Finally decided to upgrade my 20gb 360 by getting a new 120gb drive. I decided that with games ondemand and all the other new spangly stuff and the fact I cannot be bothered to sort out my old drive it was time to move on and on the plus side my Arcade now gets a Hard Drive.

What looks like an original 120gb drive purchased off the internet cost £45 delivered (Not bad for a custom HDD), has the hologram and stuff and the correct part number and label (more importantly it works).

Next up a transfer cable to migrate move my stuff to my new shiny drive. 1 transfer cable again looks legite clearly Asian sourced minus the Migration CD. It did however come with something called Xport360 from Datel.

Turns out without this Migration CD I have to manually transfer my data using the cable my PC and Xport 360. OK bit of a pain but hell surely the Microsoft software is available after all it is only a migration tool. Wrong and a bunch of viruses later and one restore we go back to the Xport360 manual.

You cannot image a drive then reimage back because you cant get it, no way not allowed. OK that is the easy option removed the next is game saves. It seems I have effectively got a modders kit but I just want to copy my drive.

So lets start the software - Does not see the new drive. Mmmm, ok visit the site get a new version. This works, then stops. Play about with the USB ports until I find one the HDD likes (I can only assume power is the issue with the bigger drives) and bingo I can now explore the drive. I have already copied my content folders as per the instructions for my 20gb and placed it on my PC after much fiddling I try copying it back. Well that worked now I have a corrupt HDD. OK so back to the 360 and reformat the drive, that worked so lets try again.

Copy the files over, that seemed to work no hold on the folders are missing. OK lets do it again another 20 minutes later and this time it worked. Back to the 360 and guess what the update is out so apply the update then thank god I now have a 120gb drive with my profile halelujua.

Top tip: Get a migration CD why Microsoft do not just give these things away I do not know. The Migration kits are basically the cable minus a CD I mean what is that all about. With a migration CD you just hook up your new HD pop the disc into the 360 and bobs your uncle and fanny is your aunt job done.

It has been a fun experience which I hope not to have to repeat for a while.

Um what are you talking about. When you order the transfer kit from MS you get the cable and the CD/DVD . You do not use Xport360 by Datal. That's a product by a 3rd party to back up your game saves to your PC. You caused yourself the hastle

Makes me glad that the HDD's in the PS3 are the same ones that are used in PC's and Laptops so makes it a lot easier to change and exchange data. I mean when i changed mine i just moved all the files i needed onto a memory-stick, popped in the new drive and then once it was all formatted and installed copied the files from the memory-stick!

Actually the drives the 360 uses are laptop drives. They just have custom software on them

Not a big deal.

I understood that was an option if you are migrating to an elite not a standard pro. I could not find the Migration Kit for sale from any regular source to opted for Ebay.

Personally why I do not get a Migration kit with the drive irrespective of what I am doing is my major gripe.

This is basically how poor people migrate between drives.

There regular HHd's are too overpriced.

Where did you find a 120gb HDD for 45 notes? I could do with one of those.

Was the HDD a Microsoft one?