Reloading Windows and software on a new HD

Is there any reason this has to be done all in one session? Suppose I put in a new hard drive and install Windows, then swap back to the old HD and continuing using the computer. Then later put the new one back in, load just some of my software, and back and forth etc. until it's done. Will this work?

I'd like a larger HD and fresh Windows, but having the computer down for the length of time I know it will take has been stopping me. I'm using a Dell Notebook, so swapping drives is easy but I don't know any way to get two bootable drives.

It seems like this should work, but am I missing something? Any unforeseen traps?

-- Windows 98SE, 4 year old OEM installation, 6 GB HD --

 

In Short....No

Well .......other than it's a pain and your desk remains a virtual mess .....the answer is no ....I do it all the time ....Imho

Jake

One thing ....if you happen to live in a place that is really dry and everytime you touch a faucet or a light switch little lightning bolts fly off your fingers ...then DO be sure to discharge your self before touching things....not being smart but I would be remiss not to mention it ....

 

Thanks, Triger. It sounded like a no-brainer to me, but I'd never heard of anybody doing it so tho't I'd better ask.

The last time I changed a HD was on Win95, and that Bios wouldn't automatically detect a different size HD. I'm assuming that 98SE will take care of it.

 

Let us know...

Hey .....you can do it....I have confidence in ya.....

If on the one in a million chance you do encounter a problem.....don't hesitate to stop back and ask ....or at least let us know how you make out....

Cheer's
Jake

 

98SE has no part in the hard drive detection when the BIOS is concerned, windows doesn't exist in memory yet.
As long as the BIOS is set to Auto Detect the drive, you should be fine doing the swapping.

 

Okay. That should have been obvious if I'd thought about it. "Please make sure brain is in gear before engaging fingers."

Would you expect I'd be able to tell if the BIOS is set to auto-detect? I went into the (PhoenixBIOS) setup, and the only HD entry contains the present size: 6007 MB. There's no way to highlight or change it.

I've been reading Dell's web site, and it *sounds* like HDs up to 32 GB at least will be detected. But I have to read between the lines to get that.

 

When in the Standard CMOS Features, highlight IDE Primary Master and press Enter, you may be able to check for Auto there. The default setting for most systems is Auto.