i had to guess, i'd guess it won't work. it'd be a lot easier to just borrow an external optical drive from somewhere and reinstall that way.


  • #3
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 96,508 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    lookup stuff on how to install Vista from a USB Key as you will need a bootable device to start the install from



    you MUST put the hdd you are installing on inside the laptop, windows don't take kindly to attempts to install on to a portable (USB) defice


    it's more than likely that both drives are SATA so should be able to swap them over


    in the ubuntu world you'd boot up off a live cd
    at the terminal
    sudo apt-get install gddrescue

    and then
    sudo ddrescue /dev/sda /dev/sdb logfile.txt

    and it would attempt to clone the old drive to the new one, and continue if there were errors, (WARNING check out the exact syntax !!!) and if really lucky it would work

    clonezilla might have better menus for doing this


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