Hardware How to move data from one hard drive to another

[ThatGamingAirman]

I Recently made a Vhd with 2tb and I'm trying to move all data from the main hard drive to that one Plz be civil and don't turn this thread to shit

 

[ThoD]

If you mean literally everything (including the Windows folder), then you need to connect the drive to a second computer so it doesn't boot from it, then simply copy and paste the files from one to the other. If you want to leave the system files and just transfer everything else, you have to do it folder by folder.

A little edit: Alternatively, if you have a USB drive you can boot from (one with Windows or an OS installed on it), boot using that so the permission ban to move around the system files from your main drive is lifted, then copy paste the contents of C to the new drive.

 

[ThatGamingAirman]

my hard drive originally has a total of 21.3Gb of usable memory and I want everything moved to My Virtual Hard drive

 

[ThoD]

Edited my post to be more accurate. It should work fine with the virtual drive, you just need to make sure that you aren't using the main drive and then you simply move the files.

 

[ThatGamingAirman]

what do mean by main drive are you saying i cant move everything from the main drive to the virtual

 

[ThoD]

what do mean by main drive are you saying i cant move everything from the main drive to the virtual

You can't move the system files, permissions won't allow it if they are in use, so unless you boot from somewhere else, you can't move the Windows folder (or copy most files from it).

 

[ThatGamingAirman]

how do you boot from some where else

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sorry if i seem dumb i'm 13

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Hello

 

[AxlSt00pid]

how do you boot from some where else

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sorry if i seem dumb i'm 13

Don't worry, nobody knows everything
You'll need either a Windows/Linux install CD or make yourself a bootable USB drive with and any program that creates bootable USBs (like Rufus) and an iso image of any Linux distribution or Live program like RescaTux or MedicatDVD.
Then you'll need to enter into your BIOS settings and change the boot order so it tries to boot from your CD or USB before the HDD

 

[ThatGamingAirman]

will i need my product key b/c i forgot mine

 

[AxlSt00pid]

will i need my product key b/c i forgot mine

No you won't need your product key if you copy the entire contents of the HDD

 

[ThatGamingAirman]

k

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how to i find my iso

 

[AxlSt00pid]

k

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how to i find my iso

Download any Linux distribution, for example Ubuntu

 

[ThatGamingAirman]

will i still access the hard drive

 

[AxlSt00pid]

will i still access the hard drive

Yes, just make a bootable USB drive with the Ubuntu iso and Rufus
Then go to your BIOS settings and change the boot order to be able to boot from the USB drive.
Then once you're on the Ubuntu "installer" just select the "Lemme Try" option and not the "Install Ubuntu" option, and you'll be able to browse and copy the entire internal HDD to the other HDD without issues.
I'm busy rn, I won't able to reply further, if you have any issues I hope any other user can help you