Tom's Hardware > Forum > Storage > General Storage > HDD Upgrade - Cloning multiple partition drive(s)

HDD Upgrade - Cloning multiple partition drive(s)

Forum Storage : General Storage - HDD Upgrade - Cloning multiple partition drive(s)

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antispam246   04-19-2009 at 02:26:49 AM

I want to upgrade the primary HDD's in both my desktop and server. I have the new drives ready to put in and want to undertake all of this tomorrow so I'm looking for any advice.

 

Desktop PC

 

Primary HDD contains 3 partitions. (80Gb Total)

 

1. EISA Configuration
2. OS (Windows XP MCE Install/Apps) (NTFS)
3. DELL Boot files (FAT32)

 

I'm upgrading to a 1TB HDD

 

Server PC

 

Primary HDD contains 4 partitions. (80GB Total)

 

1. EISA Configuration
2. OS Files (DELL Boot files) (FAT32)
3. OS (Windows 2003 Server Edition) (NTFS)
4. OS (Windows XP Pro) (NTFS)

 

I'm upgrading to a 1TB HDD

 

I basically want to clone my current drives, exactly as it is so I can simply swap out the old for the new on both systems.

 

I have Acronis True Image Home 10 which has cloning capabilities and a decent rep but I've never used the cloning tool before.

 

Both systems have additional drives but it's only the OS install (boot drives) i'm looking to clone and replace.

 

If I use Acronis True Image will it be as simple as cloning each drive, copying the image to the new drives and then swapping them around (physically)? or is therem ore to it? Will the boot loaders remain intact as they are after the clone and swap?

 

Are there any problems I could run into that I should prep for?

 

I was going to, hoping I can, burn the clone images once cloned to my new drives that will be attached to external shells via USB. Will there be any problems with that? Do the new drives need to be formated in any particualr way prior to copying the clone images to them? Does Acronis handle the formatting of the new drives also?

 

Obviously as both upgrades are significant in size, what will become of the extra space, will it be left unpartitoned/formated or will Acronis ask me what I want to do with it? I can I simply create new partions with this space or add it onto current partitions?

 

Any help appreciated.


Message edited by antispam246 on 04-19-2009 at 02:29:57 AM
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leon2006   04-19-2009 at 03:09:53 AM
- 0 +

You need Acronos DISK DIRECTOR to partition your drive for your different OS. Disk director also has a BOOT OS Selector. That will allow you to select which OS to use when you boot your PC.

The True Image is a tool to image the drive or specific folders.

External USB drive will work to back up or image your drive.

Your image files will be based on the current drive size & partition. When you restore it to a bigger drive you will end up with UN-ALLOCATED space.

After restoring all your partitions with different OS, Use the Acronis DISK DIRECTOR to resize the specific partition of your choice. Resizing operation dont require additional FORMAT. the DISK DIRECTOR will take care of it. After the resize operation the space is usable.


If you are not using 64 OS you can use PARTITION-MAGIC 8 instead of Acronis Disk Director. If you plan to use 64 OS in the future it would be better to use Acronis DISK DIRECTOR.

------------------------------ Q6600: Maximus Formula: Zalman 9700LED8GByte: Crucial Ballistics 4-4-4-12: PC6400; Vista Ultimate-64BFG XOC 4890; Disp: 70 Inch HDTV: Hauppage 2250 HDTV Tuner1.4TByte: 2x750Gbyte; RAID0; Case: Antec 900: PS:Antec Quatro 850
 Reply to leon2006
antispam246   04-19-2009 at 03:54:44 AM
- 0 +

With either program, can I partition the new drives based on the old, i.e. direct the program to have the same size partitions as the existing disks or do I have to manually create them/size?

Reply to antispam246
antispam246   05-04-2009 at 03:28:24 PM
- 0 +

Resolved this.

Answer is yes, I used Acronis Migrate which let's you manually adjust the size and location of the partitions when upgrading your hard disk to a larger one.

Reply to antispam246
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