cloning vs imaging?

Try for free till Sep. 10. 2013 True Image 2014 by Acronis-Beta

You can also try for free till Sep. 10. 2013 True Image 2014 by Acronis-Beta and the top 10 beta users will receive Commercial licenses for Acronis True Image 2014. It is a "Beta" so IT IS NOT RECOMMENDED on your main partition with all important data on it, maybe a secondary partition just to make sure is something you'll like to keep as a full steady version-when it comes ready for download. This info is for your consideration, I own multiple licenses of True Image 2013 and I am pretty satisfied with the main results for cloning/ghosting but as far as backup I use EaseUS Todo Backup Workstation 5.8x ahead of Paragon Hard Disk Manager 12 Professional-which gave me some issues.
PC backup software | True Image by Acronis
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell Inc.
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
CPU
Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-2630QM CPU @ 2.00GHz, 2001 Mhz, 4 Core
Motherboard
Dell System Inspiron N7110-Dell Inc. A06, 22-Jul-11
Memory
8.00 GB
Graphics Card(s)
NVIDIA GeForce GT 525M-2GB
Sound Card
Realtek HD Audio
Monitor(s) Displays
LED
Hard Drives
TOSHIBA MK6475GSX 640GB
Case
Detachable-Interchange
Cooling
+External BlueIce-TurboPad 17"
back up space

hi i want to back up my c:drive onto my new samsung ssd drive which has a capacity of 128GB ,windows 7 only has roughly 60GBs used space (i'm guessing because i haven't actually bought windows 7 yet) will windows back up the entire 128GB or just the 60GB? is that a stupid question? also is it a wise idea to make a system repair disc before i do a system image backup? thank you
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
windows XP professional service pack 2
OS
XP windows Professional
CPU
intel core 2 Duo/ E8400 3.00 Ghz
Motherboard
Gigabyte EP355-DS3
Memory
3.50 GB
Graphics Card(s)
Gigabyte 512MB 8800GT
Sound Card
?
Monitor(s) Displays
HP 2159m
Hard Drives
C: 400GB
D: 80GB
G: 100GB
H: 300GB
PSU
?
Case
CoolerMaster Centurion CAC-TO5
Cooling
?
It sounds like you want to transfer your OS from the HD to the new SSD, right?
Is that what you mean by "back up" in your thread title?

This tutorial explains how to transfer the OS to a new SSD.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/149969-ssd-install-transfer-operating-system.html

Do you want to use the entire 120GB SSD for the "C" drive?
Or, do you want to partiton the SSD, so only 60GB+ is used for the "C" drive and the remaining space is used for another partition?

An image can be restored to a different size partition than it was created from as long as there is enough space to restore the image for the original "space used".
Imaging programs such as Acronis or Macrium can do this, I'm not sure about Windows built in Imaging as I don't use it.

Do you store your User data on the "C" drive?

You should post a screen print of your current disk Management to get the best help from the experts here.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/274797-disk-management-post-screen-capture-image.html

It's always a good idea to have a Repair disc available, so create that in case you ever need it...
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
home built
OS
Multi-Boot W7_Pro_x64 W8.1_Pro_x64 W10_Pro_x64 +Linux_VMs +Chromium_VM
CPU
AMD Athlon II x4 620
Motherboard
Gigabyte GA-MA785G-UD3H
Memory
6GB GSkill DDR2 800
Graphics Card(s)
AMD 4670 GPU + AMD 4200 IGP
Sound Card
on board Realtek ALC889A
Monitor(s) Displays
RCA 40" LCD TV, Insignia 32" LCD TV, HP 15" LCD monitor
Screen Resolution
1680 x 1050
Hard Drives
OCZ Vertex 3 120GB,
Samsung F3 1TB (3),
Several others - WD, Seagate, Hitachi, ...
PSU
Corsair 500 W
Case
Rosewill mid tower
Cooling
CM 90mm rifle
Keyboard
Gyration wireless, Logitech wireless, Dell USB wired
Mouse
Gyration wireless, Logitech wireless, V7 USB wired
Internet Speed
Spectrum - 100Mbps D / 10Mbps U
Antivirus
Avast, MBAM3, EMET, WinPatrol
Browser
Pale Moon, Firefox, IE
Other Info
2 multi-boot PC's
Mainly HTPC/Office/Gen purpose (no gaming).
Trendnet USB KVM.
LG DVD burner/Blue Ray Player.
Tray system for removable SATA backup drives.

Not currently OCd, under-volted.
I use Hybrid sleep, rarely re-boot or shutdown.

Hauppauge HD-PVR, Avermedia PCIe TV Tuner, Hauppauge PCI TV Tuner.
what i meant was that my hard drive has a total capacity of 128GB ( for OS), but only 60GB is used , so the whole hard drive would not be backed up just the used space. is that right? is it a good idea to make a partition for the OS? and how would i make one? and what do u mean by User data? thanks
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
windows XP professional service pack 2
OS
XP windows Professional
CPU
intel core 2 Duo/ E8400 3.00 Ghz
Motherboard
Gigabyte EP355-DS3
Memory
3.50 GB
Graphics Card(s)
Gigabyte 512MB 8800GT
Sound Card
?
Monitor(s) Displays
HP 2159m
Hard Drives
C: 400GB
D: 80GB
G: 100GB
H: 300GB
PSU
?
Case
CoolerMaster Centurion CAC-TO5
Cooling
?
i want to back up my c:drive onto my new samsung ssd drive
The way you stated that I thought your C drive was on a HD and you wanted to transfer the OS to a new SSD.

A System Backup Image uses about 60% of the used space of the partition being imaged.
A Backup Image of your "C" (60 GB used) drive will create a Backup Image file ~36 GB.
You can NOT create a backup image of the "C" drive ONTO the "C" drive.
You must create the backup image of "C" onto another Partition, HD, DVDs, etc.

User data is Documents, Music, Videos, Pictures, etc.

So, you have the SSD installed as the "C" drive now, and you want to create a backup image of it?
Is that what you want to do?
Do you have another external or internal HD where you can create a backup image of the "C" drive?

I use a "C" drive for the OS + Programs.
I store User data on a different HD/partition (spinner HD).
With a 120GB SSD I use the whole SSD as the "C" drive.

Whenever you ask questions about HDs, SSDs, partitons, storage space, etc, you should include a screen print of Disk Management.
It can help make things clearer and easier to understand.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/274797-disk-management-post-screen-capture-image.html
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
home built
OS
Multi-Boot W7_Pro_x64 W8.1_Pro_x64 W10_Pro_x64 +Linux_VMs +Chromium_VM
CPU
AMD Athlon II x4 620
Motherboard
Gigabyte GA-MA785G-UD3H
Memory
6GB GSkill DDR2 800
Graphics Card(s)
AMD 4670 GPU + AMD 4200 IGP
Sound Card
on board Realtek ALC889A
Monitor(s) Displays
RCA 40" LCD TV, Insignia 32" LCD TV, HP 15" LCD monitor
Screen Resolution
1680 x 1050
Hard Drives
OCZ Vertex 3 120GB,
Samsung F3 1TB (3),
Several others - WD, Seagate, Hitachi, ...
PSU
Corsair 500 W
Case
Rosewill mid tower
Cooling
CM 90mm rifle
Keyboard
Gyration wireless, Logitech wireless, Dell USB wired
Mouse
Gyration wireless, Logitech wireless, V7 USB wired
Internet Speed
Spectrum - 100Mbps D / 10Mbps U
Antivirus
Avast, MBAM3, EMET, WinPatrol
Browser
Pale Moon, Firefox, IE
Other Info
2 multi-boot PC's
Mainly HTPC/Office/Gen purpose (no gaming).
Trendnet USB KVM.
LG DVD burner/Blue Ray Player.
Tray system for removable SATA backup drives.

Not currently OCd, under-volted.
I use Hybrid sleep, rarely re-boot or shutdown.

Hauppauge HD-PVR, Avermedia PCIe TV Tuner, Hauppauge PCI TV Tuner.
If you decide to partition the SSD (something I wouldn't especially recommend in this case unless the new SSD is going to be your only drive), keep in mind that SSDs need at least 20-25% headroom to avoid excessive life reducing writes to the SSD. Since your OS, etc. uses 60GB of space, that would mean any SSD partition you put it on should be at least 75GB; it would be a good idea to have more for possible future expansion. My 128GB SSD has an actual capacity of 119GB after formatting so, after making an OS partition, you would have up to only 44GB left.
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom Build
OS
Win 7 Ultimate 64 bit
CPU
Intel i7-3930K
Motherboard
ASUS P9X79 WS
Memory
Kingston HyperX Genesis 32GB Kit (8x4GB Modules) 1600MHz DDR
Graphics Card(s)
MSI R7850 Twin Frozr 2GD5/OC Radeon HD 7850 2GB 256-bit GDDR
Sound Card
Asus Xonar Essence STX
Monitor(s) Displays
3x Asus VG248QE 24", Vizio 32" TV
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1080, ?
Hard Drives
Samsung 128GB 840 Pro SSD (1),
Samsung 4TB 850 EVO SSDs (4)
Samsung 4TB 850 EVO SSDs (16) external backup drives used in 2.5" hot swap bays in the computer.
PSU
Corsair HX750w
Case
Antec Two Hundred v2 (modified)
Cooling
Cooler Master GeminII S524 120mm (fan replaced with a 140mm)
Keyboard
Logitech G510s
Mouse
Logitech M525 (two in use)
Internet Speed
=< 32Mbps down, 8Mbps up
Antivirus
AVAST!, MBAM, SAS, Spybot S&D (all but MBAM free) Glary Util
Browser
IE11
Other Info
LSI 9211-8i HBA card (8 SATA III ports), 2.5" & 3.5" Hot Swap Bays, HooToo HT-CR001 PCI-E to USB 3.0 Internal Hub + 6 Slot Card Reader, and LG Model CH12LS28 BD-ROM Optical Drive. Also, ScanSnap S1500 ADF duplexing scanner, Canon 9000F flat bed scanner, Corsair SP2500 2.1 speakers, Samsung CLP 415nw laser color printer, Cyberpower PP2200SW UPS
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