Just got a new 2T HDD - easiest way to transfer all media from 500g?

arkhi said:

Honestly, I would do this Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup . I would also use that ability to create a system repair disk if needed. Then I'll boot my PC using that repair disk, and follow System Image Recovery

This way every thing from the whole HDD down from the last sector gets copied. Plus it's faster too as the heads don't need to go back and forth having to copy data to the MFT and the data clusters.

I'm not actually trying to make an iso backup, but move the entire HDD to a large one...

gregrocker said:

JohnnyScience said:

I have Paragon... should I just use that to transfer the data via "Backing up"?

I like to drag the data over so it maintains the same file structure. But you can test Paragon backup function to see if it will do what you want.

It can reimage Win7 to 500gb, too.

I just realized that using Paragon takes the HDD size from 465 down to 363... so clearly its condensing something some how... not how I wanted.

I'll just move it as chunks as you suggested.

Is there anything wrong with doing a "Quick Format"?

I unchecked it and it was just taking wayyy too long because its 2T.

But are there any disadvantages to using quick format? I'm just formatting the entire thing as one big partition.

JohnnyScience said:

arkhi said:

Honestly, I would do this Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup . I would also use that ability to create a system repair disk if needed. Then I'll boot my PC using that repair disk, and follow System Image Recovery

This way every thing from the whole HDD down from the last sector gets copied. Plus it's faster too as the heads don't need to go back and forth having to copy data to the MFT and the data clusters.

I'm not actually trying to make an iso backup, but move the entire HDD to a large one...

I think he's referring to the part where you want to move Win7 from the 80gb to 500gb. With built-in imaging, having to reinstall is a thing of the past.

Since you already have Paragon, it's imaging function will likely serve you better than Win7's as it is more flexible. You may need to do a few Startup Repairs if the MBR is copied correctly, however. Still saves a lot of time and you're up and running with your same install.

JohnnyScience said:

Is there anything wrong with doing a "Quick Format"?

I unchecked it and it was just taking wayyy too long because its 2T.

But are there any disadvantages to using quick format? I'm just formatting the entire thing as one big partition.

If Disk Management doesn't want to initialize the HD, then Create and Quick format is fine. Make sure it doesn't get marked Active.

[QUOTE=gregrocker;995255][QUOTE=JohnnyScience;995251]

arkhi said:

Honestly, I would do this Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup . I would also use that ability to create a system repair disk if needed. Then I'll boot my PC using that repair disk, and follow System Image Recovery

If Disk Management doesn't want to initialize the HD, then Create and Quick format is fine. Make sure it doesn't get marked Active.

No it was initializing, but after like an hour it was only 14%... so I figured it would take over a day. I did the quick format & it took like a minute...

So if I'm going to use Paragon to move the OS, how do I go about it? I just create a regular backup and it will make an iso for me to use? I guess I'm a bit confused on this step...

Create a System image backup from your Paragon Backup program, stored to your new data drive.

Be sure to have it include the MBR plus the 100mb System Reserved boot partition if you have it.

Make a Paragon Boot Disk to use to apply the image.

Then unplug the 80gb source HD and plug in the 500gb target HD, boot the Paragon Boot disk, select to reimage the 500gb HD, it should autodetect the image on storage drive, offer options including any special partitioning you want, then apply the image to the target drive in minutes.

You can also try a Win7 backup image which uses the Win7 DVD Repair console to reimage. Here's how: https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/663-backup-complete-computer-create-image-backup.html

gregrocker said:

Create a System image backup from your Paragon Backup program, stored to your new data drive.

Be sure to have it include the MBR plus the 100mb System Reserved boot partition if you have it.

Make a Paragon Boot Disk to use to apply the image.

Then unplug the 80gb source HD and plug in the 500gb target HD, boot the Paragon Boot disk, select to reimage the 500gb HD, it should autodetect the image on storage drive, offer options including any special partitioning you want, then apply the image to the target drive in minutes.

You can also try a Win7 backup image which uses the Win7 DVD Repair console to reimage. Here's how: https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/663-backup-complete-computer-create-image-backup.html

Ok, can I use a cd-rw for the image backup, or will I need a dvd? (I dont have one)

You'll need a CD to make the Paragon Boot Disk, which you boot to reimage the HD from the stored image.

But the image file itself is too big to put on disks so it needs to be stored on your new Storage HD.

Remember you can use either built-in Win7 Backup Imaging or Paragon Backup. Read the tutorial I've now linked you to twice for the Win7 imaging process so you understand it better.

Hi all
Why not use something like Acronis and just CLONE the existing drive on to your new one.

You can dynamically change the partition size afterwards if you want by using GPARTED or several other free partitioning tools.

The problem with "Imaging" the 500 GB disk and then restoring that to your new drive where you can specify the parition size at the outset is you'll need to save the image somewhere OTHER than your new disk.

If you've got say a 250 / 320 GB usb drive handy you could save your 500 GB partition to this drive at maximum compression and then restore to your new drive.

Cheers
jimbo