E 1405 questions

Got a few questions regarding E1405 and upgrading its hard drive.

I believe my bios supports usb devices? If I'm correct, can I make it
boot from an external usb hard drive? Now, if all this is correct,
what is the best software to image the old drive to an external usb
hard drive and then reboot from the external drive and move the image
back on to the new internal hard drive? I read that if I use Acronis
TrueImage, I would have to make a bootable CD with the image on the
external drive to use when I reboot the E1405. I guess I'm hoping to
eliminate the CD and just boot from the ext. hard drive.

Any ideas or suggestions ?

On Thu, 20 Mar 2008 22:41:19 -0500, RnR <> wrote:

>Got a few questions regarding E1405 and upgrading its hard drive.
>
>I believe my bios supports usb devices? If I'm correct, can I make it
>boot from an external usb hard drive? Now, if all this is correct,
>what is the best software to image the old drive to an external usb
>hard drive and then reboot from the external drive and move the image
>back on to the new internal hard drive? I read that if I use Acronis
>TrueImage, I would have to make a bootable CD with the image on the
>external drive to use when I reboot the E1405. I guess I'm hoping to
>eliminate the CD and just boot from the ext. hard drive.
>
>Any ideas or suggestions ?


Maybe I found my answer....
http://www.infopackets.com/channels/...ve_crashes.htm

Does this make sense?

On Fri, 21 Mar 2008 00:45:05 -0500, RnR <> wrote:

>On Thu, 20 Mar 2008 22:41:19 -0500, RnR <> wrote:
>
>>Got a few questions regarding E1405 and upgrading its hard drive.
>>
>>I believe my bios supports usb devices? If I'm correct, can I make it
>>boot from an external usb hard drive? Now, if all this is correct,
>>what is the best software to image the old drive to an external usb
>>hard drive and then reboot from the external drive and move the image
>>back on to the new internal hard drive? I read that if I use Acronis
>>TrueImage, I would have to make a bootable CD with the image on the
>>external drive to use when I reboot the E1405. I guess I'm hoping to
>>eliminate the CD and just boot from the ext. hard drive.
>>
>>Any ideas or suggestions ?
>
>
>Maybe I found my answer....
>http://www.infopackets.com/channels/...ve_crashes.htm
>
>Does this make sense?


Well looks like Acronis TrueImage (version 10 in my case) worked. I
did a "disk clone" from TI and it did clone my laptop drive (all
partitions) to the usb external hard drive. Tho the drive sizes were
different, TI took care of this (in auto mode for disk cloning). I
then told my laptop in the bios to boot first from a USB device and
proceeded to let it boot from the external drive (tho my old laptop
drive was still connected internally). Of course after it booted up
(a bit sluggish I might add) and after telling me at first "no usb
device or sector was found" (or similar wording) the question arose in
my mind from which drive did the boot up really occur from? So I
went into the disk management and checked all the partitions/drives
and saw that indeed the external drive had the only "active" partition
tho my internal drive had a "system" partition on it. Inotherwords
the active drive is that from which my laptop really booted up from so
case solved. Now when the new drive comes in, I'll pop it in, reboot
from the external drive, perform another disk clone from within TI and
tell TI to clone from the old drive (now the external) to the new
drive (now the internal) and hopefully I'll be able to reboot next
from the new internal drive if all goes well (with fingers crossed).

ps-- I just detailed this method for the benefit of Google and
future references to how to boot from the usb external drive (dell
E1405 laptop and winxp) and the method I chose to clone the old drive
to the new drive (essentially old drive to external drive to new
drive).

On Fri, 21 Mar 2008 07:03:38 -0500, RnR <> wrote:

>On Fri, 21 Mar 2008 00:45:05 -0500, RnR <> wrote:
>
>>On Thu, 20 Mar 2008 22:41:19 -0500, RnR <> wrote:
>>
>>>Got a few questions regarding E1405 and upgrading its hard drive.
>>>
>>>I believe my bios supports usb devices? If I'm correct, can I make it
>>>boot from an external usb hard drive? Now, if all this is correct,
>>>what is the best software to image the old drive to an external usb
>>>hard drive and then reboot from the external drive and move the image
>>>back on to the new internal hard drive? I read that if I use Acronis
>>>TrueImage, I would have to make a bootable CD with the image on the
>>>external drive to use when I reboot the E1405. I guess I'm hoping to
>>>eliminate the CD and just boot from the ext. hard drive.
>>>
>>>Any ideas or suggestions ?
>>
>>
>>Maybe I found my answer....
>>http://www.infopackets.com/channels/...ve_crashes.htm
>>
>>Does this make sense?
>
>
>Well looks like Acronis TrueImage (version 10 in my case) worked. I
>did a "disk clone" from TI and it did clone my laptop drive (all
>partitions) to the usb external hard drive. Tho the drive sizes were
>different, TI took care of this (in auto mode for disk cloning). I
>then told my laptop in the bios to boot first from a USB device and
>proceeded to let it boot from the external drive (tho my old laptop
>drive was still connected internally). Of course after it booted up
>(a bit sluggish I might add) and after telling me at first "no usb
>device or sector was found" (or similar wording) the question arose in
>my mind from which drive did the boot up really occur from? So I
>went into the disk management and checked all the partitions/drives
>and saw that indeed the external drive had the only "active" partition
>tho my internal drive had a "system" partition on it. Inotherwords
>the active drive is that from which my laptop really booted up from so
>case solved. Now when the new drive comes in, I'll pop it in, reboot
>from the external drive, perform another disk clone from within TI and
>tell TI to clone from the old drive (now the external) to the new
>drive (now the internal) and hopefully I'll be able to reboot next
>from the new internal drive if all goes well (with fingers crossed).
>
>ps-- I just detailed this method for the benefit of Google and
>future references to how to boot from the usb external drive (dell
>E1405 laptop and winxp) and the method I chose to clone the old drive
>to the new drive (essentially old drive to external drive to new
>drive).

Thanks for detailing it for the benefit of future searches. I try to
do that too.

In a few cases I had posted details but then forgot about them. Later,
I did a Google search to see if I could find answers, and there just
happened to be a perfect match of someone having the same issue. In
fact, it was amazing how perfectly similar our issues are.

Then I find out that I am actually reading my own post as well as the
resolution of whatever question I had.

On Fri, 21 Mar 2008 11:37:42 -0500, Journey <> wrote:

>On Fri, 21 Mar 2008 07:03:38 -0500, RnR <> wrote:
>
>>On Fri, 21 Mar 2008 00:45:05 -0500, RnR <> wrote:
>>
>>>On Thu, 20 Mar 2008 22:41:19 -0500, RnR <> wrote:
>>>
>>>>Got a few questions regarding E1405 and upgrading its hard drive.
>>>>
>>>>I believe my bios supports usb devices? If I'm correct, can I make it
>>>>boot from an external usb hard drive? Now, if all this is correct,
>>>>what is the best software to image the old drive to an external usb
>>>>hard drive and then reboot from the external drive and move the image
>>>>back on to the new internal hard drive? I read that if I use Acronis
>>>>TrueImage, I would have to make a bootable CD with the image on the
>>>>external drive to use when I reboot the E1405. I guess I'm hoping to
>>>>eliminate the CD and just boot from the ext. hard drive.
>>>>
>>>>Any ideas or suggestions ?
>>>
>>>
>>>Maybe I found my answer....
>>>http://www.infopackets.com/channels/...ve_crashes.htm
>>>
>>>Does this make sense?
>>
>>
>>Well looks like Acronis TrueImage (version 10 in my case) worked. I
>>did a "disk clone" from TI and it did clone my laptop drive (all
>>partitions) to the usb external hard drive. Tho the drive sizes were
>>different, TI took care of this (in auto mode for disk cloning). I
>>then told my laptop in the bios to boot first from a USB device and
>>proceeded to let it boot from the external drive (tho my old laptop
>>drive was still connected internally). Of course after it booted up
>>(a bit sluggish I might add) and after telling me at first "no usb
>>device or sector was found" (or similar wording) the question arose in
>>my mind from which drive did the boot up really occur from? So I
>>went into the disk management and checked all the partitions/drives
>>and saw that indeed the external drive had the only "active" partition
>>tho my internal drive had a "system" partition on it. Inotherwords
>>the active drive is that from which my laptop really booted up from so
>>case solved. Now when the new drive comes in, I'll pop it in, reboot
>>from the external drive, perform another disk clone from within TI and
>>tell TI to clone from the old drive (now the external) to the new
>>drive (now the internal) and hopefully I'll be able to reboot next
>>from the new internal drive if all goes well (with fingers crossed).
>>
>>ps-- I just detailed this method for the benefit of Google and
>>future references to how to boot from the usb external drive (dell
>>E1405 laptop and winxp) and the method I chose to clone the old drive
>>to the new drive (essentially old drive to external drive to new
>>drive).
>
>Thanks for detailing it for the benefit of future searches. I try to
>do that too.
>
>In a few cases I had posted details but then forgot about them. Later,
>I did a Google search to see if I could find answers, and there just
>happened to be a perfect match of someone having the same issue. In
>fact, it was amazing how perfectly similar our issues are.
>
>Then I find out that I am actually reading my own post as well as the
>resolution of whatever question I had.


I'm not 100% correct and will have to edit my original post as to the
details because I found out that when I actually took the old drive
out and put the new one in, the external drive did not load as it did
before even tho it showed the active drive as being on the external
drive the first time. Apparently it must take something off the old
drive inorder to boot up (mbr??) and I will have to find out what
gives so stay tuned for a revision to what I thought was correct. My
guess is now I'll have to use a cd to assist in the bootup of the
external drive but I'm not sure yet. If anyone else wants to
add/revise/expand on my post, please do so as I'm still in learning
mode here. thanks and stay tuned.

On Fri, 21 Mar 2008 12:57:56 -0500, RnR <> wrote:

>On Fri, 21 Mar 2008 11:37:42 -0500, Journey <> wrote:
>
>>On Fri, 21 Mar 2008 07:03:38 -0500, RnR <> wrote:
>>
>>>On Fri, 21 Mar 2008 00:45:05 -0500, RnR <> wrote:
>>>
>>>>On Thu, 20 Mar 2008 22:41:19 -0500, RnR <> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>Got a few questions regarding E1405 and upgrading its hard drive.
>>>>>
>>>>>I believe my bios supports usb devices? If I'm correct, can I make it
>>>>>boot from an external usb hard drive? Now, if all this is correct,
>>>>>what is the best software to image the old drive to an external usb
>>>>>hard drive and then reboot from the external drive and move the image
>>>>>back on to the new internal hard drive? I read that if I use Acronis
>>>>>TrueImage, I would have to make a bootable CD with the image on the
>>>>>external drive to use when I reboot the E1405. I guess I'm hoping to
>>>>>eliminate the CD and just boot from the ext. hard drive.
>>>>>
>>>>>Any ideas or suggestions ?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Maybe I found my answer....
>>>>http://www.infopackets.com/channels/...ve_crashes.htm
>>>>
>>>>Does this make sense?
>>>
>>>
>>>Well looks like Acronis TrueImage (version 10 in my case) worked. I
>>>did a "disk clone" from TI and it did clone my laptop drive (all
>>>partitions) to the usb external hard drive. Tho the drive sizes were
>>>different, TI took care of this (in auto mode for disk cloning). I
>>>then told my laptop in the bios to boot first from a USB device and
>>>proceeded to let it boot from the external drive (tho my old laptop
>>>drive was still connected internally). Of course after it booted up
>>>(a bit sluggish I might add) and after telling me at first "no usb
>>>device or sector was found" (or similar wording) the question arose in
>>>my mind from which drive did the boot up really occur from? So I
>>>went into the disk management and checked all the partitions/drives
>>>and saw that indeed the external drive had the only "active" partition
>>>tho my internal drive had a "system" partition on it. Inotherwords
>>>the active drive is that from which my laptop really booted up from so
>>>case solved. Now when the new drive comes in, I'll pop it in, reboot
>>>from the external drive, perform another disk clone from within TI and
>>>tell TI to clone from the old drive (now the external) to the new
>>>drive (now the internal) and hopefully I'll be able to reboot next
>>>from the new internal drive if all goes well (with fingers crossed).
>>>
>>>ps-- I just detailed this method for the benefit of Google and
>>>future references to how to boot from the usb external drive (dell
>>>E1405 laptop and winxp) and the method I chose to clone the old drive
>>>to the new drive (essentially old drive to external drive to new
>>>drive).
>>
>>Thanks for detailing it for the benefit of future searches. I try to
>>do that too.
>>
>>In a few cases I had posted details but then forgot about them. Later,
>>I did a Google search to see if I could find answers, and there just
>>happened to be a perfect match of someone having the same issue. In
>>fact, it was amazing how perfectly similar our issues are.
>>
>>Then I find out that I am actually reading my own post as well as the
>>resolution of whatever question I had.
>
>
>I'm not 100% correct and will have to edit my original post as to the
>details because I found out that when I actually took the old drive
>out and put the new one in, the external drive did not load as it did
>before even tho it showed the active drive as being on the external
>drive the first time. Apparently it must take something off the old
>drive inorder to boot up (mbr??) and I will have to find out what
>gives so stay tuned for a revision to what I thought was correct. My
>guess is now I'll have to use a cd to assist in the bootup of the
>external drive but I'm not sure yet. If anyone else wants to
>add/revise/expand on my post, please do so as I'm still in learning
>mode here. thanks and stay tuned.


Now I forgot what I said earlier but I've finished cloning the
new drive and it worked and I'm using it now. I wasn't able to clone
it as I originally intended (I didn't want to use a cd) but it did
work regardless in the end. Essentially I used Acronis TrueImage v.
10 (my OS = xp media center that came with the dell laptop) and used
their "clone disk" function and a cd with their boot media (I think
this was/is called a rescue disk on cd). It worked pretty well tho I
had to tweak afterwards the drive letters and labels on the partitions
as well as resize the partitions to my liking but it did work. Now I
want to see if a 7200 vs 5400 rpm drive makes much difference. My
former drive was a Samsung (orig) and now use a Seagate. I do notice
the Seagate so far seems to run about 10 degrees cooler (F) than the
old 5400 drive but I want to use the drive for more days to make a
better assessment. I chose the Seagate for the sake of quality
despite others being much cheaper. We'll see if I was right.