Cloning/Imaging

[Eklipze3k]

So Carrie got me a 120GB SSD for my birthday (thanks sweetie!)

I just downloaded CloneDisk but want to double check - if I use the Disk<->Disk option on there to Clone my current system disk to the SSD will that automatically make it bootable or does it just copy the file/folder data?

Either that, or can anyone recommend any other freeware cloning tool which will do that job?

Cheers!

 

[ben]

I don't know about CloneDisk - but Norton Ghost is fantastic.

It will do what you want it to do, but I also keep an image of my system on another drive, then if it all goes wrong, just boot off the Ghost CD and recover it

 

[Eklipze3k]

Norton's not (legally) free though is it?

 

[ben]

http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/Back-Up-and-Recovery/Symantec-Norton-Ghost.shtml

30 day trial

 

[alexh365]

I'll second the vote for ghost!

Moreso in an organisation but still ideal for what your after.

 

[Eklipze3k]

Well I've installed it but I don't see a 'Clone' or anything similar ...

Edit: Tell a lie, there is a 'Copy Drive' option under advanced, but I need a license to use that ... grrr

 

[colin79666]

http://clonezilla.org/ - free and legal

To get the best performance out of a ssd you need to get the partition alignment right. Lots on the topic here: http://www.ocztechnologyforum.com/f...h-stuttering-and-increases-drive-working-life.

The paragon tool can do it in a non destructive way: http://www.paragon-software.com/landing-pages/WhitePapers/paragon_alignment_tool.html

If you reinstall Widows 7 from scratch onto a ssd it should get the alignment right itself.

Got SSDs in both my desktop and my laptop so been there and done that

 

[jip0]

does an ssd really give a big improvement? iv been toying with the idea but heard some people say its not much different

 

[ben]

Hell yeah! My boot time went from 9 mins to 1 min 30.... (just a straight clone, nothing else changed)

 

[Eklipze3k]

OK, so used Ghost to do a 'Copy Disk' from old to new, with all the options as per the attachment. When trying to boot from it I get the "BOOTMGR is missing" error, what did I do wrong?

 

[ben]

I've never done a copy in Windows like that - I create an image first, store it on an external drive, then boot off the Ghost CD and select "Restore".

Does that trial version include the CD image?

 

[Eklipze3k]

I may have found a way to get the full version .... :halo:

I don't have an external drive though, I do have a multitude of HDD's but was hoping this way would be easier.

 

[Eklipze3k]

I must be being really thick - or the heat is addling my brain - how do I tell this Ghost rubbish to make an image?

 

[jenks69]

OK, so used Ghost to do a 'Copy Disk' from old to new, with all the options as per the attachment. When trying to boot from it I get the "BOOTMGR is missing" error, what did I do wrong?

fdisk /mbr might work if you can get to a recovery console. It'll create a new master boot record.

 

[ben]

Assuming you're using Windows 7 - boot of the W7 cd, then choose "Repair" - it will recreate the boot system for you.

 

[Eklipze3k]

Assuming you're using Windows 7 - boot of the W7 cd, then choose "Repair" - it will recreate the boot system for you.

I tried that, no dice, I've got a few discs with various different W7 builds and none of them give me the Repair option, they just skip straight to Install.

Jenks - I think it's got an MBR, ghost copied it from the other drive, so the BIOS is happy to boot from it ... but then W7 throws a wobbler thinking this BOOTMGR is missing.

 

[colin79666]

Can you do a clean install?

Short term pain to get long term gain (proper partiton alignment and de crappified setup)

 

[Eklipze3k]

Can you do a clean install?

Short term pain to get long term gain (proper partiton alignment and de crappified setup)

That was going to be my last resort If I've not got it cloned and working by tomorrow, I'll just do clean install

 

[ChrisUK]

Get the latest version of "Hirens Boot CD" and use the clonezilla on there. But I'd do it from Old internal HDD to an image file on an external USB drive. Then from image file from external USB to new SSD.

That "should" get you booting then you can do the things colin mentions.

Edit: Make sure you run a full chkdsk on the original HDD first as some clone tools will not copy "damaged" parts of file systems.

 

[jenks69]

Jenks - I think it's got an MBR, ghost copied it from the other drive, so the BIOS is happy to boot from it ... but then W7 throws a wobbler thinking this BOOTMGR is missing.

I've fixed the error for bootmgr and ntloader using this method before, give it a try nowt to loose