What's the best way to copy a hard drive?

I currently have a 320 GB drive in my laptop and plan to upgrade to a Momentus XT tomorrow. What's the best way to copy the entire drive's contents to the XT, and would that also copy the OS? I'd be willing to pay for a program to copy it, but a free program would be highly preferred unless the paid program is significantly better.
Thanks for any help in advance.

 

Acronis True Image.

 

Thanks. That's a good start, although I'd still prefer something free. Are there any good free programs?

 

Any free program is as good as you pay for them.

Really, I don't know any that I could recommend, but it's your data - make sure you have a good/full backup before you try anything someone 'dabbled' with.

You may be able to download a trial of Acronis and do your disk cloning - but I don't know if that feature is still available in the trials anymore (haven't done this for years now...).

You might also find that eBay has some good deals on this software (usually bundled with new HDD's along with an external enclosure as 'upgrade' packages.

Hope someone chimes in with the better freeware for you.

Good luck.

 

@tilleroftheearth Thanks for the suggestions. Does anyone else have some freeware suggestions? Also, does the Acronis True Image trial let you do disk cloning?

 

Just downloaded the Acronis trial. Would backing up my entire system to the new drive be the equivalent of cloning it?

 

Ghost or Acronis will work, Acronis is preferred for home use. Norton Ghost is "more useful" in a corporate environment where they need to deploy XX images over all the workhorse laptops. Acronis is alot more user friendly IMO.

Just clone the 320 GB onto the 500 GB and resize the partitions.

 

dd

(10 chars)

 

Is backing up the entire drive the same as cloning it? And how exactly would I resize the partitions?

 

"Backing up" is usually in reference to less than an entire drive, although it can be for the entirety. "Cloning" is a copy of all the files and folders on a drive. "Imaging" is usually used to refer to a perfect copy (bit for bit, regardless of contiguity/fragmentation or location), at least as far my parlance goes.

 

@woofer00:
I'd like to see the source where these terms you just referred to are defined please!

 

Backing up the HDD would not be the same thing as cloning.

Think of copying an ISO to a DVD/CD vs. burning an ISO as a bootable image.

With cloning/imaging, you will be able to boot up into Windows (although it may ask to be activated again - as will many other programs, possibly...).

With a backup, you'll be able to transfer that backup to the new HDD but you will be simply using it as a DATA drive, not a bootable O/S drive with programs and your data on it.

 

clonezilla, pmagic, any of the bootable linux disk/diag distros along those lines.......

My usual 'procedure' for cloning (such as it is is):

- decide which linux disk/diag distro I'm going to use today.
- create a fresh bootable cd of the distro.
- install the new drive in the machine.
- hook up the old drive to the machine via a usb adapter cable (costs about $25-).
- boot the machine from the linux cd (you might need to get into the machine bios or otherwise tell the machine to temp boot from the cd drive).
- on the linux OS, choose the partition manager/clone tool.
- create new partitions on the new drive if I need to (advanced skill).
- clone old partitions from old drive to new drive.
- shutdown.
- pull the usb cable and the cd from the machine.
- place old drive in a safe place for XX weeks until satisfied that everything is well with the new installation (better safe than sorry).

If using a windows-based program/tool, the steps will be roughly the same even if obfuscated by a fancy GUI.

Assuming that I've done everything right, the machine should boot right up on the new drive with the cloned info.

 

Well, the problem is, I think everyone uses the words different, so that is just the way I happen to use them. For me, "imaging" really means "to create an image" while cloning means to apply an image. Imaging takes all of the bits of a drives, empty or not, and drops them into a file, typically somewhat compressed, that can later be "cloned" to recreate the system with all of its flaws. Within my own definition of cloning, the disk geometries have to be identical between the "cloned" drive and the original "image".

Now, within more common (at least on NBR) usage of "cloning", an image is made, then applied to a non-matching geometry to restore the files and filesystem. Sometimes the "cloning" process even defragments the drive. Still works off an image, but doesn't necessarily create a perfectly matched target (which is good in cases where you upgrade a hard drive, for example).

Some links that align with my understanding.
Cloning or Imaging a HDD
grand stream dreams: Drive Imaging and Cloning Solutions

As far as backing up, that's selective. If I hear someone talk about "backing up" a hard drive, I understand that to mean certain or all files on the drive, but not necessarily the non-file information on the drive (boot sectors, empty sectors, other extraneous bits and pieces).

 

Hmm...lots of information here to digest...

 

Calm down? My post where I threw those terms down ended with "at least as far my parlance goes." which, to me, means at least as far as my own way of talking about this goes, which implies that it is my understanding. However, I use these terms on a regular basis, at least 3-4x a week with IT professionals who perform these tasks on a regular basis. For me, the only way to communicate properly is to refer to the process in the way that I outlined before and do again below.

They're not confusing. You create an "image" off the original data by doing a sector by sector copy that gets comrpessed. From that image, you "clone" the target drives. For a single machine, this seems like a strange term. For a network of multiple machines, it makes perfect sense to clone them via a network process rather than do maintenance on every single one to create a clone army. Think of cloning as "making the copy", not "making the mold". If you think of cloning as encompassing the entire process of doubling the original, none of this makes sense. General NBR usage uses "cloning" as this latter definition.

A bitwise copy is an image. You can make an image of folder, file, differentials, partitions, whatever you want. Backup is a very broad term that shouldn't get differentiated from or grouped together with clone/image. However, within common usage, backup usually refers to specific files or folders, regardless of structure, and is typically uncompressed. "Backup" can also be used to describe making an image of something, although it's not a very specific word.


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edit
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Realizing I've gone way off topic.
Aaron, you need to actually clone the drive using a tool specifically built for it, as mentioned by others in this thread, whether free or not. If you try to just copy your files over from one drive to the other within the OS, your machine probably won't boot or complain loudly if it does work. As always, it's a good idea to backup your sensitive files or anything you don't want to lose by accident separately from the image and cloning process.

 

@newsposter I only understood like half of what you said, so how exactly would it work on Windows (English, please )?

 

Those steps are pretty minimalist. If you need significant explanation you might need some help to get the transfer/imaging done trouble free.

I'll try to expand a bit in a few mins........

 

Oh my goodness. Just download EASEUS. Super easy and SUPER FREE!!!!!!!

 

Thank you! I was waiting for someone with a good free suggestion. I'm currently in the process of looking into EASEUS, but it looks good so far!

 

Don't bother explaining just yet, I'm gonna try EASEUS and see how it works...thanks for the suggestions, though.

 

In general, when I clone a disk, does the OS automatically get copied as well?

 

OP- Since you are upgrading to a Seagate drive - I believe you should be able to use their free cloning s/w, available here:-

| Seagate

- Tim

 

I have used EASEUS on 3 different drives with 3 different OS'es and it has worked flawlessly. I have done HDD to SSD and SSD to HDD and HDD to HDD. Never had an issue.

 

Okay, so I've gotten my program ready - I decided to try the Seagate program first as I trust that they know their own hard drives quite well. What do I do with the Momentus XT that I'll be copying my current drive to?
Sorry, I'm a noob at this...

 

Well-I don't know cause I ain't never used it.

That's why I said EASEUS. It works like:

Connect the hard drive to clone via USB or second bay. And you boot from a USB or CD/DVD you made with EASEUS and the program runs without the use Of Windows.

I would guess the Seagate program works the same way but within Windows. So you prolly need to connect it to the computer somehow- USB-and clone the OS drive(usually C) to the target drive. EASEUS calls them the Source drive and the Destination drive-the source being the one you wanna copy and the Destination being the one you are copying to.
I would guess it kinda works the same way.........

 

Hi. In addition to those, Western Digital has a free version of Acronis available.
http://support.wdc.com/product/downloaddetail.asp?swid=119&wdc_lang=en
If you have a WD drive (maybe even if you don't?) that'll do the trick. It's also compatible with Advanced Format Drives.

 

Just my two cents (since OP already downloaded a trial of True Image), but doesn't Seagate (and WD, Intel) offer the full software for free for anyone who buys their HDDs/SSDs? When I bought my Intel 320, I had the option of downloading the Intel-branded True Image off of Intel's website.

 

Yup, that's what I'm using. I downloaded the True Image trial, but it didn't support cloning a disk; there was only support for backing up a disk. Now, I have a question for everyone: what do I do with the hard drive once I unwrapped it and stuff? There doesn't appear to be any ports on it that would allow it to be plugged into a USB port, so how would I have it and my current drive sync data?

EDIT: @htfan Nope, I have a Seagate drive, although it's pretty much the same concept as I'm using Seagate's proprietary software.

 

Wait...I just realized that I need a USB cable according to the FAQ of the Seagate program (double-ended, I would assume?). I don't know where mine is or if I have one at all, so is there anywhere said cable would be used that I could "borrow" from my desktop for the moment?

 

what does an USB cable do for a presumably SATA drive ?

 

I have no idea, that's just Seagate's help manual makes it seem like I need: ("To transfer the system, you must first install the disc in the computer (see details in the Appendix B. Hard discs and BIOS setup). If your computer doesn’t have a bay for another hard disc, you can temporarily install it in place of your CD drive or use a USB 2.0 connection to the external target disc. If that is not possible, you can clone a hard disc by creating a disc image and restoring it to a new hard disc with larger partitions.")
What would I use?

 

See:
Newegg.com - BYTECC BT-300 USB 2.0 to IDE/SATA Adapter

Good luck.

 

You could also look at an external HDD dock, like the Thermaltake BlacX STooo5U, or it's Rosewill clone. Has both eSATA (very useful if you use the drive daily like I do) and USB2.0

 

So there's no other way to go about copying my old hard drive without spending more money?

 

Not unless you can remove your old HDD and put both it and the new HDD on a desktop system you can borrow for an hour or so.

Assuming this desktop has two spare SATA and power ports to use.

 

Acutally, I can. Is there a way to find out if there are two spare SATA ports?

 

Open up the case and look.

A SATA cable or two should only be around $10, if the ports are indeed available (and the cables aren't in the case).

Just make sure to power down your system fully, physically secure the HDD's so they don't get knocked, lose power or otherwise disconnect while you're trying to clone them...

And...

Most importantly... make sure you clone FROM the OLD hard drive TO the NEW HDD (don't get this wrong!!! ).

There is a huge speed/time benefit doing it this way - maybe 10 minutes for a clone of a clean Windows install - 30 minutes with some DATA. Versus 1 to 3 hrs using USB2.0.

Good luck.

 

Best free solution mentioned so far. +1 pmassey. Super easy to use and free. Put both drives in a desktop as second and third sata drives. No need for adapters. Just know which one is which. Don't copy the new one to the old or you will have 2 empty drives and no data. A backup is recommended prior to imaging/cloning.

EASEUS Disk Copy will create a clone of your drive onto another drive, but it will also clone the partition sizes exactly how they were on the original. So if your new drive is bigger, you will have the difference created as unpartioned space on your new drive. If you want it to be all one partition, use GParted (Also Free) to extend the partition to the max physical disk size. GParted is also pretty simple to use.

 

Okay, I'll try that. One problem though: I would backup my current drive to my desktop hard drive, but it has no space left, and when I checked to see how much space I needed to back it up, I found out that I needed like 170 GB (that sounds right, doesn't it?). My desktop drive is like 200 GB total and I don't want to erase almost 90% of the hard drive to create a backup for my current laptop hard drive. So...suggestions?

 

Macrium Total Reflect also has a free version which will do everything you need it to... then there is EASEUS, and acronis.

Any of them will work for what you want.

D>

 

Clonezilla also has many of the features you are looking for, and it's FOSS

 

You will have to have another hard drive if you intend on backing up first. You can do the clone without the backup. Just make sure you get the source and destination drives correct during the process and you should be fine.

 

To clone ALL YOU NEED IS THE current OS drive and the drive you are cloning to (Momentus XT) I think you said. If you have a desktop, you should have an extra SATA port. But that doesn't mean you have the cables for it. Easiest is to just get an external housing like This. That is the exact drive housing I use when cloning.

 

You said "ALL YOU NEED IS THE current OS drive and the drive you are cloning to" but then you mentioned the external housing. So...do I need the external housing?
Also, I tried opening my desktop. Considering I was struggling opening the case and considering that there were far too many wires to deal with, I don't think I'm gonna use it to copy my hard drives, nor do I think I'm gonna be a computer repair guy.

 

I wonder if people keep forgetting that Windows 7 has a drive image tool that can do this and you don't even need a 2nd computer if you already have all the adapters needed.

 

Really? Problem is, though, that I basically have no adapters.
What adapters are needed?

 

dd is sort of like a Ferrari: very sexy and powerful, but will hurt you badly if you don't know what you're doing. I would NOT recommend it for anyone but experts. I don't even consider myself smart enough to use dd.

I once used dd to clone a 60 GB drive to an external 1 TB drive. dd took me at my word, and it was a while before I figured out why the formerly 1 TB drive now thought it had a capacity of only 60 GB.

A much friendlier and safer choice is Clonezilla, which someone already mentioned once. Also it's free.

 

What about using a recovery disk? I know you'll have to reinstall programs and stuff, but would that work?

BTW, sorry OP, I'm having a similar problem and didn't want to create another topic for the same question.

 

No problem, you're fine.
That is an interesting idea, though...