So my new HD is throwing S.M.A.R.T errors...

[Omlet]

My brand new 1TB HD just started throwing S.M.A.R.T errors, and I requested an RMA. In the meantime, I'd like to know how cloning a drive works.

I downloaded Acronis Image Tool and I'm currently cloning my entire drive (two partitions) into my 500GB. My question is when I recieve my new drive, how do I put the image back onto it? Also, does the imaging tool clone Windows to the point that I can boot up? Would I simply have to plug-in the new drive and transfer the image over, then format the 500GB HD?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[essenbe]

With Acronis you should be able to install both drives and clone one to the other then change boot options in bios and boot to the new drive. The only issues you may have is cloning a 1TB drive to a 500GB drive. When the new drive arrives you should do the same in reverse. If acronis will let you, I would format and partition the new drive, then clone one partition at a time. In both cases, after you can boot to the new drive and are sure the clone went as expected, you can then format the old drive.

 

[Omlet]

With Acronis you should be able to install both drives and clone one to the other then change boot options in bios and boot to the new drive. The only issues you may have is cloning a 1TB drive to a 500GB drive. When the new drive arrives you should do the same in reverse. If acronis will let you, I would format and partition the new drive, then clone one partition at a time. In both cases, after you can boot to the new drive and are sure the clone went as expected, you can then format the old drive.

I was successfully able to clone to my 500GB drive and boot into Windows. I was a little disappointed that my drive letters changed, but I expected that. I just got done packing up the defective drive and will ship it on Monday. Also, Acronis automatically partitioned the 500GB drive for me. I'm pretty sure it'll partition the new drive as well.

Thanks for the help!

 

[essenbe]

How did the drive letters chsnge? You can change the drive letters in disk management.

 

[Omlet]

How did the drive letters chsnge? You can change the drive letters in disk management.

I'm not sure, I guess Acronis automatically changed them since the drive was still in the system. I can imagine you can't have two C:\ drives.

 

[essenbe]

But, when you took the RMA'd drive from the system the new drive should have been drive C. Even with both drives in the system, whichever drive you boot into should be drive C.

 

[GeneO]

+=1. Are you sure you booted to the cloned drive? You would have to have changed the boot order in the BIOS.

 

[Omlet]

But, when you took the RMA'd drive from the system the new drive should have been drive C. Even with both drives in the system, whichever drive you boot into should be drive C.

It showed eight drives in the system instead of four; the newly cloned drive just has different letters.

+=1. Are you sure you booted to the cloned drive? You would have to have changed the boot order in the BIOS.

I'm sure I booted into the cloned drive. Unfortunately, after I removed the defective drive I can no longer boot into the cloned drive - I keep getting BSODs after every restart. I think I'll wait until the new drive comes in and reinstall everything.

 

[essenbe]

Try putting either the Windows DVD or the repair disk in and run startup repair 3 times to rebuild the boot files.