Replacing the Boot HDD before restoring an image

[SirFelixCat]

So I just recently got my new build up and running and I'm quite happy about it.

Once I installed all my drivers and programs and got things running how I want, I did a complete computer image (all 3 hdd's & 4 partitions).

Now, let's say that my boot drive (74Gig Raptor, one single partition) dies. Can I replace that with, say, a 500GB HDD and partition it to a different size (say 100Gig for the boot and leave the other 400Gig partition for other things), and then restore the image that I backed up when I built the rig?

Or will it not allow me to restore the image since the Boot drive partition is a different size? Or can you not replace the boot drive at all? or or or or?

I'm pretty confused by this aspect of imaging a hdd/computer.

TIA.

 

[Old Hippie]

I've done all kinda those things with Acronis True Image, but alas, I'm not familiar with Vista.

 

[SirFelixCat]

Originally posted by: Old Hippie
I've done all kinda those things with Acronis True Image, but alas, I'm not familiar with Vista.

In that case, you'd think it would work...


Does anyone know for sure? Just trying to prepare for it if/when it ever happens.

Thanks OH!

 

[seemingly random]

Originally posted by: SirFelixCat
In that case, you'd think it would work...

Whatever solution you choose, you might want to try it out now before a lot of stuff is loaded - in case it doesn't work as expected.

 

[SirFelixCat]

Originally posted by: seemingly random

Originally posted by: SirFelixCat
In that case, you'd think it would work...

Whatever solution you choose, you might want to try it out now before a lot of stuff is loaded - in case it doesn't work as expected.

Well, the image is done already (2 days ago). I just have not tried restoring the image on a different drive yet...

I'm just surprised that noone knows the answer to this....

 

[Navid]

If you have an image of a partition created by any decent drive imaging program, you can always restore the image onto another partition (on the same drive or another).

If the size of the destination partition is different than the size of the source partition, the program let's you choose how to handle that. It is not a big deal.

Making an image of more than one partition is asking for trouble!
It should be done under very special circumstances only.

What happens if some day you decide to move a partition? If you then need to restore the image (that you created before the move), the wrong partition could be restored and you could lose data.



All that is for a program that is written to be used for imaging drives.
What you get in Vista is not one!
If it was, it would put companies like Acronis out of business.
What you get in Vista is very limited.

You need to try a restore and make sure that it does what you need and decide if you are happy with that or not.

I was not and I use Acronis True Image 10.

 

[SirFelixCat]

Originally posted by: Navid
If you have an image of a partition created by any decent drive imaging program, you can always restore the image onto another partition (on the same drive or another).

If the size of the destination partition is different than the size of the source partition, the program let's you choose how to handle that. It is not a big deal.

Making an image of more than one partition is asking for trouble!
It should be done under very special circumstances only.

What happens if some day you decide to move a partition? If you then need to restore the image (that you created before the move), the wrong partition could be restored and you could lose data.



All that is for a program that is written to be used for imaging drives.
What you get in Vista is not one!
If it was, it would put companies like Acronis out of business.
What you get in Vista is very limited.

You need to try a restore and make sure that it does what you need and decide if you are happy with that or not.

I was not and I use Acronis True Image 10.

Noted. Thank you very much. I do have one more question then...

You say that I shouldn't image more than one partition...why? If I don't plan on moving/changing partitions, then why not back up the whole kitnkaboodle, so that I don't have to reinstall all my drivers and plethora of programs?

I'm checking into Acronis True Image 11 right now.

 

[Navid]

All your drivers should be on your OS partition anyway.


If you have the OS on drive C and your programs on drive D, you can make one image of each.
If some day, you need to restore both, you can. If you only need to restore 1, you can.

If you have a single image of both, you will not have that flexibility. Unless, the program let's you restore only a part of the image.
That may be possible. I have never even tried it.


Why would you want to have an image of all your programs?
Your programs get updated and files are added to the folders. Some programs store the user data files in the same folder as the program. Making an image of the programs partition just does not make much sense to me.


After you have installed all your programs (on another partition may be), you can make an image of your OS partition.
If you now restore that image, all the programs that you had installed before the image was created still work fine. Even if the programs are on a different partition.

If you install a program after the image was created, you may have to re-install that program after a restore.
Alternatively, you can just create another image of the OS partition.


The way I look at it, a drive imaging program let's you restore an OS. This is something you cannot do with simple copying because some files on the OS partition cannot be just copied. That is the only reason I use an imaging program.
But, for backing up anything else (programs, data, ....), you have many other options like just copying them in windows.

 

[JackMDS]

By using a Program like Acronis True image you can.

Let say that you have 74GB Drive and when you image the Drive 60GB where Data and 14GB free.

You can install the image on any Drive that is 62GB or more, 500GB, 750GB, every thing goes.

The image installs every bit from the original drive to the new Drive there is nothing that you need to Do about it.

However, in case of Vista it might Not boot the first time, cause Vista Load Driver expect the original Drive and might not "like" to have the surprise of a new Drive.

If it Does Not Boot, put Vista Original (or recovery) DVD, Boot from the DVD, and choose the Repair.

I takes two minutes and every thing would be like it was before but with a New large Drive.:thumbsup:

 

[SirFelixCat]

Thanks for the info!

 

[SirFelixCat]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
By using a Program like Acronis True image you can.

Let say that you have 74GB Drive and when you image the Drive 60GB where Data and 14GB free.

You can install the image on any Drive that is 62GB or more, 500GB, 750GB, every thing goes.

The image installs every bit from the original drive to the new Drive there is nothing that you need to Do about it.

However, in case of Vista it might Not boot the first time, cause Vista Load Driver expect the original Drive and might not "like" to have the surprise of a new Drive.

If it Does Not Boot, put Vista Original (or recovery) DVD, Boot from the DVD, and choose the Repair.

I takes two minutes and every thing would be like it was before but with a New large Drive.:thumbsup:

Good info here as well. This was the specific question that I had so I greatly appreciate it. The other info from Navid is also appreciated. Thanks a ton fellas.

 

[Old Hippie]

I'm sure you have researched and surmised by now, that all your possibilities ( or most) can be accomplished with Acronis. Now that you know it can be done, there's a possibility that Vista can do it.
Decisions, decisions, decisions............

Did you post a pic of that new monitor yet?

 

[SirFelixCat]

Originally posted by: Old Hippie
I'm sure you have researched and surmised by now, that all your possibilities ( or most) can be accomplished with Acronis. Now that you know it can be done, there's a possibility that Vista can do it.
Decisions, decisions, decisions............

Did you post a pic of that new monitor yet?

I actually picked it up at lunch. It and it's massive box are sitting in the backseat of the Caddy right now. I get off at midnight cst and after that, pics will be forthcoming!!!