Can anybody tell me the steps to clone hard drive?

[AirForceElite]

Hello folks.
So i finally managed to cough up $40 and buy myself 2nd hard drive (been running on 1 and it was time to stop playing risky games and start backing up).

It is reformatting as we speak (installation into Antec case was breeze and the drive looks good and no problems so far *knocks on wood*)

Anyways, i usually format every 4 months just because i hate useless stuff on my computer that i will never need (like that random software that you downloaded to see what it's like, and will never ever use it) but I have been doing it the old fashion way, reformatting, and installing Win XP every time, downloading drivers, downloading all the games and apps again every 4 months. It was wuite painful procedure but it was worth the feel you get when you first boot into fresh clean Windows XP and there is nothing to slow it down.

Can you folks tell me what I need to do to clone my disk with OS on it?

The only thing I know is that I need to either download a free trial or purchase a software that does it.
I have no clue whatsoever what are the steps.

I don't need to be told in exact detail (press DEL 1 time, then press ENTER 2 times...)
Just the basic steps i need to make to clone my drive.
So step:

1) I download disk cloning software...and then what?

 

[NoelS]

AFElite,

If you bought that HDD retail, there was likely a CD in the box which is supposed to help you set it up for operation. If you bought it OEM and don't have a CD, go to the manufacturer's web sit and download their set-up tools program and use it. These programs all have cloning programs on them and all you have to do is select the clone option it and it will clone one drive to the other.

Noel

 

[Roguestar]

go to www.acronis.com

download trial version

run acronis

select clone hard drive

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: Roguestar
go to www.acronis.com

download trial version

run acronis

select clone hard drive

:thumbsup:

Then start to collect $35 and buy it.

It is one of the est utilities around.

 

[Paperdoc]

I agree with other replies, BUT - if you clone you HDD, it will contain ALL the original drive's contents and configurations, including all the old software you don't use and wanted to be free of. So as a means of cleaning up the system, this isn't it. However, I'm all in favor of having a second HDD anyway!

 

[bruceb]

Agreed. What has been mentioned so far is how to Clone your existing Drive to a New Drive.
In your case, you want to use the same program Acronis TruImage or Norton Ghost and
create an Image of your system drive as it is at the date you created it. You can then use that
to do a Restore to your main Drive in the event of a failure or virus. You should make a new
Image whenever you make what you consider to be a Major Change to your system or if you
prefer, make a new one every 2 months or so.

 

[lokiju]

How about just having a smaller partiton for your OS and then a larger partition or other drive for your data? That way you can just reinstall the OS without risking loss of data.

 

[velillen]

you could also look into using nlite. it installs xp (think they have a vista verison too?) you can set it up to install all the updates, additional programs (say if you always want trillian it can isntall it for you) anyways might be worth checking out if your looking to get EVERYTHING the same. just another alternative suggestion to cloning or partitions

 

[NoelS]

AirForceElite,

Lots of responses here, but I agree with Roguestar and JackMDS about Acronis True Image... I've had versions 9, 10 and now 11 and love it, but didn't suggest it to you because I figured you'd want a free fix. Forgot about the free trial download Get it and keep your system backed up regularly.

Noel

 

[mooseracing]

Good luck with Acronis, its ok as a cheap cloning utility, but don't try to use it across the network or use it on a newer PC. They have a great marketing department but no Support department. If you want to see some good problems and repetitive probles check out wilders security forum.

 

[0roo0roo]

drive image xml
free dude...free

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: mooseracing
Good luck with Acronis, its ok as a cheap cloning utility, but don't try to use it across the network or use it on a newer PC. They have a great marketing department but no Support department. If you want to see some good problems and repetitive probles check out wilders security forum.

I use it mainly over a Network and currently with Vista SP1 too.

I own also Ghost and some other clone utility and True Image is far netter than the rest of them. :thumbsup:

In any case if some one have trouble with it let hear specifically what the trouble is to make sure that the issue is Not user mistakes, and thus us avoiding these troubles too.

 

[Roguestar]

Ugh, Ghost. Had to use that for all of last year and I can say I'm not a fan.

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: Roguestar
Ugh, Ghost. Had to use that for all of last year and I can say I'm not a fan.

It is a good utility too, but Not as good as TrueImage.

Ghost and True image have different approach to the working process.

I think that some of the issues that we see stem from the fact the we are not all doing the same things.

It might be that Ghost is a good choice for basic activities that some people are involved with.

While TrueImage is more flexible, and provides me with better results to my type of activities.

BTW, many users are using the Seagate DiskWizard with is free for Seagate and Maxtor HD owners.

DiskWizard is a subset of TrueImage 10 it works well for most uses. However being a subset of the retail TrueImage it does not do everything the retail application can do. Some of the real cool stuff is missing from the freebee.

Everything will be more beneficial to most of us if posters would add few lines describing what they specifically deal with.