[charmerci]

So I'm on a budget.

I'm going to replace my HD on my Dell Vostro. I'm also going to buy an external HD as a backup - to store my music, of course!

So can I buy the external HD load everything onto that, OS included, then replace the HD with the new one and load everything back onto the new one?

[jqp]

I'm a little confused about which is the 'new one' and are there 2 'new ones'...

Loading an OS usually requires reference to ther hardware that is part of the system - type of  processor, type of chipsets, type of usb controller,  etc.

It may be possible to pop in a hd that has on OS loaded while in another system, reboot several times while the OS tries to find all the new devices, and pray, but I would not recommend it.

You could clone your laptop hardisk to a new laptop hd, then replace the original with the new one since it is now a clone (it can have more capacity and be faster than the original...)

[Pez]

Why don't you buy a larger internal HD for your computer? They're usually cheaper if not around the same price as an external. Faster too.

[charmerci]

I am replacing my 120GB with a 500GB.

(As per above - the external is for a backup.)

[JRace]

Step 1:
Purchase new internal hard drive, x2 (one for in the laptop, one for backup).
Also purchase a external hard drive enclosure (making sure itis compatable with your hard drives).

Step 2:
put new hard drive in external case, and the clone the existing harddrive onto the new one.

Step 3:
Remove hard drive from external enclosure, and install in laptop.

Setp 4:
Install 2nd new hard drive in the external enclosure and use it as your backup.

Example 500GBhard drive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152168

Example external case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817729011&cm_re=external_case-_-17-729-011-_-Product

[jqp]

I think I see now - you would buy 1 new HD for the laptop, and one new external drive.

Sure you should be able to *clone* your laptop hd to the external...but you would need a running OS to get it back onto the new laptop hd...it could get complicated. There are many options but probably pretty technical - e.g. boot off a CD in your laptop then restore the cloned image to the new laptop HD. I wonder if you could just use the restore CD from Dell on the new HD after copy off all your data to an external.

But if the 120GB is enough room for your backups (and it is now, you can add more later) it can end up in an external enclosure after you have cloned it to the new drive. Then copy data you want to save off of it to the new drive that is now in your laptop, then you can delete the OS and prepare it as a backup drive, maybe just format it and then use is as your backup drive. The more drives the better, because you can then have redundant backups of data, and even keep one at a friends house, etc.

[Pez]

I am replacing my 120GB with a 500GB.

(As per above - the external is for a backup.)

Sorry missed that somehow. 

[charmerci]

Well, I think I've changed my mind - I think I'll dump this piece of crap - well, at least it does work (noisy hd, heats up quickly, loose headphone jack) - and just buy another laptop.

Thanks for all your help - much appreciated. 

charlie

[jqp]

That is often the best thing to do rather than try to upgrade effectively

...and there are some very attractive laptops out there at a good price.

[rob-fi]

Well, I think I've changed my mind - I think I'll dump this piece of crap - well, at least it does work (noisy hd, heats up quickly, loose headphone jack) - and just buy another laptop.

I did the same with my laptop. I just upgraded a few weeks ago, it comes with a 500gb HDD. Now i have lots of space to store music and stuff.