How to image an SATA HDD?

[dderidex]

As above. Have a 200gb drive in a system right now, but want to bump that up to a faster, quieter, 400gb with more cache.

Not difficult to find such a unit, but....how do I get everything over? I do have two SATA channels, but I fear I lack the software. Back in the IDE days, you could boot to the CD, and you'd already have a device driver loaded so that a disk image was easy to achieve.

However, I'm using an ULI 1573 Southbridge, such that even the WinXP SP2 CD has no drivers for it - you need a floppy.

I am not aware, offhand, of any bootable-CD disk imaging programs that allow you to load device drivers for the hard disk controller off a floppy drive - nor am I aware of any bootable-CD disk imaging programs that include device drivers to handle the ULI SB controller to even get the HDDs to appear.

 

[DBSX]

You can probably try the trial version of Acronis True Image. I imagine that the newest version will detect SATA brives, so long as the BIOS detects them. I haven't tried to image my drive yet (as I am just getting my new computer up and running), but I have found Acronis to be a very capable program. It can't hurt to try it out.

\Dan

 

[Madwand1]

Originally posted by: dderidex
As above. Have a 200gb drive in a system right now, but want to bump that up to a faster, quieter, 400gb with more cache.

Not difficult to find such a unit, but....how do I get everything over? I do have two SATA channels, but I fear I lack the software. Back in the IDE days, you could boot to the CD, and you'd already have a device driver loaded so that a disk image was easy to achieve.

However, I'm using an ULI 1573 Southbridge, such that even the WinXP SP2 CD has no drivers for it - you need a floppy.

I am not aware, offhand, of any bootable-CD disk imaging programs that allow you to load device drivers for the hard disk controller off a floppy drive - nor am I aware of any bootable-CD disk imaging programs that include device drivers to handle the ULI SB controller to even get the HDDs to appear.

Some suggestions:

1. Windows backup / restore. Install the 2nd HD, partition and format it, backup 1st drive onto 2nd partition, restore onto 1st partition. Never done it myself... Microsoft support pages should also have some instructions on "proper" ways to transfer systems.

2. (Variation of 1) Install fresh image with F6 / drivers on floppy during installation, and then use backup / system restore on to it.

3. HD vendors have imaging utilities available for download, and if you're lucky, perhaps one of them could run from Windows.

4. Check with your MB / chipset vendor for some suggestions.

5. Wait for NVidia to support ULi. (kidding)

6. Run with both HD's, and use a some utility for moving selected programs (like Drive Image), or manually save configuration + data, re-install, and restore configuration + data.

 

[Eeezee]

Why do you want to image the entire system? Can't you just start with a fresh OS install and transfer the data over? I find this to be the best way unless you absolutely must have the exact some OS and all of that jazz. A fresh OS install never hurts ya know

 

[dderidex]

Originally posted by: Eeezee
Why do you want to image the entire system? Can't you just start with a fresh OS install and transfer the data over? I find this to be the best way unless you absolutely must have the exact some OS and all of that jazz. A fresh OS install never hurts ya know

Eh, just had to re-activate WinXP, MS Office, and MS Frontpage since I swapped out the mobo. Don't want to go through the hassle of activating them all over the phone again.

Also, isn't any particular reason NOT to - an OS re-install (with all the apps) takes a lot of time, which I don't really want to spend on it.

And I keep a pretty clean OS, so it's not a problem.