Software to clone disk and resize target partiions at same time?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Bob
  • Start date Start date
B

Bob

I have a 160 gig drive that contains several partions, including a 10
gig bootable "C: drive" partition that stores my OS (Windows XP SP2).
All partitions are NTFS. I just bought a 320 gig drive and would like
to clone the 160GB drive onto the 320 gig drive but I also would like
to resize all of the partions while cloning if I can (eg. make the C:
drive 15 gigs instead of the 10 it is now on the 160 gig drive).

I remember doing this a few years ago when I cloned everything onto the
160 gig drive using either Partition Magic or Drive Image, but I cannot
remember which one and that may have been before I convertedmy
partitions from FAT32 to NTFS.

I have Drive Image 7.0 and I thought it would allow me to clone a disk
but it only lets me copy one partition at a time and even then the
cloned partition cannot be resized in the cloning operation.

Any suggestions on what software will not only clone an entire hard
disk at once but alos allow me to resize the target partitions during
the same operation?

Thanks!
Bob
 
Bob said:
I have a 160 gig drive that contains several partions, including a 10
gig bootable "C: drive" partition that stores my OS (Windows XP SP2).
All partitions are NTFS. I just bought a 320 gig drive and would like
to clone the 160GB drive onto the 320 gig drive but I also would like
to resize all of the partions while cloning if I can (eg. make the C:
drive 15 gigs instead of the 10 it is now on the 160 gig drive).

I remember doing this a few years ago when I cloned everything onto the
160 gig drive using either Partition Magic or Drive Image, but I cannot
remember which one and that may have been before I convertedmy
partitions from FAT32 to NTFS.

I have Drive Image 7.0 and I thought it would allow me to clone a disk
but it only lets me copy one partition at a time and even then the
cloned partition cannot be resized in the cloning operation.

Any suggestions on what software will not only clone an entire hard
disk at once but alos allow me to resize the target partitions during
the same operation?

Thanks!
Bob
Click to expand...


Norton Ghost does it fine.
 
Bob said:
I have a 160 gig drive that contains several partions, including a 10
gig bootable "C: drive" partition that stores my OS (Windows XP SP2).
All partitions are NTFS. I just bought a 320 gig drive and would like
to clone the 160GB drive onto the 320 gig drive but I also would like
to resize all of the partions while cloning if I can (eg. make the C:
drive 15 gigs instead of the 10 it is now on the 160 gig drive).

I remember doing this a few years ago when I cloned everything onto
the 160 gig drive using either Partition Magic or Drive Image, but I
cannot remember which one and that may have been before I convertedmy
partitions from FAT32 to NTFS.

I have Drive Image 7.0 and I thought it would allow me to clone a disk
but it only lets me copy one partition at a time and even then the
cloned partition cannot be resized in the cloning operation.

Any suggestions on what software will not only clone an entire hard
disk at once but alos allow me to resize the target partitions during
the same operation?

Thanks!
Bob
Click to expand...
 
Bob said:
I have a 160 gig drive that contains several partions, including a 10
gig bootable "C: drive" partition that stores my OS (Windows XP SP2).
All partitions are NTFS. I just bought a 320 gig drive and would like
to clone the 160GB drive onto the 320 gig drive but I also would like
to resize all of the partions while cloning if I can (eg. make the C:
drive 15 gigs instead of the 10 it is now on the 160 gig drive).

I remember doing this a few years ago when I cloned everything onto
the 160 gig drive using either Partition Magic or Drive Image, but I
cannot remember which one and that may have been before I convertedmy
partitions from FAT32 to NTFS.

I have Drive Image 7.0 and I thought it would allow me to clone a disk
but it only lets me copy one partition at a time and even then the
cloned partition cannot be resized in the cloning operation.
Click to expand...
Any suggestions on what software will not only clone an entire hard
disk at once but alos allow me to resize the target partitions during
the same operation?
Click to expand...

True Image will do that fine.

Dont bother with Ghost, its completely hopeless for that,
basically because it cant do a clone from a booted CD
and that causes big problems with drive letters doing it
at the XP level, and its buggy and damned slow as well.
 
:
:> I have a 160 gig drive that contains several partions, including a 10
:> gig bootable "C: drive" partition that stores my OS (Windows XP SP2).
:> All partitions are NTFS. I just bought a 320 gig drive and would like
:> to clone the 160GB drive onto the 320 gig drive but I also would like
:> to resize all of the partions while cloning if I can (eg. make the C:
:> drive 15 gigs instead of the 10 it is now on the 160 gig drive).
:>
:> I remember doing this a few years ago when I cloned everything onto
:> the 160 gig drive using either Partition Magic or Drive Image, but I
:> cannot remember which one and that may have been before I convertedmy
:> partitions from FAT32 to NTFS.
:>
:> I have Drive Image 7.0 and I thought it would allow me to clone a disk
:> but it only lets me copy one partition at a time and even then the
:> cloned partition cannot be resized in the cloning operation.
:
:> Any suggestions on what software will not only clone an entire hard
:> disk at once but alos allow me to resize the target partitions during
:> the same operation?
:
:True Image will do that fine.
:
:Dont bother with Ghost, its completely hopeless for that,
:basically because it cant do a clone from a booted CD
:and that causes big problems with drive letters doing it
:at the XP level, and its buggy and damned slow as well.

Thanks. Do you know if I will be able to resize the C: drive
partition? Reason I ask is because on the Acronis site it has a
disclaimer note that says "on supported partitions only" in referece to
resizing partitions while cloning.
 
Thanks. Do you know if I will be able to resize the C: drive partition?
Click to expand...

Sorry, should have said that more explicitly. Yes, you can resize
any or all of the partitions. You can have them resized proportionally
to fill the new drive or manually adjust the size of each one too so
you get exactly the sizes you want instead.
Reason I ask is because on the Acronis site it has
a disclaimer note that says "on supported partitions
only" in referece to resizing partitions while cloning.
Click to expand...

Sure. That only means that partitions it doesnt understand the format
of cant be resized, just copied without changing the size. It understands
FAT32 and NTFS fine, so will do what you want with the C partition.
 
:>>
:>>> I have a 160 gig drive that contains several partions, including a
:>>> 10 gig bootable "C: drive" partition that stores my OS (Windows XP
:>>> SP2). All partitions are NTFS. I just bought a 320 gig drive and
:>>> would like to clone the 160GB drive onto the 320 gig drive but I
:>>> also would like to resize all of the partions while cloning if I
:>>> can (eg. make the C: drive 15 gigs instead of the 10 it is now on
:>>> the 160 gig drive).
:>>>
:>>> I remember doing this a few years ago when I cloned everything onto
:>>> the 160 gig drive using either Partition Magic or Drive Image, but I
:>>> cannot remember which one and that may have been before I
:>>> convertedmy partitions from FAT32 to NTFS.
:>>>
:>>> I have Drive Image 7.0 and I thought it would allow me to clone a
:>>> disk but it only lets me copy one partition at a time and even then
:>>> the cloned partition cannot be resized in the cloning operation.
:>>
:>>> Any suggestions on what software will not only clone an entire hard
:>>> disk at once but alos allow me to resize the target partitions
:>>> during the same operation?
:>>
:>> True Image will do that fine.
:>>
:>> Dont bother with Ghost, its completely hopeless for that,
:>> basically because it cant do a clone from a booted CD
:>> and that causes big problems with drive letters doing it
:>> at the XP level, and its buggy and damned slow as well.
:
:> Thanks. Do you know if I will be able to resize the C: drive partition?
:
:Sorry, should have said that more explicitly. Yes, you can resize
:any or all of the partitions. You can have them resized proportionally
:to fill the new drive or manually adjust the size of each one too so
:you get exactly the sizes you want instead.

No problem. I will use the manual method.

:> Reason I ask is because on the Acronis site it has
:> a disclaimer note that says "on supported partitions
:> only" in referece to resizing partitions while cloning.
:
:Sure. That only means that partitions it doesnt understand the format
:of cant be resized, just copied without changing the size. It understands
:FAT32 and NTFS fine, so will do what you want with the C partition.

That's kind of what I thought but thanks for the reassurance.

I just purchased True Image v9.0 from Newegg.com...the downloadable
version there was $20 cheaper than at Acronis.com.

I guess the only issue I can forsee is once I clone my source disk, I
have to be sure and unplug it and plug the target disk in it's place so
as to avoid having two "active" OS/boot partitions visible to the
system. Once I confirm that all is working OK on the clone (target)
disk, I want to wipe the source disk clean, repartition, reformat, etc.
so I can use it to store data files (music and video). I'm thinking
that I will need to use some sort of FDISK type of utility on either a
bootable floppy or bootable CD to do that in order to avoid my system
seeing two "active" OS partitions at the same time. Correct?
 
I would never using drive imaging for data partitions,
especially if they are NTFS converted from FAT32.

Partition with Disk Mananger, then copy data with: xcopy /e /q /c /h O: N:
 
No problem. I will use the manual method.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I did, the automatic/proportional isnt as useful for me.
That's kind of what I thought but thanks for the reassurance.
Click to expand...
I just purchased True Image v9.0 from Newegg.com...the
downloadable version there was $20 cheaper than at Acronis.com.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that, havent checked that recently.
I guess the only issue I can forsee is once I clone my source disk,
Click to expand...

I think its best to clone from the bootable rescue CD too, forgot to mention
that.
I have to be sure and unplug it and plug the target disk in it's place so
as to avoid having two "active" OS/boot partitions visible to the system.
Click to expand...

Yes, that is best. Havent checked if 9 fixes the need
for that, the last clone I did of a boot drive I used 8.
Once I confirm that all is working OK on the clone (target)
disk, I want to wipe the source disk clean, repartition, reformat,
etc. so I can use it to store data files (music and video).
Click to expand...

I usually leave that for a week or two, just in case the new
drive dies very quickly. Thats just super precautious tho,
I've never actually had one die like that.
I'm thinking that I will need to use some sort of FDISK type of utility
on either a bootable floppy or bootable CD to do that in order to
avoid my system seeing two "active" OS partitions at the same time.
Correct?
Click to expand...

Nope, XP doesnt care. You can keep both drives online
too just as long as the original isnt visible to the clone
on the first boot after the clone has been made.

You may well choose to repartition the original tho for
the new use, thats best done in Disk Management in XP.
 
Two methods I use
1. Use standard cloning software that will automatically create
proportionally larger partitions on larger target hard drives. Follow up
with partitioning software that allows partition resizing.
2. Use partitioning software that does copies and resizing. One partition
at time.

Another way is some partitioning software that allow multiple partition
copies at the same time, select with "ctrl" key and mouse simultaneously.
Cannot do individual partition resizing at the same time though.

I know there's better, but I already own the software.
 
Rod Speed said:
No it doesnt, its a complete dog for cloning.
Click to expand...
It has worked fine for me, and many others I know, cloning and imaging
FAT32 and NTFS disks/partitions, upto and including Windows XP. I have
not used it for any none Windows based systems.

If you know different, that is fine by me.

I will continue to use it until it causes problems or I find a better
product.
 
It has worked fine for me, and many others I know, cloning and imaging
FAT32 and NTFS disks/partitions, upto and including Windows XP.
Click to expand...

Bet you havent cloned XP using Ghost 9 or 10. Its a
complete dog, essentially because you cant clone from
the booted CD, you have to clone at the XP level, and that
produces a complete abortion with the partition letters.
I have not used it for any none Windows based systems.
Click to expand...
If you know different, that is fine by me.
Click to expand...
I will continue to use it until it causes problems or I find a better product.
Click to expand...

True Image is a vastly better product.
 
Nicholas D Richards said:
Norton Ghost does it fine.
Click to expand...

2003 and earlier. Newer versions don't do this I think.
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Rod Speed said:
Bet you havent cloned XP using Ghost 9 or 10. Its a
complete dog, essentially because you cant clone from
the booted CD, you have to clone at the XP level, and that
produces a complete abortion with the partition letters.
Click to expand...

If I had taken a bet, you would be richer. I only use 2003, which does
seem to work fine with XP. Seemed (seems) no reason to upgrade as the
2003 version works fine on XP :)

Glad I did not upgrade, would have wasted my money.

I wonder what it will be like when they bring out a Vista aware
version.
 
And useless for some other stuff, particularly imaging from the booted CD too.
If I had taken a bet, you would be richer. I only
use 2003, which does seem to work fine with XP.
Click to expand...

Its pretty lacking in a modern imager now tho.
Seemed (seems) no reason to upgrade
as the 2003 version works fine on XP :)
Click to expand...

Try imaging with the image file on the other side of the lan,
with a nic that isnt natively supported by Ghost 2003. Its
possible, but you need to know what you are doing.

No incremental images either.
Glad I did not upgrade, would have wasted my money.
Click to expand...

Yep, I'd have demanded a refund if it had been me.
I wonder what it will be like when they bring out a Vista aware version.
Click to expand...

Looks rather like they are being bone headed about the
limitations, they mostly didnt get fixed going from 9 to 10.

Sad really, it was a pretty decent product in the past.

Not perfect tho unfortunately.
 
Here's a list of some of the backup/imaging software available. There
may be others as well.

Symantec Ghost
http://www.symantec.com/home_homeoffice/products/backup_recovery/ghost10
/index.html

Symantec LiveState
http://www.symantec.com/small_business/products/backup_recovery/lsrdt30/
index.html

Acronis True Image
http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/

Dantz Retrospect
http://www.dantz.com/en/products/win_personal/index.dtml

Paragon, Exact Image
http://www.exact-image.com/

NTI DriveBackup 4.0
http://www.ntius.com/default.asp?p=backupnow/drb_main

R-Tools Drive-Image
http://www.drive-image.com/

Terabyte Unlimited, Image for Windows
http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/imagew.html
 
I had to do something very similar a few weeks ago, but with two RAID
arrays. On one machine, the original 80GB mirrored array was on the
on-board IDE controller, and the new 250GB array was on a new SATA
controller. The original array had three partitions: 20GB "C", 20GB "D",
and 40GB "E".

I downloaded Maxtor's free MaxBlast 4 software from Maxtor's site. I chose
the .ISO version, which makes a bootable CD, so you perform all functions
outside of Windows.

MaxBlast allows you to create any number of primary partitions in NTFS or
FAT, so I created two 40GB NTFS partitions and one 171GB (100% of the
remaining space) partition. MaxBlast also formatted all three partitions in
under a minute (obviously a "quick" format).

MaxBlast then allowed me to copy each source partition to the larger
partitions on the new array:
* the first original 20GB to the first new 40GB partition
* the second original 20GB to the second new 40GB partition
* the original 40GB to the new 171GB partition
The whole process took about 90 minutes (about 60GB of actual data was
copied), and the new array booted perfectly after the old array was
disabled. Also, all of the disk space is there for each partition (40GB,
40GB, and 171GB). It's been running flawlessly since then, and now that
server has a TON of room to grow.

That's pretty good for free software, the drives can be from any
manufacturer (another server had WD source drives and Seagate destination
drives), and the interface and functions are very intuitive.

HTH!
 
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