Clone to smaller HDD


  1. Hikertrash
    Posts : 119
    Windows 7 Professional 64bit
       New #1

    Clone to smaller HDD


    Before I update a Windows 7 installation to Windows 10, I'd like to clone the 750GB HDD to a 320GB HDD. If possible I'll be using ATI WD (or Seagate) edition (2016), but would use another free solution.

    Of course, I'll back up (and delete) most of the music, data and documents to another external HDD so the installation fits the smaller drive. I'll also uninstall a few larger programs (CS6, MS Office, Acrobat, etc.) before reinstalling on a newer laptop.

    The bottom line is I want to use the 750GB HDD as a second drive on a newer laptop that only has a 256GB SSD, and utilize a smaller HDD I've upgraded from over the years on the older laptop.

    Is this going to be possible?
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  3. RolandJS
    Posts : 2,774
    Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
       New #2

    If the final reduced partition will be smaller, i.e. if its byte-size is equal to or smaller than 320GB, it should work. What I don't know: if the receiving HDD has to have some working space or not. I'm wondering if a full image of source and restoring that image onto target might be easier, let's see what others have to say.
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  4. file3456
    Posts : 0
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       New #3

    I found it difficult to do myself. There's Roadkil's rawcopy that might do it but I have had no luck with it.
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  6. SIW2
    Posts : 16,411
    7 X64
       New #4

    1. You could use O&O diskimage - it can exclude files/folders from a "clone".

    O&O Diskimage Pro v12 available free. Lots of options including imaging to their regular format, or to vhd ( V15 also does vhdx ). Also included is restore to different hardware, excluding files/folders from images an clones, etc. Nice stuff for enthusiasts.

    Register for free Diskimage Pro V12 license here:
    Registration for your FREE license of O&O DiskImage 12
    They send an email. Click the link in the email they sent you and you will receive another email with your license key

    Download O&O Diskimage Pro V12 program in English
    Download Archive


    2. O&O fans might be interested in the new O&O Diskimage Pro v15 - available on special , or the pack with three other tools
    O&O Software - special

    NOTE: because of high dpi setting, v15 doesn't play well with standard win7 winre. For v15 use win8/10 winpe to create recovery media


    3. The free version of DiskGenius can also exclude from "clones", but I haven't tested if it adjusts bcd etc to the new device ( only necessary when cloning an OS - not needed for data partition clone)

    Disk Genius free version is here:
    All-in-one Solution for Data Recovery, Partition Manager and Data Backup - DiskGenius

    4. If you need bootable recovery media, this 17514x64v15.iso includes DiskGenius and lots of other tools ( the iso needs to be extracted to usb, using usb7ice or similar)

    usb7ice


    Hikertrash said:
    I'd like to clone the 750GB HDD to a 320GB HDD. If possible I'll be using ATI WD (or Seagate) edition (2016), but would use another free solution....
    I'll back up (and delete) most of the music, data and documents to another external HDD so the installation fits the smaller drive. I'll also uninstall a few larger programs (CS6, MS Office, Acrobat, etc.) before reinstalling on a newer laptop.Is this going to be possible?
      My Computers
    Quote Quote

  7. Snick
    Posts : 3,615
    Win 10 x64, Linux Lite, Win 7 x64, BlackArch, & Kali
       New #5

    Perfect Disk will allow you to shrink a partition beyond what most other free programs permit
    Some Win files are on the end of the partition, yea, figures, hard to move, yes
    Perfect Disk will move that and preserve the integrity of the partion.
    I use AOMEI and only image the DATA not free space.
    If you use Perfect Disk
    then AOMEI Backupper
    I've had excellent success, and they are newbie, not so tech savvy, friendly!
    How to shrink a Windows harddisk and migrate to SSD | Robin ...
    Perfect Disk Prep for Shrink
    Bill
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  8. Lady Fitzgerald
    Posts : 9,600
    Win 7 Ultimate 64 bit
       New #6

    As long as the data on the drive you are cloning from has 75-80% of the capacity available on the smaller drive, you can clone it with some programs. I've done it with Macrium Reflect using Intelligent Sector Cloning (Forensic Cloning will copy every sector on the source disk, whether they are in use or not).

    The reason for the 75-80% figure is an HDD needs 10-15% free space to work properly (it's 20-25% with SSDs, btw).
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  10. SIW2
    Posts : 16,411
    7 X64
       New #7

    Aomei backupper is very good - it is on the boot disk I linked. However like most imaging programs, it doesn't have an exclude function.

    The source has too much data for the target disk. Defragging won't help with that.

    The OP will therefore have to either move the data before "cloning", or use a program that allows exclusions from "clones"/images.

    Only a few imaging programs allow exclusions. O&O and diskgenius are two that I know of.



    Snick said:
    Perfect Disk will allow you to shrink a partition beyond what most other free programs permit
    Some Win files are on the end of the partition, yea, figures, hard to move, yes
    Perfect Disk will move that and preserve the integrity of the partion.
    I use AOMEI and only image the DATA not free space.
    If you use Perfect Disk
    then AOMEI Backupper
    I've had excellent success, and they are newbie, not so tech savvy, friendly!
    How to shrink a Windows harddisk and migrate to SSD | Robin ...
    Perfect Disk Prep for Shrink
    Bill
      My Computers
    Quote Quote

 

  Related Discussions
Clone to smaller drive
in General Discussion

I have tried EaseUs todo...... and apparently it has built in compression and will clone to a slightly smaller drive , apparently Acronis 2014 will not. I have a 1.5 TB drive in desk top but it is only 1/2 used , but I am having trouble cloning to a empty 1 TB drive. I thing it might be because...
Hello everyone! Ive read and searched about cloning and what not and haven't gotten very far.... So i ask of seven forums. How do i shrink a larger C drive partition to then clone to a smaller 40GB harddrive and then removing the old windows once the cloning is successful. The exsisting...
Hi guys ...i have a problem while cloning windows7 in Dell machines with CloneZilla which is an open source tool...well the thing is i have taken an image from E6510 Latitude laptop...and when iam trying to clone the image on the other E6510 laptop..its showing some blue screen... Iam...
Currently have a 500GB HD with the OS and my programs on it. I am only using 32GB. I want to clone the 500GB is drive to a 250 GB Drive and use the 500 GB for file storage. Would have no problem cloning to same size or larger HD but my cloning software wont clone to a smaller HD I thought...
Hi all... I made a app in vb 2010 but when i saved it it was 15mb...Anyway i can make that smaller..I made it 1.mb smaller using winrar..Any other way to make it half the size or less???? Thanks
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 23:03.
Find Us