Transfer data from old HDD to new HDD

[Wrenches]

Hi guys, Comes Feb I'll be getting a new HDD and a new DVD-RW as my drives are 5 years old. They're still working but nothing lasts forever right?

My HDD is partitioned to C: and D: for boot and storage. I'd like to do the same with the new HDD and transfer the data to it. How would I do it? What's really important is making my new HDD bootable and Windows transferred to it. I can work with D: later if need be.

I looked in the tutorials. Either I looked in the wrong place or it's not there.

Thanks fellas.

 

[whs]

Make an image of C and the 100MB System partition (if any) and restore that to the new HDD.

Here is a tutorial for imaging (read it carefully before watching): http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html?ltr=I

And here is a tutorial explaining the transfer of an Operating System. I wrote it for transferring to a SSD, but it is the same for a HDD (less the alignment problem): http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/149969-ssd-install-transfer-operating-system.html

And regarding the 100MB System partition: If you have one, I recomment to transfer the bootmgr to C (before the move). Then you can forget about the 100MB partition - it is no more needed. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/209885-bootmgr-move-c-easybcd.html

And as you said, with the data on D you can deal later.

 

[Wrenches]

Could I use my D: partition to receive the image file?

 

[whs]

If you have enough space, yes. Figure the image will be 60 to 65% of the data in the C partition. The total size of the C partition is not relevant, only the amount of data within.

If you post a picture of your disk management where I can see the sizes (total and used) I can tell you. A picture of your Computer window would also be ok.

 

[Wrenches]

Here it is.

 

[whs]

Yeah, you have plenty of room on D. The image should take about 35GBs. Suggest you make a folder on D and call it e.g. Image and store the image there. Then you can find it easier during the recovery navigation.

 

[Wrenches]

Yeah, it was 7.5 Gb so I decided I can put it on two DVDs but I got aborted twice (2 DVDs) by the program. I guess my DVD-RW's getting old.

Then I find out I have to download from Microsoft so I can create a rescue disk. You know what? I'm just gonna do a clean install, it's easier.

 

[whs]

DVDs are no good. And get the rescue WinPE disc from my Skydrive. Just burn it to CD. You can even make the image with it. Reinstall is a drag.

 

[Wrenches]

Well, I'm gonna have to table the drives for now. The cable guy came today and knocked out most of my tv channels. I asked the cable guy WTF? and he said more channels are going digital sorry. Duh!

I went to the center and upgraded my TV channels to digital and as a side benefit my phone is upgraded from local to statewide and my internet access will be digital so it should run better or faster. I was told about $20-$25 increase on my bill so I'm waiting to see.

 

[sdowney717]

Macrium reflex free
Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - Information and download

Does this very easy to use. I just used it last week.
It will recreate exact same size partitions or you can resize them.

No flaky CD or DVD needed for this.

 

[whs]

1. The partition to which you restore a Macrium image must be the same size or bigger than from where the image was taken. If for any reason the partition is smaller, you have to resize the VHD of the image.

2. You do need the recovery CD - best is the WinPE version. Else you have no means to restore your image(s).

 

[sdowney717]

What I did was put the 2 drives into the system, then let Macrium do the partitioning and copy.
Then pull out the old drive and the PC boots up on the new drive.

I needed no images and no recovery cd.

 

[Wrenches]

I knew there was a method like that. I used to do that with the disk manager that came with the new drive.

 

[sdowney717]

It was easy to do.
And it booted up with no problems at all.
Macrium will clone partitions, including the sizes.
The new drive has to have the same or more space as the old drive.
You can tell Macrium to enlarge the partition or you can format the leftover space as a new partition to do with as you wish. I think win7 can also resize a partition.

One advantage is you can make an exact system copy like a snapshot for backup to save in case your running drive foobars itself. When it does, you will appreciate having a backup to put in. IT wont have recent changes. For that use a sync cloud service, like google drive or ubuntu one.