How to Backup System from 2tb HDD to 1TB HDD

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gak1952

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I'm finding I can't backup my Windows XP Professional system which is on a 2TB HDD to an external 1TB HDD.

Here are the details:

The internal 2TB Hitachi HDD is divided into 4 drives of 500GB each. I've installed Windows XP Professional and all my software plus other operating software on the C Drive.

I tried to create two backup operating systems on two Seagate external HDDs. I don't want just a backup. I want to be able to reinstall a running operating system if the C Drive on my internal Hitachi computer crashes.

I've tried doing this using Acronis, Areca and Paragon Backup and Recovery. The basic message I get back is that there is not enough space on the target Seagate drives for a system backup.

I can see that this makes sense since I'm trying to backup a 2TB HDD to a 1TB HHD. However, all I want to backup is the C Drive which is only 500GB and only has less than 100GB of data on it.

I'd now like to put a 500BG HDD in my computer and make my 2TB Hitachi HDD my external backup HDD. I just don't need all that space in my computer. I realize I made a big mistake installing it in the first place.

So if anybody could suggest how I can copy my C drive onto a 500 GB drive that I can then use as my internal computer HDD I'd be very grateful.

Unfortunately, I can't do a reinstall, as I've got a lot of my software from GiveawayOfTheDay. A lot more of it is on CDs of considerable age and I'm not anxious to test how well these CDs have aged.

I'm think I'm pretty much stuck with copying and migration. I have copies of Windows Vista and Ultimate. I've heard bad things about Vista and it looks like a lot of the software I use won't run on Ultimate.

My computer is a Dell Dimension 8400.

My thanks for your advice and suggestions in advance.

 
Solution
Eximo
Look into the program called CloneZilla, it is a free linux based tool that can create drive images from partitions, whole discs, etc. I have found it to be quite good multi-partition transfers from one drive to another.
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Eximo

Eximo

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Look into the program called CloneZilla, it is a free linux based tool that can create drive images from partitions, whole discs, etc. I have found it to be quite good multi-partition transfers from one drive to another.
 
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gak1952

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Thanks for the suggestions.

No, the programs I'm using, Acronis etc, don't seem to give the option of just backing up the C Drive when I try and do a system backup. When I try and do a system backup I don't seem to be able to specify only Drive C. It makes sense in some way, but seems a flaw in the programs.

Regarding CloneZilla, it sounds promising, but could I use a Linux program to copy a Windows based system? I've never even looked at Linux let alone tried to use it. My supposition is that I'd have to try and install the Linux system on, say, my E Drive and then try and clone my C drive. Is that how it would work? I'm a bit reluctant to go this route right now. It seems pretty radical since I know nothing about Linux and know how involved using new software can be. Still if I can find no other solutions I may have to go this route. Thanks for your suggestion, though. I very much appreciate it.
 
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Eximo

Eximo

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Yes, it can clone basically any OS and is quite robust with a GUI and command line interface. There is no installation required (or possible), it runs from CD or flash drive. You could probably get away with the default settings to clone the whole drive, or go partition by partition since that seems to be want you want to do. The only caveat is that it can't go from a larger partition to a smaller partition, you will have to re-size your partition first. (I use a little tool called PAssist, just have to disable swapfiles and move a slider)

Unless you format the drive from within CloneZilla you risk nothing by trying it.

I have used it successfully on upgrading/replacing laptop and desktop drives with Windows XP (NTFS and FAT32). It did a great job of resizing the old partition tables to the new drives. The multi-partition was a bit more complicated and it took two attempts.

I use it to backup my SSD Raid running Windows 8, but haven't had an opportunity to try writing that file to any disks, I give that a 50/50 shot of working.

 
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gak1952

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Sounds interesting. I have various software for resizing partitions. I'm a little wary of using them since I mess up my C Drive I've lost an awful lot of software.

Still unless anyone comes up with a better suggestion I may well try CloneZilla.

From what you're saying, I gather you're suggesting I download it to a CD and run it from there? Is that correct?

Thanks so much for the suggestion. I very much appreciate it.
 
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