Transfer data from old HDD to new HDD

Wrenches · 21 Jan 2013

Hi guys, Comes Feb I'll be getting a new HDD and a new DVD-RW as my drives are 5 years old. They're still working but nothing lasts forever right?

My HDD is partitioned to C: and D: for boot and storage. I'd like to do the same with the new HDD and transfer the data to it. How would I do it? What's really important is making my new HDD bootable and Windows transferred to it. I can work with D: later if need be.

I looked in the tutorials. Either I looked in the wrong place or it's not there.

Thanks fellas. :)

whs · 21 Jan 2013

Make an image of C and the 100MB System partition (if any) and restore that to the new HDD.

Here is a tutorial for imaging (read it carefully before watching): Imaging with free Macrium

And here is a tutorial explaining the transfer of an Operating System. I wrote it for transferring to a SSD, but it is the same for a HDD (less the alignment problem): SSD - Install and Transfer the Operating System

And regarding the 100MB System partition: If you have one, I recomment to transfer the bootmgr to C (before the move). Then you can forget about the 100MB partition - it is no more needed. Bootmgr - Move to C:\ with EasyBCD

And as you said, with the data on D you can deal later.

Wrenches · 21 Jan 2013

Could I use my D: partition to receive the image file?

whs · 21 Jan 2013

If you have enough space, yes. Figure the image will be 60 to 65% of the data in the C partition. The total size of the C partition is not relevant, only the amount of data within.

If you post a picture of your disk management where I can see the sizes (total and used) I can tell you. A picture of your Computer window would also be ok.

Wrenches · 22 Jan 2013

Here it is.

whs · 22 Jan 2013

Yeah, you have plenty of room on D. The image should take about 35GBs. Suggest you make a folder on D and call it e.g. Image and store the image there. Then you can find it easier during the recovery navigation.

Wrenches · 22 Jan 2013

Yeah, it was 7.5 Gb so I decided I can put it on two DVDs but I got aborted twice (2 DVDs) by the program. I guess my DVD-RW's getting old.

Then I find out I have to download from Microsoft so I can create a rescue disk. You know what? I'm just gonna do a clean install, it's easier.

whs · 22 Jan 2013

DVDs are no good. And get the rescue WinPE disc from my Skydrive. Just burn it to CD. You can even make the image with it. Reinstall is a drag.

Wrenches · 22 Jan 2013

Well, I'm gonna have to table the drives for now. The cable guy came today and knocked out most of my tv channels. I asked the cable guy WTF? and he said more channels are going digital sorry. Duh!

I went to the center and upgraded my TV channels to digital and as a side benefit my phone is upgraded from local to statewide and my internet access will be digital so it should run better or faster. I was told about $20-$25 increase on my bill so I'm waiting to see.

sdowney717 · 22 Jan 2013

Macrium reflex free
Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - Information and download

Does this very easy to use. I just used it last week.
It will recreate exact same size partitions or you can resize them.

No flaky CD or DVD needed for this.