upgrading hard drive.

Going to upgrade my IBM T23 laptop with a larger HDD. Is it possible to load the recovery partition onto the new HDD and reinstal the OS (XP PRO) and drivers? I will also be getting the HDD ultrabay 2000 caddy. Or do I need to purchase software that will let me reload the original configuration onto the new HDD?

i don't believe the computer cares about what size the drive is, as long as all the other hardware is the same.

a laptop/computer does have a limit...



i would go with a 40GB or 60GB....



but i dont thiunk u can do what u wanna do...

i think all he means is, that he wants to upgrade his hdd and wondered if the recovery disc would work if he did that. i don't see any reason why that would not work.

The computer didnt come with a recovery disk. It came with a hidden partition on the hard drive that contains the recovery data. I need to copy the info on the hidden partition so I can load it onto the new hard drive. The computer has the option of installing an additional hard drive thru the ultrabay device. I was wondering if I could access te hidden partition (maybe thru partition magic), copy it onto the new hard drive, then swap the drives and load the system onto the new drive. I could then reformat the existing drive for additional storage. IBM sells hard drives for their laptops up to at least 100GB so they should be able to handle the bigger drive (not sure if I'll get an 80 or 100 GB drive). Does that sound possible or will I have topurchase another copy of windows to replace the hard drive?

Why would a laptop have limitations of hard drive space? Is it a power issue or something to do with the processor or hardware used in laptops?

what version of xp do you have? do you have the product key? can you borrow someone's disc and just use your key?

Widows XP Pro- The CD key is located o a sticker attached to the bottom of the computer. The IBM particular drivers are located i the hidde partitio. I ca get them seperately from support, but it would be much easier if I could access ad load the system from the hidde partition.

it really don't sound easier if you have to take all the extra steps to preserve the drivers rather than going to ibm's site and getting them.

Some older laptops(desktops as well) have harddrive size limitations. Basically the BIOS can't reconize it. That laptop isn't too old so you should be alright with most any drive...



As for getting the partition, I've never tried this with some restore partition, but I'd imagine you could use something like Norton Ghost and copy the partition from the old drive, the write it to the new one. Though you'll need a host computer to copy it to(remove the laptop's drive and get a converter for your desktop), or get some external enclosure and write it to the external drive.