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Cloning a laptop hard-drive

Papercut

Papercut

Jermaine Jenas
That time again, technical question!

I've bought a 1tb 2.5 sata as an upgrade for my laptop and wanted to clone the current drive onto the new one (it seems it's not as easy as it was for the PS3 upgrade! ](*,) )

I've seen some suggestions and tried an older version of Norton Ghost. This took some 25 hours and didn't bloody work!

I'm using Windows 7 64bit.

The other option is to reinstall Windows onto the new hard-drive (as the license is on the motherboard not the hard-drive as I'm led to believe) however this may be far too long-winded as I'd have to reinstall lots of drives, etc.

Is there a straightforward way?

Cheers
 
Can't you use Windows itself?

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Hmm... where's that mate (I will Google)?

I have an enclosure for the new hard-drive which I hope will help.

Ta
 
Found it.

May explain why I couldn't find much out there!

It seems due to the previous attempt the new drive has 2 partitions (750gb or so on one). Do I need to reformat?
 
Acronis true image is probs the best clone option tbh

By 2 partitions, you mean when you used Ghost it happened? Would imagine that your data is on one partition and the other might be empty, all your main data should be on the original hdd still (double check) so if so then you can do with the new drive what you like.
 
Read about Acronis but didn't seem to suggest what I wanted (although probably my bad).

And the partitioning sounds right seeing as the current drive is circa 250gb.

Currently backing up important files (pictures!) and will first try as Southstand suggested.

Oh and they need to be NTFS don't they?

Thanks again
 
Remove all partitions from the new drive, download drive image XML (free), install to a USB stick, don't mix up your drives.
 
Thanks Scara - already on the way here so if it doesn't work, will try your suggestion.

Created the single partition. I assume it's normal that a hard-drive shows capacity of 900gb for a 1tb

Backing up almost complete and will replace the old drive and boot-up.

If that doesn't work will give your idea a try. The alternative is to go and buy a new ultrabook...
 
Papercut said:
Thanks Scara - already on the way here so if it doesn't work, will try your suggestion.

Created the single partition. I assume it's normal that a hard-drive shows capacity of 900gb for a 1tb

Backing up almost complete and will replace the old drive and boot-up.

If that doesn't work will give your idea a try. The alternative is to go and buy a new ultrabook...
Click to expand...

With Win7 it's the boot partition you need to worry about - it won't boot unless you clone that.
 
Scara, I've got the exe file, how do I install onto the uSB please? I'm sure I can find the answer on Google but I've decided on a nice whiskey tonight...
 
Papercut said:
Installed to the USB :D - what next?

I assume plug in the new drive and boot from USB?
Click to expand...

Yep. Make sure your new drive is partition free - easier to tell them apart.

Once you boot from USB there's a wizard that will guide you through - just select source drive then destination drive and wait.
 
Took 11 hours and completed without error however once connected to the laptop, couldn't load operating system :(

Deleted the volume then added (read not to format hard-drive) this allowed to clone however I get a feeling at some point I needed to somehow make it an/the 'active drive'?
 
Papercut said:
Took 11 hours and completed without error however once connected to the laptop, couldn't load operating system :(

Deleted the volume then added (read not to format hard-drive) this allowed to clone however I get a feeling at some point I needed to somehow make it an/the 'active drive'?
Click to expand...

11 hours? I've got to do my laptop drive this weekend, not looking forward to it.

Do you mean set the partition as active? I'm pretty sure all drives come set for auto select between master/slave.
 
It was better than my 25 hours attempt and I could still use the laptop if required :D

I believe so, may have to try again. Thought about just using it as an external for photo's etc but that's just a cop out [-(

The other cop out is buying the ultra book I want but don't need...
 
Your drive that you want to clone should have minimum two partitions, one about 100mb or so which is the boot data and then the main one (Obvs that may differ depending on your setup.) and you need to make sure you backup all partitions.

Not sure with the cloner you used but with Acronis it does make the target drive boot partition (100mb) active in the restore process. If you think your new drive is not then load it up as a slave drive if possible and check the partitions in Disk Management and if it is not active then set it so. On a correct install of Win7 then the boot partition is the only active one, the main partition is just normal.

Mine thankfully only takes 7 mins for the 50gb I have for the system..

If you like pm me and I will upload my Acronis 2010 for you to try.
(I think the clone wiz will manage to get it done for you hassle free)
 
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Trixster; you're a star buddy. So much more easier and a lot quicker!

Took circa 4 hours and less of a head f*ck.

Scara, try it if not too late. The wizard gives you the option to auto do it or manually.

It's switches off the pc and does it via dos (makes more sense). I had 2 partitions and it creates the same but using the full capacity to the same ratio.

It tells you to make sure your hard-drive jumpers are set to master, etc but I suspect that is not for the 2.5 satas (as I didn't need to).

It really is a clone as all my cookies, etc have not been affected.

I feel like my old bloated laptop has taken a massive brick! :D

Cheers lads...
 
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