Replacing an old hard disk

[dhruv17singhal]

:huh:Hi,

I have a Seagate hard disk which I believe to be old (about 1500 hours of usage). I was thinking of buying a new identical hard disk to keep a backup of my data as well as to test linux distributions. I intend to copy the whole contents of the old hard disk to the new one so that my main OS is safe. I would be making use of gparted (GParted -- About) (linux-based). I had a few questions regarding this upgrade:-

1. Will it distrupt the functioning of my system in any way (like cause instability, crash, memory-errors, etc)?
2. Will it void the EULA (since there is going to be a change in hardware)?
3. Has anyone tried this before?

I would like to know your views about this idea and if you has tried it before do share your experience.

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[OldMX]

1. No
2. No
3. Yes

Use whatever cloning software you prefer, like Clonezilla, PartedMagic, Acronis, it should go flawless.

 

[brianzion]

hello and welcome to the forums you can download software to establish and see the condition of your hard disc here is a good one
CrystalDiskInfo - Software - Crystal Dew World
1500 hrs is not old

1 500 / 24 = 62.5 days

also they do a test benchmark CrystalDiskMark
http://crystalmark.info/software/CrystalDiskMark/index-e.html

 

[gregrocker]

Seagate has a great free Acronis imaging program so you can clone your old HD over to the new one. Seagate Acronis cloning free util

I would then wipe the old HD and use it for the Linux distros to save Win7 from GRUB corruption, since you can boot either via the BIOS and not need GRUB boot mangler.

Be sure to unplug the Win7 HD when you install Linux, and vice versa, setting the remaining drive to boot first in BIOS setup. Then boot the other using the one-time BIOS Boot Menu key which every computer/mobo has.

Save a Win7 backup image so you have a path back, which might also work for imaging the new HD: Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup

 

[brianzion]

hi gregrocker im interested in Linus distros to save Windows 7 from GRUB corruption ?
i run lunux distros in my system and dont have a issue with windows 7?

 

[gregrocker]

Perhaps its because we see a dozen cases per week of GRUB corruption of Win7 - making it irreparable by all the normal methods - causing hyper-caution.

The average user might not experience it even once.

But where possible installing OS's on separate HD's is always better for numerous reasons.

 

[brianzion]

installing OS's on separate HD's is always better for numerous reasons.
good point totally agree with that advice i use separate drives through learning the hard way. linux seems ok alongside windows with the wubi method of installation but i have had no problems with grub 2 on my machine.

 

[dhruv17singhal]

Thanks gregrocker, for cautioning me about GRUB. I would prefer to keep my Windows 7 system insulated from linux "testing" system. Besides, the new GRUB 2, as I have read, is somewhat buggy and a bit difficult to configure.

 

[dhruv17singhal]

I forgot to ask whether cloning would require a reactivation or anything like that?

 

[LiquidSnak]

I have a Seagate hard disk which I believe to be old (about 1500 hours of usage).

Lol, this made me laugh, as I have a hard drive from 2002 that still works flawlessly.

Acronis is good software, I recommend it.

And to answer your latest question, no. I did not have to re-activate after I cloned my drive over.

 

[Bill2]

I forgot to ask whether cloning would require a reactivation or anything like that?

Depends on what kind of win7 install you have. If its Royalty oem (meaning win7 came pre-installed and pre-activated), no reactivation would be required.

If its retail/system builder oem/upgrade, you would be fine too, unless you change some other hardware too in tandem with the hdd change.