Replacing Seagate 500 GB HDD with 1 TB - cloning queries

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MaxDC15

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Dec 3, 2015
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I have a Seagate 500 GB HDD which is 5 years old and time to be replaced urgently due to increasing sounds coming from the system and slowness. I am buying a Seagate 1 TB HDD (not going for a SSD yet) to replace the old HDD.

I am planning to use the cloning method to replace by old hard drive with the new one on my desktop that runs on Windows 7. I have an external storage drive on which I will backup all my important files.

I liked an article on Howtogeek titled "How to Upgrade Your Existing Hard Drive in Under an Hour" and am going to follow the same (comes up as the first result when searching using the title on Google). There seems to be a lot of information on the net about new HDDs and the benefits of replacing old HDDs with SSDs but little in terms of how to carry out the actual process of moving from an old HDD to a new one (like the one that I am going to be doing)

My questions are:

1. I have the current HDD divided into 2 in 80:20 ratio in a "I" and "C" drive respectively. How do I replicate the same on the new HDD?

2. The article mentioned above recommends Macrium Reflect for cloning. But what else do I need in terms of hardware accessories like cable/ ports etc. ?

3. If anyone has an easier method than the one on Howtogeek, please let me know.

Any help will be appreciated.
 
Solution
A
First of all, with respect to your queries re WD drives. Since Boogieman is the accepted expert in that area, harken unto his advice, OK?

Now as far as the disk-cloning operation ("data-migration") subject in which you're interested. The article you mentioned is fine although it's a bit too complicated for my taste and proposes (at least to my mind) a certain amount of overkill. So I'm going to recommend a different procedure for your consideration - one that I believe is more straightforward and user-friendly, as follows...

Try this disk-cloning program (Casper) that we have been using for a number of years and which I heartily recommend for its ease of use, general effectiveness, and speed.

Although the program is a commercial one...
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Boogieman_WD

Boogieman_WD

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Jul 31, 2014
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Hey there, MaxDC15.

Upgrading your drive with a larger one (unlike most cases when there's an SSD involved) is a lot easier, so you're in luck.

The tutorial seems fine to me. It sounds like you're using a desktop computer (please correct me if I'm wrong), so you should be able to connect the drive internally without the need of external connection (such as a SATA to USB adapter, external enclosure or a dock station). The internal connection is basically the same as the one for you currently installed drive - mount the drive to one of the available drive bays, connect it to the motherboard via a data SATA cable and to the PSU via a power SATA cable (just like your other drive).
Once you've physically connected the drive and backed up your important data, you could start the tutorial from the "Cloning the Disk" part (unless you want to create a recovery media).
The program you use is entirely up to you - you could go with the suggested one or look for another option. From what I understand the program will automatically assign the extra available storage capacity to one of the partitions, but if that does not happen, you could do that manually afterwards.
Once the cloning process is completed, just unplug the old HDD, go to your BIOS/UEFI settings to make sure that your new drive is the first booting option and then boot to Windows, to see if everything is working properly.

Hope that helps. Please let me know if you have any questions whatsoever.
Boogieman_WD
 
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MaxDC15

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Hey Boogieman, thanks for your prompt response!

Yes, it is indeed a desktop computer as mentioned in my post(3rd line). You have explained it very well and I now feel more confident in figuring out the details of how to go about it. I may have missed the step where I need to make the new drive option the first booting option if not for your post.

So I gather that I also need an extra data SATA cable as well as a power SATA cable for doing the installation of the new HDD. I will add them to my shopping list.

I noticed the WD badge on your profile so I might as well pose this question to you - does WD Blue Desktop 1TB, which is also an option I am considering, have any advantages over the Seagate Barracude 1TB? I planned to go with Seagate only because the one I have currently is a 500 GB version of the same brand, and also because I want to play safe and not get anything that might be even a bit incompatible while installing it (of course I am imagining it - actually someone helped me assemble the components for me when I bought them since I am not the best technically).
 
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Boogieman_WD

Boogieman_WD

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Jul 31, 2014
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Oops, I knew I saw it somewhere (about the desktop), sorry. :)

Well, there are two 1TB WD Blue drive models - 5400RPM and 7200RPM (RPM - rotations per minute). The 7200RPM drive is usually used as a general usage drive and the 5400RPM models are mainly considered as secondary storage HDDs. Both drive models come with a 2-year warranty, you can check them out here: WD Blue Desktop drive and the technical spec sheet: WD Blue spec sheet (PDF).

Of course, you should always go with the drive you think will fit you best.

Cheers! :)
 
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ArtPog

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Sep 17, 2014
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First of all, with respect to your queries re WD drives. Since Boogieman is the accepted expert in that area, harken unto his advice, OK?

Now as far as the disk-cloning operation ("data-migration") subject in which you're interested. The article you mentioned is fine although it's a bit too complicated for my taste and proposes (at least to my mind) a certain amount of overkill. So I'm going to recommend a different procedure for your consideration - one that I believe is more straightforward and user-friendly, as follows...

Try this disk-cloning program (Casper) that we have been using for a number of years and which I heartily recommend for its ease of use, general effectiveness, and speed.

Although the program is a commercial one costing $49.99, there is a Trial Edition available which you could use and hopefully it will be successful as it relates to your situation. I would urge you to give it a try. There's really nothing to lose by doing so since even if the disk-cloning operation fails your source drive's data is unaffected.

So if you're so inclined...here are some instructions for doing so...

Before undertaking a disk-cloning (data-migration) operation involving the transfer of data from one's boot drive to another drive it is imperative that the following criteria are met:

A. The current boot (source) drive functions without any problems.
B. The proposed destination disk is non-defective.
C. You would be satisfied with your destination disk essentially containing a bit-for-bit copy of your source drive.
D. The disk-space capacity of the destination drive is sufficiently large enough to contain the total data contents of the source disk.

(I'll assume all the above criteria are met in your situation)

1. Since you're working with a desktop PC, install the "destination" drive, i.e., your 1 TB HDD internally in the system so that both your present "source" drive, i.e., the 500 GB HDD and the destination drive will both be internally-installed in the system.

(You could, should you desire, connect the 1 TB HDD as a USB external HDD during the disk-cloning operation but it's generally more practical (and operationally quicker) to install it internally as long as you're working with a desktop PC and obviously should have a vacant SATA port to connect the drive. But whatever you're comfortable with, capiche?)

2. Download/install the Casper Trial Edition 10 (v10.0.6044) disk-cloning program from: https://www.fssdev.com/products/casper/trial/

3. Before undertaking the disk-cloning operation close all open programs. (Generally you need not disable your anti-virus program).
Click "Add drive" and a window open listing the destination drive. Ensure that's the correct drive you want be the recipient of the clone (just in case other multiple drives are connected). Click on that disk's listing and then "Yes" on the confirmation message that follows.

4. Click on "Back up now" (after again assuring that it's the right drive you desire to receive the cloned contents of the source disk).

5. Casper will begin the disk-cloning operation running in the background. If you want to view the progress of the disk-cloning operation click on the Casper icon visible on the Taskbar or in the Notification area of the Taskbar.

6. Following the (hopefully) successful disk-cloning operation it's generally a good idea, if practical, to install the newly-cloned HDD to your PC's first SATA connector (port) usually designated SATA 0 or SATA 1 and temporarily disconnect the previous source drive (your 500 GB HDD) from the system BEFORE YOU ATTEMPT A FIRST boot to the newly-cloned 1 TB HDD.

7. So with ONLY the 1 TB newly-cloned HDD connected in the system, boot to your OS.

8. Casper will utilize the entire disk-space of the destination drive to contain the total data contents of the source drive. It will proportionally set up the two partitions in the (approx) 80 - 20 ratio you mentioned.

9. Work with the new boot drive for some time to ensure all is well in that the system boots without incident and functions without problems. ONLY THEN should you reconnect your 500 GB HDD in the system to serve as a secondary drive.

Give it a try and let us know the results, OK?
 
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Solution
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MaxDC15

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Dec 3, 2015
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Thanks ArtPog, for your detailed post!

There's lots of good information in your post and I'll get down to installing a new HDD as soon as it arrives in a few days. Will surely update this thread once I am through with it, or if I have any question.
 
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