Cloning failed, backup not working

[hazel123]

Ok so I think I have a failing hard drive on my Sony Vaio VPCCW2S1E - Windows 7 home premium 64 bit. Which is why I was trying to do an up to date system image in the first place (using Windows 7 backup and restore). My system image kept failing. So I got a new hard drive and sata/usb cable, downloaded macrium and tried to clone the drive to the new drive, carefully making sure I had got everything right. This also failed. So now I have just backed up copies of all documents, photos etc on an external hard drive, made a note of all programs installed and their licence numbers, and done a full disk check. It found a few bad sectors and sorted them so reckon I need the new hard drive - the laptop is 5 or 6 years old.

Question is, what do I do now? Should I try cloning again now the bad sectors are sorted? Or should I just put the new disk in and use my recovery discs to reinstall windows and put all my files and programs back on?

Also - as the clone failed, presumably something will now be on the new hard drive - do I need to wipe it now? Or just format it? Thanks.

 

[Laith]

Can you copy and paste the files in the drive? Or cant you boot?

 

[whs]

After you fixed the disk, somehow, I would try another image (not clone). Use Macrium and not windows imaging. Macrium is a lot more robust. Make sure you also select the 100MB system partition.

Have a look whether there are traces of your previous cloning attempts and delete those. If there is nothing else on the disk you can also make a quick format.

 

[hazel123]

Thanks. Not sure what you mean about copying and pasting the files in the drive. Yes I can boot. I did try Macrium for an image after the cloning failed twice, but that failed too, but I see what you mean - maybe try another image now the bad sectors have been 'fixed'. If I manage to get an image, can I transfer that straight onto the new drive or do I have to do something else first? I'm assuming the Sony recovery discs will work on a new drive, if necessary.

 

[whs]

If I manage to get an image, can I transfer that straight onto the new drive

Yes, nothing else to be done. The Sony discs should work on any disk.

 

[hazel123]

Thanks! It hasn't failed yet anyway, so I'll have another go at doing a system image now the bad sectors have been sorted although I expect they won't be sorted for long. Last time I had a drive go it kept needing constand bad sectors fixing.