Copying a hard drive

[combemarshal]

I know there is a way to do it, but I don't know it!
I got a new hard drive on the way and want to copy everything from mine onto that one, is there some programme that will do this, or shall I just use both drives??
Cheers, Lee

[malman]

some manufacturers have free software with the dirve to do this some have it on website so check whoever makes the new drive.

Otherwise something like Ghost or driveimage will do it

Edited by malman on Sunday 3rd December 18:57

[puggit]

The big question is: Are you planning on replacing drive A with drive B, where drive A contains the operating system? Or is it just a 2nd disk and contains merely data...?

[scared but happy]

Ghost is brilliant. Not so impressed with Driveimage although a while back I used Ghost to 'copy' over to the other one and Driveimage to stretch the size back to the full capacity of the new drive. Plus I found that the Driveimaged version did not boot.. (unless it was me)

Edited by scared but happy on Sunday 3rd December 19:28

[deva link]

For my laptop I used Acronis True Image which you can buy & download from their website, or buy pretty cheaply from Amazon. It just makes an exact clone of one drive onto another.

I used it when I replaced my laptop's HDD, and I now use it for backup purposes, so if the lappie's HDD ever fails I can just pop in the clone and carry on. I've tested that scenario and it boots up and runs perfectly.

[roadsweeper]

deva link said:

For my laptop I used Acronis True Image

Great product but is really intended for regular backups as the poster goes on to mention. Ghost makes more sense for a one-off copy, but if you're not backing up you should be so consider Acronis for that.

[deva link]

roadsweeper said:

deva link said:

For my laptop I used Acronis True Image

Great product but is really intended for regular backups as the poster goes on to mention. Ghost makes more sense for a one-off copy, but if you're not backing up you should be so consider Acronis for that.

Why do you say that - not doubting you, I know very little about this field? Ghost seemed a bit more involved to me and True Image dead simple.

I'm sure I'm using True Image in an 'overkill' kind of way, as to backup I simply make a new clone of the drive (with the backup drive in a USB enclosure). But it only takes a few mins and I like the idea of having a complete 'mirror' drive that I can slap into the laptop if the original crashes and I know it will just work.

[Chimple]

Acronis also offer a free version, I think its version 7.

Doesnt have as many options (like the scheduled back up, back up of individual files or folders, etc.), it just copies whole drives I think.

You could give it a try, anyway!

Also, if its your boot drive that you are copying, you may want to google "sysprep".

Not used it yet myself, but just about to on a virtual PC!

[combemarshal]

Cheers for the info, I get the new drive tommorrow, will let you know how it goes, unless it goes bad!!

[combemarshal]

Right o, City link have my hard drive in one of there vans at the moment, going to pics it up shortly!
Do I just plug the new one into the spare way on the cables, like I did when I had two drives running??

[combemarshal]

Right, Got it all copied ok, but the Computer still only sees 40gb, But Bios can see 120, is there something I have to do to make the computer see the rest???

[greenlandy]

It depends on if you partioned the drive?? or if the operating system can read a drive of that size XP sp2 had a fix to see large drives.
Just reread your topic if you ghosted your original drive then it will need resizing with something like partion magic.

[combemarshal]

Righto, found something like Partion Magic, 7tools, but it fails just before finishing, it says, "Incorrect dir struture - Errors in dir tree"
It says to run chkdsk to fix, I do that run it again and it still doesn't work.

HELP!

[malman]

what did you use to copy the drive as most have an "expand new partition to full drive" when copying feature.

[combemarshal]

No option for that, I used hdclone, it copies it fine, but EXACTLY!!!
I also tired it using 7tools but that also fails on that. (it did have the option to fit to disk but it failed!)
I could only find Partition magic for about £50, which seemed a bit pricey to me, more than the hard drive!
And I've tried the limewire type sites and every file seems to have a virus!

[greenlandy]

I take it you still have the original drive with all the data on that? If you do pm me with your contact details and I'll be able to send you a disc to sort this out. If not I'll rumage around for my partition magic 7 disc to lend you to save you £50.

[combemarshal]

greenlandy said:

I take it you still have the original drive with all the data on that? If you do pm me with your contact details and I'll be able to send you a disc to sort this out. If not I'll rumage around for my partition magic 7 disc to lend you to save you £50.

Cheers for that!
I have a copy of the disc on the way(not full price!!), but If I can't figure it out I may take you up on your offer!!
And yeah, I do still have the original HD intact!!

[malman]

what was the manufacturer of the new drive?

[combemarshal]

Seagate, couldn't find nowt on there site, so have disc on the way, keep you posted!!

[malman]

DiscWizard is seagates offering

www.seagate.com/support/disc/drivers/discwiz.html
www.seagate.com/support/kb/disc/howto/use_dw2002.html