how to copy a HDD?

i want to switch my hdd to a bigger drive, how do i copy an entire hdd to another? ty

 

Look into cloning.

Quick guide with ATI (Acronis True Image-if its a one time thing, the trial should enough). Other programs(should use similar methods) that can be used to clone are Norton Ghost, clonezilla(free), or DriveImageXML (Free).

 

Probably easiest way is to buy Norton Ghost and use it in conjunction with an external hard drive.

 

I like the step by step of the ATI, but is there anyway I can do it without a system recover disc? Does Norton ghost offer that?

 

Try Acronis True Image (free for 15 days). The cloning feature will probably be the easiest to move all your system files and data from your old HDD to your new. Note that you'll have to purchase an external enclosure to clone your HDD.

 

This is what I always do:

1) Put the Norton Ghost Disk in the CDROM and startup your computer, make sure you boot from the Norton Ghost disk.
2) Then Ghost your source drive to your destination drive (in your case your smaller hdd will be the source and your new bigger hdd will be the destination drive)

EDIT: If you have the right tools/hardware, then just put your bigger hdd in external USB housing and copy all your files to that. You did not mention if you want to copy from desktop or laptop hdd or which so not sure what your situation is, can you explain more in detail? It is not complicated at all what you want to do, really easy.

 

Or this (at least I'm planing to use that): http://cgi.ebay.es/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350134948911

 

Id go the Acronis route, I had some bad experiences with ghost in the past and acronis is very simple to use and free for the trial.

 

I'd go with the Acronis too, Norton seems a bit more complicated.

 

no no no use HD clone its a bootable CD and it works freakin amazing the free ware is slowish but if you but it its awsome

just click source and target and it even works with usb drives

 

That would work only if the new drive was in an external enclosure though sounds like as both the source and target must be available at the same time.

Acronis will let you backup to a file that you can store anywhere and its highly compressed to take up less space.

So if you have the same situation as me with my W90 RMA, you can clone the image of the drive and store it on an external drive, then put the image back on the new drive when you get it without ever having the new drive present at the same time as the old one, or without ever having the two drives linked in any way.

Its also bootable, you just use the "create rescue media" option in the program and it will write the files to a disk or usb drive to boot into the acronis program.

So really it does the same as the hdd clone program but rather that cloning the drive it just clones a compressed image of the drive giving you a bit more flexibility.

 

I just ordered Acronis True Image a few minutes ago for store pickup at my local Best Buy. I figure it is $39.99 well spent.

I have been using Windows Backup and Restore Center in Vista.

 

If you make use of it, yes its $40 well spent but it does go on sale much cheaper now and then. It was like 2 months ago you could get the basic home version for like $10

Ultimately I want to build my own Windows home server down the road for regular backup, but would still need/use Acronis for things like swapping out a HDD or in this case an RMA.

If you dont mind the fact this one has 2 cd's to install it instead of 1 dvd, and you can cancle your bust buy order you pay $30 upfront and then get a $15 rebate for $15 net cost:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...+Security/Utilities-_-Acronis+Inc.-_-32200008

edit: nevermind here is the dvd version same deal:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832200007

edit2: the cd version is just 1 cd not two, not sure where I read it, it seemed strange since the program is rather small in size.

 

Thanks, Vicious! You da man!

I order a lot from Newegg, but didn't even think to look at their site for this. There is no problem cancelling the Best Buy order. In fact, if I don't go to pick it up in 8 days, it is cancelled anyway.

I will order from Newegg tonight! Thanks a lot, buddy. Appreciate it, as always.

Gotta run. On my way to go lift.

 

I love the small letters I've missed it somehow the first time though. It seem it is the very same thing that you guys already discussed, but a bit overpriced

I'll go the ATI way. Now I'm looking at this enclosure: http://cgi.ebay.es/Rocketfish-2-5-USB-SATA-External-Hard-Drive-Enclosure_W0QQitemZ280339627751QQ

USB, eSATA, clean look, is there a better one?

 

rocketfish makes reliable stuff, if you like it get it.

but yeah just make an acronis boot disk with a cd/dvd or usb flash drive.

put the new drive in the laptop, and the old one in the enclosure.

plug in the external enclosure and boot into acronis with the cd/dvd/flash drive and then use the drive clone feature.

Select the external drive as the source and the new internal drive as the destination.

It will clone the entire drive leaving it exactly as it was, you can choose to retain the partitions or not (in the case of upgrading from a small drive to a large drive this means you can clone a 250gb drive to a 500gb drive and have it make a 250gb partition or fit it into a new 500gb partition)

You can totally skip the making a backup step in the case of drive cloning.

I bet you 99.99999999999999999999999999999999% that free 15 day cloning software was just the trial of acronis

 

i know what you mean vicious but he does have an M17 with 2 HD bays and its suppppper simple lol

he is usually in the AW forum

 

Quick question before I copy over to the new hdd. Do I need to format it first, install windows? Really nubish here lol

 

Well, I like it, I'm glad that it's a good stuff. Thank you for the guide, I must spread some rep

My thoughts exactly

Edit: Another question: can I leave my partitions as they are on the new drive? Because Acer have two hidden drives - one before C: - 10,74GB (a system default image) and one after D: - 3,26GB (Acer Arcade is there).

 

You can copy the partitons as is, or change them, its your option. For simplicy you may want to let it keep the origianl partitions for now and then go modify them later if you need.

You should not need to format it and you definitely do not need to install windows, thats half the reason you want to clone it is to save you the time of doing all that.

 

Cool thanks for the heads up

 

That is what I wanted to hear, thanks again

 

Ok so i am now formatting my brand new 320gb wd black 7200 hdd, problem. I am going to copy my old hdd to the new one, but when I do how do I set it up so the computer boots from the secondary and not the primary? or do i have to physically switch them? thank you

 

In your bios you have to change the boot device order.

Or if the first drive has no boot information on it, after it checks that drive it will automatically go start to check the other.

F2 while starting the computer to get into bios for Asus machines, some other computers use F1 or Delete.

 

but even then u ll still have to reinstall program files rite?

Windows Easy transfer saves all your program files data & settings ..which is an important feature missing in many backup programs which only backup data.

i used Syncback to backup all data and Windows easy transfer for user settings n files.

 

nope with acronis if you do a image backup or use the hdd clone feature it copies everything exactly as it was. nothing has to be done/change its just like the original drive.

of course when doing the image backup you can choose not to backup the system files and things and make it only data.

you dont even have to have anything on the drive, you boot into the sofware from a disk or flash drive and can have the backup or clone on any external drive/device.