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#11
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.
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.
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]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
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.
Open the Paragon program then click on the help tab read the typical scenarios section which will explain Backup and restore methods then read the getting started > Building recovery media & Booting from the Linux/DOS Recovery Media (the recovery media disk you created) then when you are ready to perform your backup start the backup program & back up your current C (80 gb) Drive to another separate drive, an external drive is essential for this task as you would still be able to restore your system from the recovery media in case of a drive failure or windows not booting properly.
After you have made your backup you have 2 options to restore.
Option one, open paragon then restore your backup to the new bigger drive and after a few minutes your computer will restart and the paragon program will finish the backup then reboot into your newly restored drive.
Option two - insert the recovery media into your DVD drive, reboot computer, set dvd drive to boot first in bios or boot order key. After DVD has started paragon program select restore option then browse to the drive you want to restore to (it will not have a letter only a zero or one but will have the size listed) pick the drive size that matches the drive you are restoring to. After the backup has completed and you have removed the DVD from the drive reboot the computer into your new installation.
It is a good idea to verify both your back up and restore to ensure success.
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