Yes, you're right about it changing your computer's identity. If you want to have all your programs on your new hard drive, you'd have to backup all your data onto the new hard drive. You can do this by
1. Buying an external hard drive dock (aka Hard drive toaster). You just plug the dock into an available USB port, and pop the new hard drive into the slot. Your computer will recognize it as an external hard drive, and you can transfer all your computer files that way. Looks like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductLis
2. Installing the hard drive into an available rack (if any) in your computer's case. After installing the drive, you can log onto your main drive and transfer things from there.
Option 2 is the most recommended. But here's a tip from me: do not replace your current hard drive for a new one! Doing both options not only allows you to %26quot;backup your previous drive%26quot;, but also %26quot;allows you to have two hard drives instead of one%26quot;. Which sounds better?
Though both options will do this, there are benefits and downsides to either. Buying an external hard drive dock allows you to be able to swap hard drives WHENEVER (referred to as 'hot swapping'). As well, you can bring it around as a gigantic USB flash drive if you'd like. But if you do not like to see a piece of hardware out like that, you won't like this.
Putting the hard drive into an available hard drive rack will make it invisible, but you can't hot swap. Take your choices.
{Info about the hard drive rack route}
Depending on the design of your computer's case, you would have to remove part of the case in order to have access to the hard drive rack. Other designs allow easier access to this for modders and enthusiasts. If you are unsure about where this is located, ask a trusted tech-savvy individual, or find out by reading the owner's manual, or checking around the internet. Having a tech-savvy person doing it for you is more recommended however; if you do it by yourself, there are all sorts of things you have to configure that might seem a little overwhelming. As well, there are risks and frustration WILL ensue. Having a person who knows what they are doing do it for you will enable you to learn while watching. And, you can ask anytime for a more in-depth explanation to what the heck they are doing.Not technologically savvy, I want to swap out my computer%26039;s hard drive for a larger one.?
2 options here, one, leave you first drive int here and add the second. you wil then be able to save stuff to it the same way u save stuff to a flash drive.
option 2 is use a program like partition magic to copy all data fromone to the other (you can tjust cut and past)..then you remove the first drive and change the drive letter of drive 2 to be the letter drive one was. optionne is better for noobs.Not technologically savvy, I want to swap out my computer%26039;s hard drive for a larger one.?
You will need to put the new hardrive in an external usb enclosure and plug it into your computer to clone the drive in there now. Once that's down you can take out the new drive and replace it with your old one with nothing changed to your personal settings. I would recommend to bring the computer to a repair center or someone capable of doing it so you don't f*** up your computer either.
