Free cloning software???

I have a Satellite P105-S6114 with a Core 2 [email protected] and 2 gig RAM running XP and I would like to clone and install an OCZ sata Ii 2.5 SSD.

I have the 2.5" adapter and the mini usb to dual usb cable and the instruction sheet for the install but there is no mention of cloning.

I downloaded the Acronis trial software but cloning is not FREE.

Can someone please direct me by providing a link?

Thank you all.

 

Give this one a go.

Free Backup Software: Paragon Backup & Recovery Free Edition - Overview

 

If your looking for any other free software check the link below.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/win...-ever-growing-free-windows-software-list.html

 

Best one I've used is Clonezilla.

As Tinderbox has said, check out the link posted. Loads of user tested/recommended freeware

 

Thanks all, I will try it later today, after I complete my wife's list.

 

also try copywipe, it doesn't actually install on your computer
Hard Drive Copy and Secure Wipe Software - CopyWipe

 

I must be missing something, none of these sites seem to offer Cloning Software.

Thanks all.

 

Acronis trial (cloning) is not free?

Which version did you download... you tried this one? ---> Complete hard disk recovery solution, backup, drive copy, clone and image computer software

 

I see what you mean, http://www.paragon-software.com/home/dc-professional/ is needed to do this apparently.

For the experts, if one uses the paragon recommended by Tinderbox, could you backup the existing install to a USB hard drive, plug in the SSD and restore the install from the USB hard drive?

Psychic1 VVVVVVVVVVVVVVV HUGH???

 

UPDATE:
1994 in the Toshiba Forum informed me that TRIM is unavailable on XP.
I'll call OCZ before I continue.
Thanks all.

 

What is the source HDD brand? Some brands give out free cloning software as long as one of the two drives are their brand. WD gives you Acronis that supports cloning.

That is well known. You need Windows 7 for Trim, because Vista doesn't even support it. Also, XP doesn't properly align partitions on SSDs, but Vista at least does.

 

Doug from My Digital Discount sent me the OCZ 120gig Solid 2 Series and he said it has garbage collection, not trim, but it is essentially the same.

I installed the SSD and I am doing a fresh install, since this a backup.

Thanks again.

 

Trim is just a way for the operating system to tell the SSD, "hey, now is a good time to do GC."

 

Trim is just a way for an SSD aware O/S to say to the SSD - 'you can do GC and specifically clean these 'no longer needed/wanted' used blocks - when your firmware says you can'.

It doesn't tell the SSD when to GC, it simply tells it what it can clean.

 

I'm thinking of getting an SSD and doing basically the same thing. Here's what I'd do:

1. Have a 60 or 64 GB SSD as my main boot drive.
2. Have a hard drive, possibly my TravelStar 7K160, but probably not exactly 60/64 GB as a "mirror" drive. I'd have it as an external drive and periodically connect it to do mirroring.
3. Ideally, if the SSD were to bite the dust, be able to swap in the TravelStar 7K160 as my boot drive and be back up and running right away.

Is this easily possible using Paragon or Acronis or one of the other options? I'm wary due to the different sizes and technologies at play, but would rather use an inexpensive hard drive than another SSD for simple backup purposes.

My 7K160 shipped with my Inspiron back in 2007, so it did not come with any cloning software. I haven't bought the SSD yet but am leaning towards Intel or Crucial.

I'm downloading the WD Acronis that zippyzap linked to, but the drives in question probably won't be WD.

Intel SSDs support TRIM on both XP and Vista. For alignment support with XP, I've read that you should be fine if you start to install Vista (or 7 or 8 preview) first, go through the partitioning stage, then abort the installation and install XP on the correctly-aligned partition that Vista created for you. I don't know if the various hard drive vendors' realign tools would work on an SSD or not.

Disclaimer: I haven't tried the above myself.

 

Technically they don't. You have to run Intel's SSD toolbox.