Swapping system Hard Drives

[madtownidiot]

If you use gParted, you can clone one drive to the other without the need for an external HDD. When it's done copying the drive, shut it down and disconnect the original HDD. It should boot without any problems

 

[whs]

Right I get you, sounds so simple now .

How big does the recovery disk need to be?

The recovery CD is just a helper. It usually contains a Linux OS and the program that pulls the clone back in. It fits on a normal CD - although I always use a DVD.

Another question is the size of the Clone image. That depends on the size of your system and how much compression the cloning program (e.g. Easeus) does. Assume worst case the same size as your system on C plus a bit.

I think you should pick one of the cloning programs in my link and read the documentation. Then things will become clearer.

 

[Spoonology]

So, I've downloaded Maxblast, from Maxtor, which allows me to create a clone of C onto E.

Just before it starts to copy it comes up with the following message:

"Vista users should have their Vista installation disks ready following reboot. Follow on screen instructions if prompted by the operating system after the migration completes."

Does that mean I need an installation disk? I don't have one because I downloaded an upgrade from Vista.

Cheers

 

[whs]

I really do no know Maxblast. I assume you need the Vista disk for some repair activity that you have to perform afterwards (not sure though because that is somewhat unusual). You can download a vista repair disk (not installation disk). Go to this link.

 

[Spoonology]

But, I'm using 7, will it matter if I use the vista repair disk?

 

[whs]

Oh, sorry. Glad you caught that. I thought I was on the Vista forum. Better use this. I apologize for misleading you.

PS: This may be useful instructions in the context: http://askbobrankin.com/repair_vista_or_windows_7.html?tbart

 

[Spoonology]

Finished! Cloned it with Maxblast and everything went smoothly, thanks for the help guys!

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
Most Bioses in your computer will give you a Boot Priority for Disks so just set the one you want to boot from as the first HDD boot device.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[whs]

Glad it went smoothly. Maybe you can write a little report on "how to" with Maxblast because that is one of the lesser known programs.