Using System Image to replace 750GB Drive with s 500GB Drive


  1. Posts : 4
    windows 7 home preimum 64 bit
       #1

    Using System Image to replace 750GB Drive with s 500GB Drive


    BACKGROUND
    My 750gb hard disk is failing on a HP laptop that came preloaded with W7 home prem. I have a SMALLER excellent 500gb, 7200 rpm hard disk that I'd like to replace the failing hard disk with. I've read that my W7 System Repair DVD will not restore my recent system image (on NAS) to a smaller partition. The C: partition on the failing drive is well over 600gb but can shrink to 300gb.
    QUESTION
    Can I restore a system image from my larger drive "as is". If not, and I shrink my C:\ partition (contain windows) to say 350GB will I be able to restore the system image to where windows will boot?

    I have an old copy of (7.0) partition magic that I used to resize partitions on XP machines Can this old 32 bit partition magic safely resize my C: partition. If so, and I create a new system image can I restore it to the new disk?

    Please help. Thank you.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 1,653
    Windows 10 Pro. EFI boot partition, full EFI boot
       #2

    Download Macrium reflect free home edition, make a restore CD, and either backup an image or clone the drive directly. I haven't used their clone facility but have used their image backups dozens of times and it is good and fast.

    Otherwise, with windows backup, you will need to defragment the partition, then shrink the partition, then defragment and shrink.... until you get a < 500 GB partition.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 1,379
    Win7 Pro 32-bit, Win8 Pro 32-bit
       #3

    As far as I know, Macrium Reflect won't let you "clone" one drive to a smaller one, but if you shrink your partitions first (as it appears you are going to do), then you should be able to do the cloning without problems.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #4

    Wampus said:

    I have an old copy of (7.0) partition magic that I used to resize partitions on XP machines Can this old 32 bit partition magic safely resize my C: partition. If so, and I create a new system image can I restore it to the new disk?
    Don't use Partition Magic to resize partitions.

    Use Windows Disk Management or Partition Wizard.

    Windows Disk Management works well within its capabilities, but may not let you shrink as much as you would like---in which case use Partition Wizard.

    I'm not sure Macrium will let you restore a 600 GB partition to a 500 GB drive. You may have to shrink regardless of the app you intend to use.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 1,711
    Win 7 Pro 64-bit 7601
       #5

    EaseUs can do that with a pretty easy wizard, and the OS will work fine afterwards without doing Sysprep (as long as the hdd is in the same computer anyway). It's free for home use and worked fine countless times for me.

    Of course if you have more than 500 GB of data in the failing drive, there is no way any software can do it. Move away stuff and then do the above.
      My Computer


  6. mjf
    Posts : 5,969
    Windows 7x64 Home Premium SP1
       #6

    Wampus said:
    QUESTION
    Can I restore a system image from my larger drive "as is". If not, and I shrink my C:\ partition (contain windows) to say 350GB will I be able to restore the system image to where windows will boot?
    No and Yes respectively.
      My Computer


 

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 7 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 7" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:02.
Find Us