Hard Drive image copy service

GMJAP · Post by **GMJAP** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 1:53 pm

I'm looking to upgrade my notebook hard drive to a larger drive. However, I don't really want to re-install everything, I'd just like to get the drive imaged onto a larger drive.The problem I'm having is that I don't want to invest in the hardware/software to do this myself, and the big chains I've checked with (MicroCenter, CompUSA, etc) won't do it.Does anyone know of a national store that will do this? (Other comments/suggetions welcome.)Thanks.

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 2:02 pm

The easiest solution would be to buy an adapter that allows you to plug a notebook HD into a traditional IDE cable.Then, just plug your current notebook HD into a desktop computer, and copy the entire drive over to a HDD on your desktop. Then, take your new notebook HD, and just copy everything right back over again. Very cost effective, and simple as pie.Here is an adapter:http://www.tigerdirect.com/app...d=470other option is to install your new drive, boot from a boot disk, then use a USB adapter and plug your old drive in via USB and copy the stuff over.USB adapter:http://www.tigerdirect.com/app...d=470

northvibe · Post by **northvibe** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 2:58 pm

Do you have a dvd burner? or cd burner on or in your laptop? Norton ghost will make a image of your hdd that is burned to dvd or cd. then you can install your new hdd and just boot off disk 1 then reimage the new drive with the dvd/cd set. You can take the hdd out and with an adapter like ragingsish said make a image with it on a desktop and transfer that. You can also use a network ghosting program like ghost. where you boot your laptop up from a ghost cd and it loads your laptops nic drivers and you have it connected to a server or desktop throug the lan and it will make a image on that. then you can image the laptop back with the new hdd installed.I do this at work all the time for gateway and dell laptops with ghost. and for mac's use carbon copy or someother free apps.

jwalcik · Post by **jwalcik** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 4:21 pm

fry's won't do it? i know they will here in austin if they're doing warranty work for you.there's a place here in austin called mr notebook that would do it. i'm not sure if they do non carry-in service though.

GMJAP · Post by **GMJAP** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 11:46 pm

Thanks for the replies - The adapter idea sounds good. I can handle $5 for that!Is there any way to do the imaging without investing $30+ on software to do it?

jwalcik · Post by **jwalcik** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 3:34 am

if you're comfortable with linux, there's a CLI tool called "dd" that you could use from a KNOPPIX boot disk, or if you've got a mac handy, SuperDuper will do the same thing. surely there's some windows-based freeware as well, but that's not really my cup of tea.

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 5:20 am

Quote, originally posted by GMJAP Â»Thanks for the replies - The adapter idea sounds good. I can handle $5 for that!Is there any way to do the imaging without investing $30+ on software to do it?You can usually find norton ghost at comp usa or amazon.com with available rebates. A lot of times, you can get it free after rebates. But if you're starting and ending with the same machine - the only difference being the hard drive capacity - there's no reason to involve yourself with imaging software IMHO. Just find a standard desktop hard drive of equivalent or greater capacity of your current notebook's HD, do a total drive copy from the notebook drive to the PC drive, then do a total copy back to the new notebook drive.

GMJAP · Post by **GMJAP** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 5:47 am

Quote, originally posted by ragingfish Â»You can usually find norton ghost at comp usa or amazon.com with available rebates. A lot of times, you can get it free after rebates. But if you're starting and ending with the same machine - the only difference being the hard drive capacity - there's no reason to involve yourself with imaging software IMHO. Just find a standard desktop hard drive of equivalent or greater capacity of your current notebook's HD, do a total drive copy from the notebook drive to the PC drive, then do a total copy back to the new notebook drive. OK. I thought there was something with the boot sector or something else where just copying everything wouldn't work. But if it does, great! Thanks.

millster · Post by **millster** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 5:53 am

Yes. You'll need to do it in such a way that the new drive has a boot sector. Simply copying the files will not work.

Jahntassa · Post by **Jahntassa** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 10:55 pm

Also, if there is a significant change in the hardware (different motherboard manufacturer, different IDE controller, etc) then chances are even if you do manage to copy everything, it simply won't boot. Windows is more finicky about hardware then most people think.By all means try, but be prepared for more headaches than simply reinstalling everything. I have seen some cases where yes, it does work right off the bat, but i've had much less personal success then that.

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 3:29 am

Quote, originally posted by Jahntassa Â»Also, if there is a significant change in the hardware (different motherboard manufacturer, different IDE controller, etc) then chances are even if you do manage to copy everything, it simply won't boot. Windows is more finicky about hardware then most people think.By all means try, but be prepared for more headaches than simply reinstalling everything. I have seen some cases where yes, it does work right off the bat, but i've had much less personal success then that.Only reason I suggested direct copy is because he said the only thing he'd do is upgrade the HD capacity.

RePo · Post by **RePo** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 4:31 am

The new hard drive will have all the SOFTWARE tools you need available for free. If you have a Maxtor, download Maxblast. Western Digital -> EZDrive, Samsung and Seagate use Disk Manager. You'll need both drives connected to an IDE cable at the same time, so will need to be done in a desktop (tower) with a pair of 2.5" -> 3.5" ide drive converters advertised above. Install the new blank drive as the primary master, and the old drive works best as secondary master. Most computers won't make a slave bootable, unless the mothboard is a current generation system. If you're using XP or 2000 (NTFS), it'll take about 4 hours, but you'll be surprised how easy it is.

vibe-04 · Post by **vibe-04** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 4:55 am

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 5:01 am

OR:Keep hard drive of regular PC as boot drive.Disconnect all devices from secondary IDE (typically CD drive and possibly one other device).Install both old and new notebook drives on secondary IDE channel. Pick one for master/slave, doesn't matter.Boot normally into windows, then just do select all/copy on old drive, paste on new drive.Boom. Done.Easiest method IMHO.

vibe-04 · Post by **vibe-04** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 5:06 am

RePo · Post by **RePo** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 6:04 am

[QUOTE=ragingfish]OR:Boot normally into windows, then just do select all/copy on old drive, paste on new drive.QUOTE]The clone drive will be left unbootable. You won't be able to copy an operating system that is active, and the boot sector won't be copied in this manner. In a laptop you won't be able to connect a second hard drive without another drive caddy, and the CDROM (or floppy) is necessary to load the copy utility boot disk. They'll be three drive active: Source drive, destination drive, and boot drive w/ diskmanager or equivalent app.

Hard Drive image copy service

Hard Drive image copy service

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