newb question on backing up

Ok quick question here,

I just bought a new 80 gig hd that i want to install on one of my other machines (comp#2). Now on my old comp (comp#1) I have tons of files and stuff I want to save and not sift through at the moment, so I'd like to back up that entire drive onto the new HD (since the files from #1 will only take like 20 gigs). Then I want to reformat the hd on comp#1 fresh and still have the backed up files on #2 as well as that extra storage space.

Can someone suggest an easy way or program to do this with? I have them both on a network so I will probably just transfer (although it may take a while). I'm not sure if I can just do it through windows or if I need a program or what. Thanks for the help.

Just slap the old HD on your new box (As a slave or on an open IDE if you have one) and copy away, Then put it back it your old box and format away. Thats what I do..... :bigthumb:

yea but what do you mean by copy? copy the entire drive directory or what?

Highlight and drag and drop the folders/files you want. LClick/Ctrl and drag em to new HD.

Open both drives and resize the HD windows to be side by side when you do this for ease.. It will take a while copying them, depending on your system, but it's real easy to do...

http://www.tribalwar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=276120&highlight=virus+preventio n+thread
read the para on backups. Use a ghosting program like norton ghost or power quest etc. Won't work for the O/S of a drive b/c the drivers installed will be different unless you uninstall the board drivers, and vid card drivers etc.

fix the url

edit: thanks!