Need a hard drive cloning software.

[djs]

I just download the free ones supplied/offered by the HDD companies.

No use of course if you don't buy one of the "named" drives.

Last one I did was a WD - top piece of cloning software, fast too.

[Deleted]

+1 for clonezilla
but I'm a cli fan, so dd all the way for me

[piper1]

dl Minitool Drive Copy that was suggested by VapingBad and it works great, thanks everyone for the support.

[vapertrainjames]

Depending on the OS it can be tricky cloning drives from Win 7 upwards due to it also keeping hardware specs so you will run into trouble (BSOD) unless you have the exact same set-up on all machines (or using the same machine).
The amount of upgrading I do on PC is crazy, due to being a gaming geek. Every now and then I just do a clean install i keep all my software off of my OS SSHD to minimise inconvenience

[djs]

Sept 10, 2014 20:04:19 GMT vapertrainjames said:

Depending on the OS it can be tricky cloning drives from Win 7 upwards due to it also keeping hardware specs so you will run into trouble (BSOD) unless you have the exact same set-up on all machines (or using the same machine).
The amount of upgrading I do on PC is crazy, due to being a gaming geek. Every now and then I just do a clean install i keep all my software off of my OS SSHD to minimise inconvenience

I am thinking about cloning my laptop HDD.

I'd like to do a clean install, but the windows key on the base is messed up.

Undecided at present.... seems awkward, as Microsoft are very careful about protecting windows keys. It's unreadable, but then again, if I clone to an SSD, the clone will (should) work just fine as the laptop has never suffered problems.

[GunJack]

Sept 10, 2014 20:16:47 GMT djs said:

Sept 10, 2014 20:04:19 GMT vapertrainjames said:

Depending on the OS it can be tricky cloning drives from Win 7 upwards due to it also keeping hardware specs so you will run into trouble (BSOD) unless you have the exact same set-up on all machines (or using the same machine).
The amount of upgrading I do on PC is crazy, due to being a gaming geek. Every now and then I just do a clean install i keep all my software off of my OS SSHD to minimise inconvenience

I am thinking about cloning my laptop HDD.

I'd like to do a clean install, but the windows key on the base is messed up.

Undecided at present.... seems awkward, as Microsoft are very careful about protecting windows keys. It's unreadable, but then again, if I clone to an SSD, the clone will (should) work just fine as the laptop has never suffered problems.

several points here djs ....

1. have you created your recovery disk/s for the lappy? all new machines for the last many years have a utility to burn these. It will give you an "out of the box" installation of windows and any manufacturer utilities that were included in the OS build. THIS ALSO negates the need to have the key that's worn off your sticker, as it'll be pre-activated using the manufacturer's volume licence key.

2. use belarc adviser/magical jellybean/SIW to read the activated key within your current install, copy it down for possible re-use.

3. just do a proper clean-up on your current install, it'll save many hours of windows updates

[GunJack]

oh, and on any new lappy, put clear sellotape over the licence key sticker to prevent it wearing off

[Mev]

Acronis True Image

[GunJack]

Sept 10, 2014 21:23:00 GMT Mev said:

Acronis True Image

if you can get a free version, yes, but wouldn't pay out for it when Macrium is free

in fact, that's just reminded me, I've got a code for a free copy of Acronis with a hdd I bought a couple f weeks back, will have to get round to using it

[Mev]

Same here, i've had a free version a few times now with hardware, cloning drives isn't something i bother with myself but the ones in the know say acronis is excellent.

[djs]

Sept 10, 2014 21:18:40 GMT GunJack said:

Sept 10, 2014 20:16:47 GMT djs said:

I am thinking about cloning my laptop HDD.

I'd like to do a clean install, but the windows key on the base is messed up.

Undecided at present.... seems awkward, as Microsoft are very careful about protecting windows keys. It's unreadable, but then again, if I clone to an SSD, the clone will (should) work just fine as the laptop has never suffered problems.

several points here djs ....

1. have you created your recovery disk/s for the lappy? all new machines for the last many years have a utility to burn these. It will give you an "out of the box" installation of windows and any manufacturer utilities that were included in the OS build. THIS ALSO negates the need to have the key that's worn off your sticker, as it'll be pre-activated using the manufacturer's volume licence key.

2. use belarc adviser/magical jellybean/SIW to read the activated key within your current install, copy it down for possible re-use.

3. just do a proper clean-up on your current install, it'll save many hours of windows updates

FABULOUS! Yes, I have the DVD set (2 of them) boxed away and sealed up with tape. I made it the first day once I had everything updated i.i.r.c.

I have used Belarc, I didn't know it could produce the windows key. I'll do that tonight... and print off the results.

So - Clean up the current drive (remove all those useless programs too, like old mobile phone software) and then clone THAT. Will it copy data that exists on the current drive that is in "freed-up space" waiting to be overwritten? There must be gigabytes of crap that windows doesn't see (like deleted movies and music)... Am I right in thinking that?



Thanks.

[gary101]

Burn a Linux live CD and use the built in dd command. A quick Google will show you how. Not using the software from the drive you want to image can save a lot of headaches.

[GunJack]

Sept 11, 2014 11:09:14 GMT djs said:

Sept 10, 2014 21:18:40 GMT GunJack said:

several points here djs ....

1. have you created your recovery disk/s for the lappy? all new machines for the last many years have a utility to burn these. It will give you an "out of the box" installation of windows and any manufacturer utilities that were included in the OS build. THIS ALSO negates the need to have the key that's worn off your sticker, as it'll be pre-activated using the manufacturer's volume licence key.

2. use belarc adviser/magical jellybean/SIW to read the activated key within your current install, copy it down for possible re-use.

3. just do a proper clean-up on your current install, it'll save many hours of windows updates

FABULOUS! Yes, I have the DVD set (2 of them) boxed away and sealed up with tape. I made it the first day once I had everything updated i.i.r.c.

I have used Belarc, I didn't know it could produce the windows key. I'll do that tonight... and print off the results.

So - Clean up the current drive (remove all those useless programs too, like old mobile phone software) and then clone THAT. Will it copy data that exists on the current drive that is in "freed-up space" waiting to be overwritten? There must be gigabytes of crap that windows doesn't see (like deleted movies and music)... Am I right in thinking that?



Thanks.

once you clean up your system, use ccleaner's tool to wipe the empty space on the drive before imaging it

p.s. this process takes quite a while to complete, and single-pass will suffice