Cloning to used HDD

[omaha100]

Hello,
I am planning to upgrade from an 80GB HDD to a 500GB HDD. The 500 GB drive is out of another computer so it has data and files on it. Will a clone of the 80GB drive take these files out or do I have to format the 500GB drive first? I am plannig to use Acronis True Image.

 

[Dr_JRE]

Drive Image ( http://www.drive-image.com/ ) Is free and a very good app.

R-Studio ( http://www.data-recovery-software.net/ ) Is free and is an excellent app.

ODIN ( http://odin-win.sourceforge.net/ ) Is free

Parted Magic is free..

you can download Parted Magic @ http://partedmagic.com/doku.php

If you are unfamilar with burning disk images; Linux Live USB Creator (Lili), is an extremely easy tool for creating bootable CDs, DVDs, and USB flash drives.

Linux Live USB creator can be downloaded @ http://www.linuxliveusb.com/en/download

Simply download the ISO you want to burn, Use Lili to create a bootable disk, and boot the computer from that disk.

 

[Paperdoc]

Yes, Acronis True Image can do this for you. You should use the menu system (reading the manual will help!) to do two things. I am assuming that you WANT to destroy all data on the 500 GB unit before making the clone copy.

First, BEFORE making the clone copy, use the menu choices to Delete any and all Partitions that are on the 500 GB unit. This will make it totally empty, just like a brand new HDD for the next phase.

THEN start into the cloning process. However, watch carefully for the SIZE of the Partition it proposes to Create for your copy. It often defaults to the same size as your older smaller Source Drive (80 GB), leaving the rest of the new unit Unallocated. Don't just click OK. Change the size to what you want - quite possibly, the entire 465 GB available on the new unit - before telling it to proceed.

Be very careful - the Source unit MUST be your older 80 GB HDD, and the Destination MUST be the 500 GB unit!!

 

[fzabkar]

Just FYI, Seagate and WD both have free downloadable OEM versions of Acronis True Image. Seagate's is called DiscWizard.

 

[omaha100]

Best answer selected by omaha100.

 

[omaha100]

Thank you all for your help in this. It is just the information I was looking for.

 

[ram1009]

Just FYI, Seagate and WD both have free downloadable OEM versions of Acronis True Image. Seagate's is called DiscWizard.

FYI, the free versions of Acronis are unable to clone HDDs.

 

[Paperdoc]

FYI, the free versions of Acronis are unable to clone HDDs.

Wrong. I've used both Disk Wizard from Seagate and Acronis True Image WD Edition from WD. They clone a whole HDD properly. HOWEVER, they are limited to making the clone only TO a HDD from their respective makers. So, Disk Wizard does not care what old HDD you're using as the Source Disk, but it will ONLY make the clone copy onto a Seagate HDD as the Destination Disk. Likewise, WD's offering will only make its clone onto a WD product.

 

[ram1009]

Wrong. I've used both Disk Wizard from Seagate and Acronis True Image WD Edition from WD. They clone a whole HDD properly. HOWEVER, they are limited to making the clone only TO a HDD from their respective makers. So, Disk Wizard does not care what old HDD you're using as the Source Disk, but it will ONLY make the clone copy onto a Seagate HDD as the Destination Disk. Likewise, WD's offering will only make its clone onto a WD product.

It didn't work when I tried it with the same OEM. I also tried the "free" demo version which is downloadable and works for 30 days.