Bob wrote:
I want to replace the HDD with a new one I don't want it as a slave but I want to copy all to new drive


Bob with your new HDD you probably got a copy disk. They are ussually pretty user friendly and easy to use. If you didn't Programs that are good at this are Powerquest Drive Copy or Norton Ghost.  But since you asked some safety procedures:
1. Backup, Backup, Backup. If you do it with a tape drive or by burning a CD-ROM or by hundreds of floppies. Backing up is essential. It is not likely that anything will go wrong but Murphy's Law applies strongly here. Please note I am talking about backing up the files you created such as your word,excel documents. Your MP3's  your zip files and things like that. You should have your OS and major programs already on CD or something like that. If you don't have a copy of Windows on CD you may want to take a step back and get one before you do this drive copy. This bit of advice will not shorten the time on this project but it will prevent hair loss due to pulling it out of your head if things go bad.

1A. If you keep your swap file on a separate parttion go back and let windows manage you memory. Do a scandisk and defrag.

2. Bios check get your bios to recognize this drive as a slave first(remeber your jumpers). If your bios won't recognize the drive . Take a step back you may need to flash the bios(careful with that bios flashing can bite hard and you will have no computer). Also check you bios boot up settings many copy programs come on a floppy if you have set your C: as your first boot it will not see the copy program on the floppy which needs to boot up instead of your OS. Note Drive Copy comes on CD and creates a floppy for you. Always read manuals that come with items on how they should be used. And then....

3.  Follow the instructions be they on screen or in the manual. Do the procedures in the steps they instruct you to do them in. If you have read them  and don't understand them call the people who made the product for assistance that is what they are there for and  damn if they don't charge enough for it. I realize that there are some copy programs available on the web for free but I have never used one I want to be able to ring somebody's neck if something goes wrong.

4. Don't let the power get interrupted in the middle of this. Place dogs and small children in locked rooms. I have a friend who's dog chased the cat and knocked the power cord out of the ups. He is now taking medicine for high blood pressure. Never do this during a lighting storm surges are not kind.

5. Assuming you have now copied and all went well with the copy program. these basics get overlooked. Remove the old hard drive (repair shops love people that do this). Change the jumper settings on the new hard drive to master. In your bios you may need to redetect your hard drive. If all goes well with the redetect of your bios, you should be able to boot up to your OS. Do printer and equipment tests,  and reenter your passwords, what you didn't save those oops encrypted files don't always copy see item 1 about backup.

6. Release dogs and small kids from locked room(optional). Breathe it should be ok now.

I don't know what program you are using to copy or if it is the one that came with the new hard drive. If you have a question about the specific program ask away but this should get you though a drive copy.



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