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    Ghosting Hard Drive

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Fishy, Oct 15, 2008.

  1. Fishy

    Fishy Notebook Evangelist

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    Hi I just bough a new hard drive for my laptop and instead of having to install everything all over again, I have been thinking of making a ghost image of my old HD and transfering it to the new one.. (I saw something about this on this site and how I just need to download the ghost software and buy a USB enclosure..

    Is process perfect? Or are there any chances that it isnt a full snap shot of your system etc..?
     
    Fishy, Oct 15, 2008
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  2. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

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    Andy, Oct 15, 2008
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  3. ratdog

    ratdog Notebook Enthusiast

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    ratdog, Oct 15, 2008
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  4. Fishy

    Fishy Notebook Evangelist

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    Yeah but this is just a guide on how to do it and comparing the software that does it.. But I need to know how good the process of cloning is and if it will literally be as good as putting in my fresh brand new hard drive and installing all the stuff on it myself..?
     
    Fishy, Oct 15, 2008
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  5. Hep!

    Hep! sees beauty in everything

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    It will be identical to how it is now. If it runs poorly now because of software errors, then it will be the same cloned to the new drive.

    If it's running a way you like it now, it will be the same.
     
    Hep!, Oct 15, 2008
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  6. ratdog

    ratdog Notebook Enthusiast

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    "Cloning" and "putting in a fresh brand new hard drive and installing all the stuff" are two different things and cannot be compared.

    Cloning will give you a complete hard drive copy sector for sector. Everything will run the way it is with your old drive. If you need a fresh re-load for any reason, then cloning is not what you want.
     
    ratdog, Oct 15, 2008
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  7. Fishy

    Fishy Notebook Evangelist

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    Thats the answer I was looking for.. "It will copy everything sector for sector"..
    Sound like its what I need to do...
    However is there any chance the software will not copy all the sectors properly, create errors etc?
     
    Fishy, Oct 15, 2008
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  8. Fishy

    Fishy Notebook Evangelist

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    Fishy, Oct 15, 2008
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  9. Cape Consultant

    Cape Consultant SSD User

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    I have done this multiple times with multiple drives to and from and it always works just fine. Acronis True Image Workstation is what I use. A real life/time saver :) Dave
     
    Cape Consultant, Oct 15, 2008
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  10. ratdog

    ratdog Notebook Enthusiast

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    I used Acronis True Image Home 11
     
    ratdog, Oct 15, 2008
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