New Hard Drive

[bryab]

Hey guys,

I've been using Windows 7 pro 64bit for a while. My issue is that I want to put in a new hard drive and install windows 7 on that without loosing or moving all my data onto my new hard drive. Can someone tell me what is the most painless way to go abouts doing this?

Thanks!

 

[ignatzatsonic]

You want to duplicate everything on your current disk on to a new disk, including data?

And you don't want to reinstall?

If so, you could do a "clone" using imaging software such as Acronis. You can download a 30 day trial version for no cost.

The clone would move everything from drive A to drive B, without making an intervening image.

 

[DocBrown]

If you want to transfer settings, data, pics, music, files, docs, etc,

Windows Easy Transfer


http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/11470-windows-easy-transfer-transfer-computers.html?ltr=W


" Doc "

 

[harpua]

You would only use Windows Easy Transfer if you were reinstalling Windows 7 and doing a clean install.

Since it sounds like you just want to copy your existing installation to a new hard drive without going through the hassle of reinstalling windows and reinstalling all your programs and transferring all your data (possibly using WET), the best and easiest way to accomplish that is to clone your disk over to the new drive, as was mentioned in the first response. Cloning makes an exact copy of everything and if you swap in a clone of your current drive it should boot up just fine and windows won't know the difference and should still be activated with all your apps and data intact on the new drive.

"Acronis True Image Home 2010" backup software has a cloning utility that makes this pretty easy. The "Clone Disk" utility is found under the "Tools and Utilities" menu in that program.

 

[richc46]

Macrium Reflex and Acronis (mentioned in prior post) are two highly rated products for making copies of a hard drive. Take your time evaluate both and make your choice. An image copy is definately the easiest way to proceed.

 

[gregrocker]

I use Windows 7 Backup imaging to create an image stored externally or on a primary formatted partition.

Then plug in the second HDD and reimage to it. Works perfectly.

 

[harpua]

I really was hoping to be able to use Windows 7 backup but it failed to restore for me when I tried to use it. For some reason it simply would not see the image I had created with it (which was on an external USB hard drive) although it was listed.

So for anyone considering using it, I would highly recommend testing it to make absolutely sure you can restore from an image created with it before relying on it.

 

[coppertrail]

No go with Ghost

I use Windows 7 Backup imaging to create an image stored externally or on a primary formatted partition.

Then plug in the second HDD and reimage to it. Works perfectly.

I used Norton Ghost (I believe ver. 11.2) to create an image of my Win7 system before upgading the hard drive. After I brought the image down to the new drive, windows Recovery Mode never worked. That said, I'll be using the Windows 7 backup imaging to create images of my Win7 systems from here on out.

I am an Acronis TI fan (currently at TI 2009), though I've not used it to image any Win7 systems.

 

[bryab]

Once I've created an image and reimaged my new hard drive to be an exact copy, does that mean I can delete the stuff off my old hard drive and use it for additional storage? Would I need to change some BIOS settings and what-not?

I think I may go the Acronis True Image route.

 

[gregrocker]

I used Norton Ghost (I believe ver. 11.2) to create an image of my Win7 system before upgading the hard drive. After I brought the image down to the new drive, windows Recovery Mode never worked. That said, I'll be using the Windows 7 backup imaging to create images of my Win7 systems from here on out.

I believe you have to use the Norton Ghost disk to reimage.

Once I've created an image and reimaged my new hard drive to be an exact copy, does that mean I can delete the stuff off my old hard drive and use it for additional storage? Would I need to change some BIOS settings and what-not?

Just be sure to set the new Win7 HDD to boot first in the BIOS.

I'd unplug the old HDD while running these operations and plug it back in later to delete and reformat logical if u want it for a data drive.

Images almost always carry the MBR over but if not just boot into the Win7 installer REpair console (or REpair disk) and run Startup Repair 3 times to fix and/or rewrite the MBR.

 

[pparks1]

I really was hoping to be able to use Windows 7 backup but it failed to restore for me when I tried to use it. For some reason it simply would not see the image I had created with it (which was on an external USB hard drive) although it was listed.

So for anyone considering using it, I would highly recommend testing it to make absolutely sure you can restore from an image created with it before relying on it.

I've restored images created from the Windows "system image" tool at least a dozen times and they have never failed to restore. So, just wanted to share that some of us have had very good luck with the tool. The only time it didn't work was when I tried to move from a 160GB drive to an 80GB SSD. It would not allow this. And I was fine with that as this is a backup tool...not a cloning tool

 

[bryab]

Okay so, I have way too much crap on one large partition (no, I didn't partition my drive) to backup so that it will fit on any sort of external storage that I currently own.

I was wondering if this would work:
-I install my new hard drive (WD 6400GB Caviar Black) and install win7 on it (and set it to boot first)
-reinstall any apps and games I want on the new HD
-Keep videos, music, and any other media on my old HD (seagate 500GB 7200.10).

If this will work, how can I partition my new HD to perform optimally for gaming (or rather, what is the most optimal distribution of data, software, games on this setup)?

 

[Dave76]

Welcome to Seven Forums.

You need free space on a hard drive before you can add partitions.
The only way to remove an OS from your old HD is to delete or format the partition.

What size are your external storage devices?

How much used and free space is there on the old 500GB HD?

It is best to keep your OS (and programs) in a separate partition, this will make it easier to re-install, repair or move the OS, and make backups.

Since your WD 640GB 7200RPM 32MB cache, has a better sized cache, than the Seagate 500GB 7200RPM 16MB cache. I'll assume you want the OS on the WD.

With your old HD still plugged in, install the new WD 640GB HD, initialize and partition it.

First primary partition should be the OS, 60 - 80 GB is recommended. If you are installing a lot of software and games make it a little bigger.

Most people put their programs in the same partition as the OS. Some people put their programs in a separate partition.
If your programs and OS are in the same partition, then use the above size for the first partition.
If you plan on putting the programs in a different partition then you can make the OS partition smaller, 40-50GB, check your programs sizes make the second partition with enough room to add more programs in the future.

For this scenario I'll assume you are going to put the OS and programs in the same partition.

Second Partition for personal data and should be a Logical partition. You will have to decide what size you need.

You can add a third and forth if you want to keep Videos, Music and anything else in a the data partition or in a separate partition.

After all partitions are made, shutdown computer, unplug the old HD, re-start the computer, select boot option key and boot to DVD or installation device.
Install Win7 on your New HD first primary partition.
After installation is complete, shutdown your computer and plug in the old HD, start computer. Go to BIOS and set new HD first in the boot order. Save and continue booting.

Move the data you want to the new HD.

If you want to leave the old OS on the old HD, then your done.

If you want to delete the old OS and use the space, then you will have to move all the data you want to save from the old HD to the new HD.
Format the old HD.
Setup any partitions you want, move any data you want back to the old HD for storage.

If you are going to use Windows disk management for partitioning the new HD, have a look at these tutorials.
Partition or Volume - Create New
Partition or Volume - Delete

For backups or cloning you can use Acronis True Image as mentioned earlier or you can get a free version of Acronis from both WD and Seagate.

Seagate DiscWizard

Western Digital, Acronis True Image WD Edition.

Other free backup programs:

Macrium Reflect

Paragon offers Drive Backup for free.