Buying A New Hard Drive

[mjwilson94]

Hi everyone,

I am thinking about buying a new Hard Drive to be specific the WD Scorpio Blue.
The reason for this is that my current WD Scorpio 80GB is just not big enough for me.

Anyway I have posted this because i was wondering how would I transfer my files and settings from my current hard drive over to my new hard drive when i get it.

Thanks for anny help and tips.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Are you moving from one boot drive to another boot drive?

Do you want to simply transfer your Windows system and all of your files to the new drive?

If so, you can do that by "cloning" with an application such as Acronis.

Or you can use the "imaging" capability found in Acronis, Macrium Reflect, or Paragon.

Your third choice is to reinstall Windows on the new drive.

Imaging and cloning are not foolproof, so be prepared to reinstall if you have to--back up your data.

 

[mjwilson94]

Well really what i am aiming to do is just move everything ( OS and All my files and programs) over to my new hard drive.

What do you believe would be the best way to do this?

 

[richc46]

I would use Paragon, Make an image and then trasfer it over Paragon has a free edition, for such purposes.

http://www.paragon-software.com/home/db-express/

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Cloning would be the simplest--it transfers everything without making an intervening image.

With imaging, you make a duplicate of your existing system, store it somewhere, install the new drive, and then restore the saved image.

Either would work. Either can fail.

Not all imaging programs have cloning capability.

It really wouldn't matter whether you used cloning or imaging. Your bigger concern is whether it works or fails. You have to be prepared for failure----which would mean reformatting and reinstalling by hand.

 

[jav]

If you have any external HD, you could make image of your current HD with any imaging programs (there are a few free ones out there) and then put the image into your new HD.
And it will be as if nothing has even been changed

 

[pparks1]

Neither cloning or imaging here would be dangerous..as you would always have the original hard drive intact that you could just use until you get the new drive working properly. But, it's always best to make sure that you backup your "critical data" to a secondary location in case something strange does indeed happen.

 

[mjwilson94]

Thank you all very much for these suggestions, from this information I am edging towards creating an image of my current data and transfering it over to an external hard drive. Sounds Good To Me!

One more thing: Is there any programs i could use to make a back-up or could I just use the windows back-up and restore program to back up my system?

Ok one More thing actually: What would you say the best programs are for making an image of my system? If you could put them into catagories that tould be just wonderfull.

Have to Pay:

Don't have to Pay:

You shall all be getting Rep for this

 

[ignatzatsonic]

The best known: Windows 7, Acronis, Macrium Reflect, Paragon.

All 4 are free, at least for a 30 day trial; some permanently.

Not sure, but I think only Acronis offers cloning, but Paragon might.

Anecdotally, Windows 7 has the most issues. Macrium and Paragon probably the least.

My advice: use Macrium and Paragon and hope at least one works.

 

[pparks1]

One more thing: Is there any programs i could use to make a back-up or could I just use the windows back-up and restore program to back up my system?

As long as the disc is the same size or larger this should work. You cannot move to a smaller disk though.

Ok one More thing actually: What would you say the best programs are for making an image of my system? If you could put them into catagories that tould be just wonderfull.

There are numerous threads on these applications out here. Each has advantages and disadvantages and features that some needs and others don't. I believe that both Acronis and Paragon (which make great products) have trial versions with full functionality that you could use for this and see how you like them. Personally, I found a copy of Acronis 2010 for $23.99 a while back on NewEgg and have been extremely happy with the product...mainly for the "Try and Decide" functionality.

 

[richc46]

Thank you all very much for these suggestions, from this information I am edging towards creating an image of my current data and transfering it over to an external hard drive. Sounds Good To Me!

One more thing: Is there any programs i could use to make a back-up or could I just use the windows back-up and restore program to back up my system?

Ok one More thing actually: What would you say the best programs are for making an image of my system? If you could put them into catagories that tould be just wonderfull.

Have to Pay:

Don't have to Pay:

You shall all be getting Rep for this

I think it is Paragon. They have a free program. You could also use the one that is in the OS

http://www.paragon-software.com/home/db-express/

 

[jav]

My personal recommendation will be macrium Image reflect.
It has free edition and easy to use: Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - Information and download
It has also bootable linux based rescue disk aswell.

 

[mjwilson94]

Thank-you all for contributing to this thread I have recommended you all, and have made sure you all recieve "Rep" from me as you were all very helpful.
I still have yet to get any rep aha.

How do I mark this thread as solved?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

You MUST make a rescue CD with Macrium Reflect Free to be able to restore an image. Otherwise, the program is useless--you make an image and then find out you can't restore it because you didn't make a rescue CD.

You should make a rescue CD anyway, regardless of which imaging application you use.

Macrium probably has the cleanest and simplest interface.

 

[jav]

You MUST make a rescue CD with Macrium Reflect Free to be able to restore an image. Otherwise, the program is useless--you make an image and then find out you can't restore it because you didn't make a rescue CD.

You should make a rescue CD anyway, regardless of which imaging application you use.

Macrium probably has the cleanest and simplest interface.

Thank you, edited my post.

 

[richc46]

Thank-you all for contributing to this thread I have recommended you all, and have made sure you all recieve "Rep" from me as you were all very helpful.
I still have yet to get any rep aha.

How do I mark this thread as solved?

Ill mark it solved and ty for the rep. For the future you mark solved by clicking on the icon top right. The last one after rep.

 

[dj99]

Western Digital provides a free copy of Acronis True Image WD edition on their website. Just plug in your new hard drive along with your old one and use the clone feature. The program will do the rest.

 

[richc46]

Western Digital provides a free copy of Acronis True Image WD edition on their website. Just plug in your new hard drive along with your old one and use the clone feature. The program will do the rest.

You may be right, but I thought Acronis only had the 30 day trial. Can you provide a link, I would be interested.

 

[Jonathan_King]

Western Digital provides a free copy of Acronis True Image WD edition on their website. Just plug in your new hard drive along with your old one and use the clone feature. The program will do the rest.

You may be right, but I thought Acronis only had the 30 day trial. Can you provide a link, I would be interested.

WD Support

 

[richc46]

Thanks for the link, Johathan, it says good for XP and Vista. Is 7 officially supported?