Upgrade HDD

I have a question about upgrading a HDD on a desktop pc. I have a Dell Dimension 2400 and I was wondering how easy it is to upgrade a HDD and keep the OS and all of the data perfectly intact, is that possible? If so, what (free) software would I need and is it easy/safe to do? Thanks!

Why not just install the second HDD and leave your OS on the same one you now have it on ?
Or, is there a problem with the current HDD ???

Well I was kind of hoping to increase performance with a new HDD.


1 - Install a new HDD (and faster) as the master drive, change the current HDD as a slave drive to the new master drive.

2 - Install your OS on the new master HDD.

3 - Be sure to change the master/slave setting in BIOS so that the computer starts up from the New HDD.

That should work, I think. You now have all your old stuff on the slave while having a faster start up with the new master HDD. You can then copy whatever you want from the old slave drive to the new master drive. I would suggest leaving most of the old stuff on the old drive except for the security programs and other of the more important programs.

If that is not correct, someone please post the correction.


Hi, seagate hdd come with software to do this. Other brands probably do also.

Western Digital HDD comes with this software also