Help please with upgrading toshiba laptop

Aliktren

beat me to it, I was just googling disk image software will this mess up windows activation though ?? - I'm guessing even if it does you ought to be able to talk to MS and get reactivation

albertross_2

The only thing that will change will be the disk serial no., and size, which shouldn't be a problem.

Not sure it has a CD writer though, so the op will need somewhere to store and restore from the image, eg, a usb drive..:D

Aliktren

in which case....

http://www.easeus.com/disk-copy/

This might work, and it's free

princesszpuzzles

Aliktren wrote: »

in which case....

http://www.easeus.com/disk-copy/

This might work, and it's free

Hi there
The only thing on this hard drive is windows xp. I bought the laptop with this preinstalled and I have done nothing with it as yet. It also does not have a cd writer just a cd drive and 1 usb slot. This laptop will mainly be used for the internet so a cheap and simple option is preferable. Will the above software then copy all that is on the drive at present? If I get the shop to fit the hard drive (£25 for a 40gb hd) how will this overcome me paying for windows xp to be reinstalled on the new hd?

albertross_2

Is the copy of XP legit, with a COA serial number sticker?

You need access to a CD writer to use that software, it comes as an iso, and somewhere to put the image, so it's not going to be simple, or particularly cheap, and it may also need a ram upgrade if you want xp to run smoothly. A shop could do it for you, but that also adds to the cost.

Dime_Bar

Does your desktop pc have a cd writer? if so you download some imaging software and then creat the image on your hard drive. get a £1 cross over network cable off ebay or if you already have a router a straight through network cable and transfer the image to your desktop.

Burn the image to CD and then install your new harddrive. pop the disk in and boot up and bobs your mothers brother.

princesszpuzzles

Dime_Bar wrote: »

Does your desktop pc have a cd writer? if so you download some imaging software and then creat the image on your hard drive. get a £1 cross over network cable off ebay or if you already have a router a straight through network cable and transfer the image to your desktop.

Burn the image to CD and then install your new harddrive. pop the disk in and boot up and bobs your mothers brother.

Yes, my desktop pc does have a cd writer. Can I please break it down into simpler terms just so that I am clear on what you mean. Download imaging software onto my laptop and clone the hard drive. Using the network cable transfer this onto my desktop. Using my desktop burn a cd with the image on it and when my new hard drive is installed, I then copy the contents of the cd onto my laptop? I am not very technical when it comes to computers but I have some knowledge so your input is very much appreciated. Thank you.:o