Can't create image disk due to BIOS/UEFI conflict

[Vax]

Hello everyone. First off let me say thank you so much for being here and helping. So many issues I've had have been solved by coming here. Seriously, thanks a bunch!

Now to the issue I'm having:

My goal: To move the contents of my old hard drive onto my new one, Windows 10 OS and all.

My problem: My hard drive is dying. Slowly but surely, sitting at 100% disk usage almost all the time, being slow as christmas etc. etc.
I blame the fact I was dumb and bought a refurbished hard drive. That was probably my biggest mistake. I've since decided to buy a BRAND NEW hard drive that I've formatted to be GPT(Since my hard drive is 2TB+ in size!)

I discovered that in order to move my entire hard drive, I needed to create a System Image, which I did, and I put the system image on my new hard drive(Which was previously empty, obviously).

I then bought a USB drive and turned it into a Windows 10 boot disk. I boot from the USB drive and hit 'repair my computer'. I go to the system image restore, follow the prompts, it finds the image to use on my new hard drive. When it's about to begin the image restore on my new hard drive, it first claims this error:

The system image restore failed.

Windows cannot restore a system image to a computer that has different firmware. The system image was created on a computer using BIOS and this computer is using EFI.

I can only imagine that this is because I made a mistake when I formatted my new hard drive? Regardless, I have no idea how my new hard drive is EFI and my old one is BIOS(My old hard drive is only a smidge above a year old, as in that's when I bought it. No idea how old it is if you count pre-refurbish)

It also gave me an error code(which I sadly forgot :c ), which claimed something along the lines of there not being a suitable drive for the image restore to go on. This confuses me, as the new hard drive with the system image on it is perfectly fine. Did I make a mistake in putting it on my new hard drive? Should I have put the system image on my old drive and transferred it from there?

 

[atljsf]

can you create again the image and set uefi bios to legacy?

what tool are you using to create the image?

is it necesary to create a image?

can't you just save your user, copy your personal files outside and then just make a clean install

 

[smorizio]

if the old drive and pc are working you should wipe the new drive in the old pc then use a free drive clone program. clone the old drive and it data onto the new drive. if the clone works it should boot fine as the new drive.

 

[USAFRet]

You don't need to make a 'System Image', or all that stuff you did.

Assuming your old drive is not actually dead, and is still fully readable:
To clone, do this: (replace 'SSD' with 'new hard drive')
-----------------------------
Verify the actual used space on the current drive is significantly below the size of the new SSD
Download and install Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration, if a Samsung SSD)
Power off
Disconnect ALL drives except the current C and the new SSD
Power up
Run the Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration)
Select ALL the partitions on the existing C drive
Click the 'Clone' button
Wait until it is done
When it finishes, power off
Disconnect ALL drives except for the new SSD
Swap the SATA cables around so that the new drive is connected to the same SATA port as the old drive
Power up, and verify the BIOS boot order
If good, continue the power up

It should boot from the new drive, just like the old drive.
Maybe reboot a time or two, just to make sure.

If it works, and it should, all is good.

Later, reconnect the old drive and wipe as necessary.
Delete the original boot partitions, here:
https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/4f1b84ac-b193-40e3-943a-f45d52e23685/cant-delete-extra-healthy-recovery-partitions-and-healthy-efi-system-partition?forum=w8itproinstall
-----------------------------

 

[Vax]

can you create again the image and set uefi bios to legacy?

what tool are you using to create the image?

is it necesary to create a image?

can't you just save your user, copy your personal files outside and then just make a clean install

I was using the completely standard 'create system image' option in the Windows 10 control panel.

According to the internet, it was. Unless you can tell me there's a better way?

Apparently I can't, due to those files not 'being readable' by the clean install of Windows 10. Something about Windows installs being different and unable to read/use other windows installs' files.

 

[Vax]

if the old drive and pc are working you should wipe the new drive in the old pc then use a free drive clone program. clone the old drive and it data onto the new drive. if the clone works it should boot fine as the new drive.

Wipe it how? As in empty it of the system image I made etc. ?
Do you have any free drive clone programs that are legit? I've found a couple and both had a dismal trust rating.

 

[Vax]

You don't need to make a 'System Image', or all that stuff you did.

Assuming your old drive is not actually dead, and is still fully readable:
To clone, do this: (replace 'SSD' with 'new hard drive')
-----------------------------
Verify the actual used space on the current drive is significantly below the size of the new SSD
Download and install Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration, if a Samsung SSD)
Power off
Disconnect ALL drives except the current C and the new SSD
Power up
Run the Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration)
Select ALL the partitions on the existing C drive
Click the 'Clone' button
Wait until it is done
When it finishes, power off
Disconnect ALL drives except for the new SSD
Swap the SATA cables around so that the new drive is connected to the same SATA port as the old drive
Power up, and verify the BIOS boot order
If good, continue the power up

It should boot from the new drive, just like the old drive.
Maybe reboot a time or two, just to make sure.

If it works, and it should, all is good.

Later, reconnect the old drive and wipe as necessary.
Delete the original boot partitions, here:
https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/4f1b84ac-b193-40e3-943a-f45d52e23685/cant-delete-extra-healthy-recovery-partitions-and-healthy-efi-system-partition?forum=w8itproinstall
-----------------------------

I'm assuming Macrium Reflect is a legit program that won't start spamming me with viagra emails and calling me pretending to be Microsoft and saying I have a virus?

If I can get some proof/claims that this program is legit, I'll give it a try.
Pret-ty sure using an illegitimate program to fix where literally ALL OF MY FILES will be saved, is a very, very bad idea.

 

[USAFRet]

I'm assuming Macrium Reflect is a legit program that won't start spamming me with viagra emails and calling me pretending to be Microsoft and saying I have a virus?

If I can get some proof/claims that this program is legit, I'll give it a try.
Pret-ty sure using an illegitimate program to fix where literally ALL OF MY FILES will be saved, is a very, very bad idea.

It is absolutely legit. I use it daily. Like every single day.
I have entrusted my actual backup scenario to it.

Zero junk, zero spam.

And the free version is actually free. No nag, no crap, no $$.
http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx


(and no, I do not work for them. Satisfied user, I recommend it here every day. Not once has someone come back to me and complained about it)

 

[Vax]

I'm assuming Macrium Reflect is a legit program that won't start spamming me with viagra emails and calling me pretending to be Microsoft and saying I have a virus?

If I can get some proof/claims that this program is legit, I'll give it a try.
Pret-ty sure using an illegitimate program to fix where literally ALL OF MY FILES will be saved, is a very, very bad idea.

It is absolutely legit. I use it daily. Like every single day.
I have entrusted my actual backup scenario to it.

Zero junk, zero spam.

And the free version is actually free. No nag, no crap, no $$.
http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx


(and no, I do not work for them. Satisfied user, I recommend it here every day. Not once has someone come back to me and complained about it)

Fine, I'll give it a go. I'll come back later with updates.

 

[USAFRet]

The only reason I have seen that procedure fail is because either the source or target drive is defective, or something is not connected correctly.

 

[Vax]

The only reason I have seen that procedure fail is because either the source or target drive is defective, or something is not connected correctly.

I tried running the clone process in the program you suggested, but it won't let me because windows is running, and tells me I have to do it from the windows pe rescue cd or boot menu...wtf?

 

[USAFRet]

The only reason I have seen that procedure fail is because either the source or target drive is defective, or something is not connected correctly.

I tried running the clone process in the program toy suggested, but it won't let me because windows is running, and tells me I have to do it from the windows pe rescue cd or boot menu...wtf?

Huh? I've never seen that.

Walk me through the exact steps you took.

 

[atljsf]

clonezilla to clone hard disk is great but you need to put uefi into legacy, disable secure boot

it takes perhaps 20 minutes to create a image and then another 20 to restore it

 

[Vax]

The only reason I have seen that procedure fail is because either the source or target drive is defective, or something is not connected correctly.

I tried running the clone process in the program toy suggested, but it won't let me because windows is running, and tells me I have to do it from the windows pe rescue cd or boot menu...wtf?

Huh? I've never seen that.

Walk me through the exact steps you took.

1) Ensure both the new drive and old drive are plugged in properly
2) Open Macrium Reflect
3) I see this page: http://imgur.com/a/oXtPi
4) Highlight the NTFS primary with 1.72 GB of space used.
5) Hit Clone This Disk
6) See this page: http://imgur.com/a/ENwlF
7) Select all 3 partitions(System Reserved / (C: ) / 3-(none)
8) Hit Select a disk to clone to...
9) Select Local Disk 2(E: ) with 2.73GB available
10) Hit next
11) See this page: http://imgur.com/a/EkvOO
12) Press next(I skip this step)
13) See this page: http://imgur.com/a/uqwbw
14) Everything looks as it should. Hit Finish
15) See this page: http://imgur.com/a/xFHWo
16) Uncheck 'save backup and schedules as an XML backup definition file. This grays out the Enter a name for this backup definition
17) Check Run this backup now.
18) Press OK
19) See this page: http://imgur.com/a/jufBi
20) I don't have anything on the new disk so I don't care if it's wiped. Hit continue.
21) See this page: http://imgur.com/a/UNBlb
22) ????????
23) I hit okay. Load screen goes blank and my only option is to close.
24) Back to the front window showing my different disk partitions. Back to square 1.
25) Help?

 

[USAFRet]

The 2TB is the source drive, and the 3TB is the target drive, correct?
And you've selected ALL partitions on the source drive?

hmmm...

Is the E drive possibly part of Storage Spaces or something?

Or possibly the page file on that drive?
Some part of Windows thinks it should be using that drive for something.

 

[Vax]

The 2TB is the source drive, and the 3TB is the target drive, correct?
And you've selected ALL partitions on the source drive?

hmmm...

Is the E drive possibly part of Storage Spaces or something?

I literally have no idea. The drive is completely empty and I am pretty sure I formatted it as GPT, aka a drive meant to be a bootable drive, not just an internal storage device.

And yes, the 2TB is the drive I have now, and the 3TB drive is the new one I want to clone everything onto. This confuses me, since E: (the drive it claims as 'in use') is the 3TB(new) drive. Why would it be 'in use' when there's literally nothing on there.

I did some digging on Google and found someone saying that 'Macrium Reflect cannot clone to a disk if it was booted from'. This makes sense, but the thing is I didn't boot from the disk I'm cloning onto, I'm booted from the drive I'm cloning FROM...

 

[Vax]

The 2TB is the source drive, and the 3TB is the target drive, correct?
And you've selected ALL partitions on the source drive?

hmmm...

Is the E drive possibly part of Storage Spaces or something?

Or possibly the page file on that drive?
Some part of Windows thinks it should be using that drive for something.

I checked on Task manager, and saw something interesting.
My current drive, the drive I'm booted from, has it set as Page File: No / System Disk: Yes

My new drive, the drive I want to clone stuff onto, is reverse: Page File: Yes / System Disk: No

Is this important?

 

[USAFRet]

The 2TB is the source drive, and the 3TB is the target drive, correct?
And you've selected ALL partitions on the source drive?

hmmm...

Is the E drive possibly part of Storage Spaces or something?

Or possibly the page file on that drive?
Some part of Windows thinks it should be using that drive for something.

I checked on Task manager, and saw something interesting.
My current drive, the drive I'm booted from, has it set as Page File: No / System Disk: Yes

My new drive, the drive I want to clone stuff onto, is reverse: Page File: Yes / System Disk: No

Is this important?

That is almost certainly the issue.
Change the page file back to your C drive.

 

[Vax]

The 2TB is the source drive, and the 3TB is the target drive, correct?
And you've selected ALL partitions on the source drive?

hmmm...

Is the E drive possibly part of Storage Spaces or something?

Or possibly the page file on that drive?
Some part of Windows thinks it should be using that drive for something.

I checked on Task manager, and saw something interesting.
My current drive, the drive I'm booted from, has it set as Page File: No / System Disk: Yes

My new drive, the drive I want to clone stuff onto, is reverse: Page File: Yes / System Disk: No

Is this important?

That is almost certainly the issue.
Change the page file back to your C drive.

How? o.o

 

[USAFRet]

How? o.o

This PC
Right click - Properties
Advanced System Settings
System Properties - Advanced tab
Performance - Settings
Advanced tab - Virtual Memory - Change
Set as needed

 

[Vax]

How? o.o

This PC
Right click - Properties
Advanced System Settings
System Properties - Advanced tab
Performance - Settings
Advanced tab - Virtual Memory - Change
Set as needed

I did that, now my C: drive just says Yes to both. My E: drive still says yes to Page File and no to System disk. I definitely turned off the page file for E:

 

[USAFRet]

I did that, now my C: drive just says Yes to both. My E: drive still says yes to Page File and no to System disk. I definitely turned off the page file for E:

Tell the E drive NO page file.
You probably have to reboot after.

 

[Vax]

I did that, now my C: drive just says Yes to both. My E: drive still says yes to Page File and no to System disk. I definitely turned off the page file for E:

Tell the E drive NO page file.
You probably have to reboot after.

Welp, * has COMPLETELY hit the fan now.
I managed to make a boot menu through Reflect for Windows 10. I rebooted my system and it gave me the option to boot from Macrium Reflect Restore. I did so and the cloning process FINALLY worked..
...
...until it was 16% done. After this it gave me the following error:

Clone Failed - Read Failed - 12 - Permission Denied - 32

I close everything, decide I'm just gonna leave it alone, go wipe whatever's on my new hard drive after this fiasco and try it again after I do some more research.

...EXCEPT NOW MY NEW HARD DRIVE SIZE IS 100MB!?!?!!?!?!?!?!?

I go into Macrium Reflect and I SEE the 2.72TB of my new hard drive, but it's greyed out!? Wtf has this * program done to my BRAND NEW hard drive and how the f*** do I fix it!?!?!?

 

[USAFRet]

It apparently died during the clone, due to the failing original drive.

Your 3TB drive is still 3TB, just that it got partitioned wrong, and FIle Explorer is reading it wrong.

Take a deep breath.
Take that new drive out.
Can you boot from the original drive?

 

[USAFRet]

And as I mentioned earlier, the only time I have seen that fail is due to a failing drive.