T500: Clone HDD

Hi,

I want to clone my existing hdd (160GB) on IBM Lenovo T500 to
a new one probably 500GB or 1TB. I need suggestions on:
1. Good HDD on market for purchase (currently running Seagate Momentus 7200
160GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache 2.5" SATA )
2. Tools to use for cloning to new HDD
3. Steps on how to go about it or any pointers where it might be listed in this forum.

 

You can use Clonezilla (free) or other cloning software such as Acronis.

You should put the target drive in the main hard drive slot of your T500 (to avoid drive geometry errors). The source drive can be in a Ultrabay Slim 2nd hard drive adapter or in a USB enclosure.

AFAIK, normally you need to boot the cloning CD to perform the cloning.

EDIT: Here is a good thread on how to clone successfully.
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=67265

 

Which operating system are you running?

GomJabbar's advice is all good. How you resize partitions you wish to clone may depend on what operating system you're using. Windows 7 can resize its own partitions. With Windows XP, you may need to use additional software like PartedMagic (free) to extend the partition to the larger size.

This is if you're using Clonezilla. If you're using Acronis TrueImage, it can resize partitions automatically.

 

I have windows xp.
My approach would be to use Acronis to avoid any manual errors correct?

 

If you are not into SSD, but would like to go inbetween you may want to try Seagate Momentus XT.

For clonning you may try the free Easeus Todo backup, I find it better than acronis. It can do resizing and clones the drive even when you are inside windows. When i used acronis, it reboots when you are about to clone the drive,it will clone in DOS and i think during the process my x220 stalled twice and the same goes for my desktop pc.

 

Aside from booting, or highly repetitive usage patterns, the Momentus XT is slower than the WD Scorpio Black drives. After using both Seagate and WD, I have found Western Dig's RMA procedures (should you need to use them) easier to work with than other HDD vendors as well. I hope Seagate will come out with a new Momentus XT in the future that will improve upon its existing technology, but in the mean time, my personal preference is to the Scorpio Black drives.

Jabongga, the best way to work with Acronis is from the Bootable Rescue Media you create with the program. The same is true of most imaging programs (e.g., Clonezilla, Symantec Ghost, etc.) because with that method, no parts of the drive you intend to clone are "live".

ashishhsihsa (Whew, say that three times fast), Clonezilla works fine; you just need to use a live PartedMagic CD afterwards to extend the boot partition to take up full disk space. I have done so without issue in the past. Clonezilla's only major drawback does not apply to you; it cannot clone from a bigger drive to a smaller drive, even if there is enough space.

The one definite reason to use Acronis or Symantec Ghost would be if you know your original source drive has bad sectors; both have some error handling capabilities that Clonezilla lacks.

 

@LoneWolf15 - Thanks for the tip!