Newbie backup question

pugmug...I went into the bios ( I think...new adventure for me ) to test but got confused so I backed out. If you wouldn't mind I could use some instruction or point me to where I can find what I need to know. Thanks again.

 

I would need to know what make and model computer you use or if custom built what mobo you use seadog.

 

Dell Dimension 4550 Pentium 4. Windows XP pro SP2.
Hope this helps. Thanks again

 

That is a D845PEBT2 Intel mobo made custome for Dell.Hold while I find your BIOS info.

 

seadog,this will get you started. http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim4550/

 

Thanks ....I'm off to the Dell site to do some reading.

 

Here's where I was when I got stuck. Think I know what to do but not sure.

 

I do not own that type computer but start by going into Boot Sequence and make no change,just tell me what it states.

 

Went into boot sequence:
1) diskette drive

2)hard disk drive C:

3)ide cd-rom device

All 3 are checked. The 2nd hdd is not shown there. Just above boot sequence there is this:

primary drive 0..........hard drive

primary drive 1..........off

below those 2 are the cd-rom drives.

Question:Ater I installed 2nd hdd was I supposed to enter setup and change
primary drive 1 from off to on ?

 

Seadog, sounds from your original post you added the second HDD yourself. If so, just swap out the cables and reset the jumper if need be. Saves the hassle of going into your BIOS if you're not comfortable with it.

I got two Western Digital 80GB with jumper set to cable select on both and swap out the cables all the time if I want to boot from the other one.

 

Hello Jaws... that was my original game plan but it seems like this old dog just can't resist tying to learn new tricks. I'm just grateful that there are knowledgable people out there willing to share their time and knowledge with technologically challenged types like me. Thanks for the input.

 

As to your most recent question, when booting, the BIOS should detect both of your HDD automatically and you should see it posted momentarily at the beginning of a boot. Turning primary drive 1 from off to on when changing BIOS settings may be a Dell thing, don't know. Can you see your second HDD when in My Computer?

 

Jaws.... I just went into setup & changed primary drive 1 to auto (same as primary drive 0 ). Now it shows the drive make and model number there as it does with primary drive 0 but it still doesn't show in boot sequence. Even before I did this I could see the 2nd hdd in My Computer.

 

OK so go back into your BIOS setup -- highlight Boot Sequence and press enter -- highlight 1) Diskette drive, press enter and in the menu that opens select Hard Disk Drive D: -- (if that's your second HDD) actually they should be reading as HDD-0 and HDD-1.

Save and exit and reboot, that's it. Should be starting from your cloned drive now.

 

Jaws.... the problem is the 2nd hdd (clone) does not show in the boot sequence. It shows anywhere and everywhere else but not there. As per your instructions when I highlight and press enter on 1) diskette drive the boot menu closes. I must have something wrong somewhere.

 

It won't show up until you add it to the boot sequence.

After you get into the boot sequence and highlight 1) diskette drive, you may have to use the Page Up - Page Down keys to change the drives. Check on the bottom of the screen where it will tell you which keys may need to be used.

Or maybe the screen you're in is just telling you the boot sequence and there may be another screen to actually do the changing.

EDIT*** Just looked at the documentation, use the -- space, + , - to change, sorry.

 

Jaws... I have tried what you said in your last post. I can + or - all day but the 2nd hdd isn't in the boot sequence. If there is another screen to do the changing I hope someone
can point me to it because I don't have a clue. I seems strange that the PC recognizes the 2nd hdd but it isn't in boot sequence.

 

When you + and - on the first boot device does it cycle through the floppy, HDD and CD drives so that they can be chosen as first boot device?

 

Yes...but the only hdd that shows is the master.

 

Hmm... looks like you've done all the right things as far as getting it recognized by turning on auto for that drive. Sorry man, don't know Dell. Wish I could help.

Anyway, keep us posted on the program Casper, likes and dislike. Sounds interesting.

 

Jaws.....thanks for all the effort. There must be something I've missed along the way. Tomorrow I'm going to go back to square 1 & reinstall, double check every step but for now my poor brain is fried. I'll post back when I solve it. As far as Casper goes it couldn't be easier to use. Hopefully I'll get the other issue solved so I can test the recovery procedure.

pugmug....thanks again to you also. I refuse to give up.
I feel much more comfortable going into setup now.

 

I use Cobian (free and open source) for selective file backups.

For Drive Imageing, I use DriveImage XML (Freeware from Runtime Software) and it has proved do be easy and completely reliable. It allows complete restoration of a drive from the image and individual files and folders can also be retrieved.

The only downside is that if you need to restore your C: drive, a bootable CD such as BartPE is needed. Any other drives such as a second partition, a second hard drive (internal or external) can be restored right from the program while it is running in Windows.

The BartPE disk is not hard to build from their instructions and actually, I found it to be a very interesting process. It does not take very long and is a good learning experience. In addition, it is an excellent tool for all data retrieval as well as restoration.

A plugin for BartPE is downloadable from Runtime Software.

 

seadog,start over by checking that both old and new h/d's jumpers are set to cable select with the old h/d connected to the end of the ide ribbon cable and the new h/d connected to the middle of the ribbon cable,see link.http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim4550/replace.htm#1154906 This link may help with you setting jumpers to cable select, http://www.helpwithpcs.com/upgrading/install-hard-drive.htm Do not use master and slave settings in your Dell.

 

After checking your jumpers and ribbon cable connections reboot and then go to xp disk management.Format and partition the new h/d.See link, http://www.theeldergeek.com/disk_management.htm Reboot.Now use Casper to copy old to new h/d.

 

Then we will get back to your Bios as you should show hdd 0 as the old primary h/d and hdd 1 as the new secondary h/d.We will go from there after all steps up to this are completed by you. Hang in there as it is not as hard as it may seem to you.