# Replacing my hardrive **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 26, 2007, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-my-hardrive/397585 "2007-03-26T18:40:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Hodge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Hodge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hodge)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2007, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-my-hardrive/397585/21 "2007-03-28T00:28:33Z")
Well, you could try burning an updated XP install CD. This would let you run the repair console and do whole bunch of other cool stuff, as well. The process is called “slipstreaming” and there are all sorts of web tutorials on the subject. [This web site](http://unattended.msfn.org/unattended.xp/view/web/1/) has lots of guides and it looks pretty comprehensive. The end result will be a customized, up-to-date and unattended XPSP2 install disc complete with all service packs and patches. If you wanted to, you could even include the drivers for your own specific hardware. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2007, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-my-hardrive/397585/22 "2007-03-28T00:38:02Z")
I highly suggest slipstreaming a XP SP2 disk if you don’t already have one. I reinstalled WinXP so often from my XP SP1 upgrade disk that I got the free SP2 CD from Microsoft to save myself from having to download the SP2 patch over and over again. I finally slipstreamed it in and while there are still a lot of later patches that have to be installed, the SP2 disk makes life a lot easier. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_the\_Turtle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_the_turtle/32/2926_2.png) [@Fear\_the\_Turtle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_the_Turtle)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2007, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-my-hardrive/397585/23 "2007-03-28T01:22:14Z")
Cool. Thanks guys. ---
**Author:** ![WamBam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c2a13f/32.png) [@WamBam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WamBam)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2007, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-my-hardrive/397585/24 "2007-03-29T00:29:04Z")
Okay, I got a new hard drive and now I’m stuck. I disconnected the old one and put the new one in and attempted to install my upgrade version of Windows XP. When I got to the point that told me to put in one of my earlier editions of Windows, I put in disc 1 of my Windows ME Restoration discs and I got a message saying it was invalid and to insert another disc. I then tried using disc 2 and disc 3 and got the same message. Now what? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2007, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-my-hardrive/397585/25 "2007-03-29T00:36:26Z")
You may need to install Windows ME using the restore discs and then run the Windows XP Upgrade CD. ---
**Author:** ![WamBam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c2a13f/32.png) [@WamBam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WamBam)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2007, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-my-hardrive/397585/26 "2007-03-29T00:51:51Z")
Oh boy. :rolleyes: Okay, I’ll give it a shot. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2007, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-my-hardrive/397585/27 "2007-03-29T15:32:41Z")
Should I be able to get Windows ME on a new hard drive from the restoration discs Gateway provided me with? I put in disc 1 of the restoration disc, shut the pc off, unplugged my old hard drive and plugged in my new one, and then started it up. I chose the “boot from hard disc” and then I get a Startup Menu screen with two options: 1. DOS Prompt 2. NT 4.0 Driver Location I tried clicking on both on different attempts, and I get a black screen with this in the upper left hand corner: |:> According to [this](http://www.fujitsu-siemens.co.uk/rl/servicesupport/techsupport/software/windows/ME_Rebuild.htm) webpage, after I select ‘boot from the CDROM’, I should get the following screen: \*\*The Microsoft Windows Millenium Startup menu will now appear 1. Start Windows Setup From CD-Rom. 2. Start Computer with CD-rom support. 3. Start Computer without CD-rom support.\*\* Does anyone know what I’m doing wrong? I have a feeling that restoration discs aren’t good enough for a new hard drive, but I’m hoping I’m wrong. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2007, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-my-hardrive/397585/28 "2007-03-29T15:45:20Z")
Correction: Above I wrote that I chose “boot from hard disc”, but I should have wrote “boot from the CD”. ---
**Author:** ![WamBam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c2a13f/32.png) [@WamBam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WamBam)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2007, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-my-hardrive/397585/29 "2007-03-29T16:06:46Z")
Another correction: The above two posts are from me, Xray is my uncle. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![WamBam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c2a13f/32.png) [@WamBam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WamBam)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2007, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-my-hardrive/397585/30 "2007-03-29T18:35:16Z")
I forgot to add, after inserting Disc 1 of the restoration CDs and that didn’t work, I tried discs 2 and 3 also. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-my-hardrive/397585.md?page=1)