Copying from SSD to ext. HDD

[Comdrpopnfresh]

I have a 120gb SSD with a working OS install, along with user data; I would like to copy or clone over to a 4tb external HDD. I tried connecting both to a windows computer and selecting the volume, then just copying and pasting. There were system files and other data (as well as going file-by-file). Is there a good vm imaging tool that is free/inexpensive. If I am going to the extent of preserving the OS files, I might as well copy it to the external and be able to boot the copy/image/clone of this physical disk from vm.

 

[Cerb]

Yeah, that won't work. You are only copying file contents from one file system to another. You want to copy an image: that is, something that can be transformed back. You need cloning software for that, because the partition table and boot record(s) also need to be transferred.

However, you're also talking about using it with a VM. That is another can of worms entirely, as it reads like you want to do a P2V conversion.

 

[John Connor]

AOMEI Backupper will clone the drive. As far as making the host a guest image you will need vCenter Convertor. http://www.vmware.com/products/converter/

 

[Gunbuster]

Hyper-V VM? http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/ee656415.aspx

 

[pegasis]

This is what I use to clone a whole drive to an eternal drive (clone);

http://www.paragon-software.com/home/dc-professional/