best program for cloning your HDD

[jonj]

I have a HDD that has been making some wierd noises. lately those wierd noises have turned into loud grindings, and i noticed that my computer loads files,pics,vids,etc slower. i decided that i should get a new HDD. i want to clone everything to my external HDD(all my files and my operating system). i tried to use xp's backup program but it says that there is a 4 gig max.

so my question is- what is the best program that will let me back up a HDD?? i looked around and ithink that acronis and norton ghost are good, but do you know of any free ones?? i'm kind of on a budget and after this new HDD im broke, so any help would be awesom.

Thanks

 

[g-paw]

Acronis does a really good job and the download version is $35. At least for me, True Image is like Partition Magic, you don't use them very often but when you need them, you really need them and you don't want problems
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832200003

 

[zzzop]

If you have a Seagate drive you can download Seagate DiscWizard (Acronis) free. It works great for cloning boot disks and it's free!!!

 

[flooder]

I use Norton Ghost many times and very reliable. I have a friend who use Acronis also, said it is very good. So, I guess it is either Ghost or Acronis will serve you well.

 

[Hawkeye22]

I use Acronis and it works extremely well. The free trial is fully functional for 15 days.

 

[Guest]

I use both Acronis and Paragon. Both great programs

 

[paq7512]

Acronis True Image is the best.

 

[mayers57]

Norton Ghost 12

 

[aBg_rOnGak]

1. Acronis True Image Home 10
2. Ghost 8 (the last that I use, haven't tried the latest ed.)
3. Paragon (didn't use much, so I don't have much experience with this app)

 

[ethel]

How about copy and paste? Won't do the OS though - for that I'd recommend the same as mayers57 - Norton Ghost.

If I was you I'd do a copy and paste in the meantime just in case you lose your drive.

 

[rwpritchett]

For a good freebie, you can try DriveImageXML. I've used it successfully a dozen times. To make the most of the program, create a BartPE disc using the plugin found on the DriveImageXML website. BartPE is necessary to restore an image outside a Windows environment.

 

[dokk2]

I have a HDD that has been making some wierd noises. lately those wierd noises have turned into loud grindings, and i noticed that my computer loads files,pics,vids,etc slower. i decided that i should get a new HDD. i want to clone everything to my external HDD(all my files and my operating system). i tried to use xp's backup program but it says that there is a 4 gig max.

so my question is- what is the best program that will let me back up a HDD?? i looked around and ithink that acronis and norton ghost are good, but do you know of any free ones?? i'm kind of on a budget and after this new HDD im broke, so any help would be awesom.

Thanks

Well now,,,no matter how you look at it you are still going to need some form of image saver for your primary hdd,,ie boot sector etc,the rest you can copy and paste,you must know some one who uses norton ghost,[local computer club etc???]because all you need is a the ghost floppy,should you get same then ,, you can clone your drive,note,,for an exact clone both hdd's MUST be of the same size..Otherwise you will need partition magic or something..
Now then the the other alternative,which is a real pain,,is to,fdisk/format the new drive just like the old drive reinstall and then copy everything into the appropriate directories,a shortcut that I have used for that procedure is 1,,fdisk/format/activate the primary/active partition,reboot fdisk then do extended partition/logical drives,and then do a quick format on the logical partitions with XP,NOTE::O NOT quick format the primary partition !!!!,this method will save you a lot of time,I have been doing this for years with no ill effects/problems...

 

[ethel]

For a good freebie, you can try DriveImageXML. I've used it successfully a dozen times. To make the most of the program, create a BartPE disc using the plugin found on the DriveImageXML website. BartPE is necessary to restore an image outside a Windows environment.

Wow - that software looks good for freeware. To the OP - listen to this guy

 

[PCD]

You could also try CopyWipe for DOS. Freeware tool that can be booted from CD and copies the exact contents of one harddisk to another.
Simply download the program, unzip it, put a CD in your burner and run Makedisk.exe.

Shut down your computer, connect the new hardddisk and start the computer again booting on the CD you just made and choose the copy tool. Afterwards the same tool can be used for wiping the old harddisk if you feel the need.

The download contains a manual for the program.

The program is freeware and can be found here: http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/index.html