Upgrading laptop HDD

[NightlySputnik]

Here's my problem.

I have an Acer laptop with a 60GB HDD split in 3 partition. 1 hidden 3GB (used by system to reinstall Windows as it was out of the box) and 2*26GB partition (1 that I use for applications and one for data). It all looked good 2 years ago when I first got my system, but I'm havind to play magician with my portable 80GB HDD to have enough space to work.

I would now like to upgrade my HDD with one around 160GB. Can anybody tell me, or show a link, on how to migrate my present HDD to a new one. My problem mostly is with the hidden partition that I wouldn't want to loose.

Thanks for your time, I'll check back tonight at worst.

 

[firemist]

A disk clone utility will take all of the data including the hidden partition and transfer it to a different disk. Some will allow you to resize partitions as you clone and others you will need to resize after you complete the cloning process. But you need to have access to both disks from the same system to do the clone. I use Acronis and they have True Image and Migrate Easy products that will do cloning:

http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/

http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/migrateeasy/

You may need something like this that fits your laptop drive form factor (most likely 2.5") and clone through the usb port on the laptop.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Description=external+drive+enclosure

Good luck and hope this helps.

 

[dougery]

Second vote for Acronis true image here. Have cloned numerous times without a hitch! I would strongly recommend Acronis Disk Director for partitioning as well.

As for HDD's, I would like to throw the Hitachi 7k200 into the ring. Fast and reliable. If you purchase the retail version, it comes with an external enclosure and software for data migration. I didn't use this software so I'm afraid I can't share any details on it, but the enclosure seems to work ok.

I'm not sure what kind of system you have, but this is a SATA HDD.

 

[NightlySputnik]

Thanks guys, I'll give it a try as soon as I get the HDD

 

[runswindows95]

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16822149058

Best bang for your buck.

 

[Zorg]

You should get a couple of 2.5" to Desktop 3.5" IDE Hard Drive adapters and clone it in your desktop.