How to add an HDD with data on it to a new OS?

[ilzot]

My current computers hard drive is on its last leg. We took it to a computer repair place and they said that it doesn't look like its going to last much longer. My intention is to buy a new HDD, and give it to them to backup all of the data. I then can drop this into my new rig and be able to access my old data.

My question is when I get a new computer, when I have to format this drive, will I have to wipe it in order to use it, or will I be able to format it in a way that recognizes it as a drive, but still maintains all the data that was on it?

Thanks!

 

[USAFRet]

Depends on your definition of 'data'.

Regular data, no problem
Programs and application? No, they will not work correctly.
If it also has the OS, almost certainly not.

 

[ilzot]

Depends on your definition of 'data'.

Regular data, no problem
Programs and application? No, they will not work correctly.
If it also has the OS, almost certainly not.

The old drive had general stuff (pictures, videos, music) and then the entire OS as well as app data and the like.

 

[USAFRet]

My intention is to buy a new HDD, and give it to them to backup all of the data. I then can drop this into my new rig and be able to access my old data.

Pic/video/music/etc should be accessible.
The OS and applications will not work.

 

[ilzot]

My intention is to buy a new HDD, and give it to them to backup all of the data. I then can drop this into my new rig and be able to access my old data.

Pic/video/music/etc should be accessible.
The OS and applications will not work.

Is there any special way to format the drive, or would it be just like normal where you partition the entire drive and thats it?

 

[mbarnes86]

Hi

you have to distinguish between a hard drive or a partition on a hard drive
and also a partition with Windows on it

If the partition does not have windows on it then there should not be much of a problem in accessing files such as video or pictures
If you have installed games on a non Windows drive you are unlikely to be able to play the games as some files are on the Windows partition

Unless you have setup file access permisions any one will be able to access the files

However on the Windows drive in
c:\Users\username1\My Documents , c:\Users\username2\My Documents
there will be user restrictions on access (assuming NT file system)

Why format the hard drive (and its partitions) other than to remove all the files more quickly than deleting them all?

A hard drive can be divided up into upto 4 partitions each getting a drive letter (MBR partition limits)
(recent operating systems support GPT partitioning where the limit of 4 is removed, this is usually used if hard drive exceeds 2 TB)

If the old hard drive is the only one in the system then it includes the c: windows partition
hopefully the repair shop knows what they are doing

[Others got there before me]

regards
Mike Barnes