[SOLVED] Disk Clone question - Please help a noob

flub · 03-21-2009, 07:37 AM

Hi all,

I was wondering if someone could help me.

I have a Vista 32Bit PC with an existing Hard Disk of 120GB (only 40GB used). I have just purchased a new SSD 64GB disk and I want to "clone" the exisiting disk onto the new faster disk, and then to use the new disk as my primary boot disk and use the old 120GB as just another drive.

So my questions are

1) What is the best way to clone the old disk onto the new one?
2) Is there any free software to do this
3) Are there any pitfalls or issues that I might encounter?

Thanks in advance

**raptor_pa** · 03-21-2009, 09:53 AM

You won't be able to clone to a smaller disk, since cloning implies moving all the data - even empty space... The software has to grab the entire surface to make sure it can boot, so stuff gets put back in the correct offsets of the disk surface for the boot sector and boot files for windows.

flub · 03-21-2009, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raptor_pa

You won't be able to clone to a smaller disk, since cloning implies moving all the data - even empty space... The software has to grab the entire surface to make sure it can boot, so stuff gets put back in the correct offsets of the disk surface for the boot sector and boot files for windows.

Thanks, do you know what I can do just "clone" the used parts?

Is there any software that I can use?

**linderman** · 03-21-2009, 11:42 AM

Shadow protect desktop can do that ................ under high compression it will image only the data occupied area

however cloning 40gigs of data to a 64gig size drive is headed for trouble ............ in no time at all you will be getting disk too full to do this or that messages ..............

flub · 03-21-2009, 11:44 AM

Thanks, it's ok as I have over 1 TB in external drives. This is purely for the OS and some programs.

**linderman** · 03-21-2009, 11:45 AM

Backup Advanced Options
Include Free Space
Selecting this option will backup all sectors on the volume including the sectors in the free space of the volume. The default setting for this feature is “Off.”

**linderman** · 03-21-2009, 11:53 AM

Note: You must have enough space to restore the backup image. For example, you cannot restore a 4GB backup file with only 1GB of free space.

**linderman** · 03-21-2009, 11:55 AM

http://www.storagecraft.com/products...ProtectServer/

request a "full evaluation copy" its a 30 day trial

then make the image of your current boot drive ............. afterwards ....... check the size of it ?

as long as the occupied data space and image is less than 64gb it will work ........

**linderman** · 03-21-2009, 11:56 AM

the free versions of image programs cant do that .................. as correctly stated by Raptor; they will copy data occupied sectors as well as empty ones ........... that would result in an image file larger than your SSD drive

flub · 03-27-2009, 04:48 AM

Thanks everyone, It worked a treat.

Really appreciate all your input, I now have a nice fast SSD drive as my primary :)

**linderman** · 03-27-2009, 06:14 AM

sweet ...........well done..........

03-21-2009, 07:37 AM	#1 (permalink)
flub Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 11 OS: Vista	[SOLVED] Disk Clone question - Please help a noob Hi all, I was wondering if someone could help me. I have a Vista 32Bit PC with an existing Hard Disk of 120GB (only 40GB used). I have just purchased a new SSD 64GB disk and I want to "clone" the exisiting disk onto the new faster disk, and then to use the new disk as my primary boot disk and use the old 120GB as just another drive. So my questions are 1) What is the best way to clone the old disk onto the new one? 2) Is there any free software to do this 3) Are there any pitfalls or issues that I might encounter? Thanks in advance

03-21-2009, 09:53 AM	#2 (permalink)
raptor_pa Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 4,823 OS: XP	Re: Disk Clone question - Please help a noob You won't be able to clone to a smaller disk, since cloning implies moving all the data - even empty space... The software has to grab the entire surface to make sure it can boot, so stuff gets put back in the correct offsets of the disk surface for the boot sector and boot files for windows. __________________

03-21-2009, 11:42 AM	#4 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 20,437 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	Re: Disk Clone question - Please help a noob Shadow protect desktop can do that ................ under high compression it will image only the data occupied area however cloning 40gigs of data to a 64gig size drive is headed for trouble ............ in no time at all you will be getting disk too full to do this or that messages .............. __________________ I still know nothing and I respect that fact, striving to improve and, along the way, help anyone that comes from the place that I used to be! Power Supply Selection LEARN TO BACK-UP YOUR DATA FREE & EASY YouTube - Runtime Software DriveImage XML tutorial

03-21-2009, 11:44 AM	#5 (permalink)
flub Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 11 OS: Vista	Re: Disk Clone question - Please help a noob Thanks, it's ok as I have over 1 TB in external drives. This is purely for the OS and some programs.

03-21-2009, 11:45 AM	#6 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 20,437 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	Re: Disk Clone question - Please help a noob Backup Advanced Options Include Free Space Selecting this option will backup all sectors on the volume including the sectors in the free space of the volume. The default setting for this feature is “Off.” __________________ I still know nothing and I respect that fact, striving to improve and, along the way, help anyone that comes from the place that I used to be! Power Supply Selection LEARN TO BACK-UP YOUR DATA FREE & EASY YouTube - Runtime Software DriveImage XML tutorial

03-21-2009, 11:53 AM	#7 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 20,437 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	Re: Disk Clone question - Please help a noob Note: You must have enough space to restore the backup image. For example, you cannot restore a 4GB backup file with only 1GB of free space. __________________ I still know nothing and I respect that fact, striving to improve and, along the way, help anyone that comes from the place that I used to be! Power Supply Selection LEARN TO BACK-UP YOUR DATA FREE & EASY YouTube - Runtime Software DriveImage XML tutorial

03-21-2009, 11:55 AM	#8 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 20,437 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	Re: Disk Clone question - Please help a noob http://www.storagecraft.com/products...ProtectServer/ request a "full evaluation copy" its a 30 day trial then make the image of your current boot drive ............. afterwards ....... check the size of it ? as long as the occupied data space and image is less than 64gb it will work ........ __________________ I still know nothing and I respect that fact, striving to improve and, along the way, help anyone that comes from the place that I used to be! Power Supply Selection LEARN TO BACK-UP YOUR DATA FREE & EASY YouTube - Runtime Software DriveImage XML tutorial

03-21-2009, 11:56 AM	#9 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 20,437 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	Re: Disk Clone question - Please help a noob the free versions of image programs cant do that .................. as correctly stated by Raptor; they will copy data occupied sectors as well as empty ones ........... that would result in an image file larger than your SSD drive __________________ I still know nothing and I respect that fact, striving to improve and, along the way, help anyone that comes from the place that I used to be! Power Supply Selection LEARN TO BACK-UP YOUR DATA FREE & EASY YouTube - Runtime Software DriveImage XML tutorial

03-27-2009, 04:48 AM	#10 (permalink)
flub Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 11 OS: Vista	Re: Disk Clone question - Please help a noob Thanks everyone, It worked a treat. Really appreciate all your input, I now have a nice fast SSD drive as my primary :)

03-27-2009, 06:14 AM	#11 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 20,437 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	Re: [SOLVED] Disk Clone question - Please help a noob sweet ...........well done.......... __________________ I still know nothing and I respect that fact, striving to improve and, along the way, help anyone that comes from the place that I used to be! Power Supply Selection LEARN TO BACK-UP YOUR DATA FREE & EASY YouTube - Runtime Software DriveImage XML tutorial