Software to copy partitions 1:1

[TangoJuliet]

I am replacing an old hdd with a newer one. The old one is partitioned into two drives. The primary drive is NTFS and the secondary is FAT and has the system restore information from the manufacturer on it.

Is there any good software that can copy these partitions exactly?

 

[Fardringle]

Use the cloning software provided for free by the manufacturer of the new drive. Pretty much every hard drive manufacturer has one.

 

[TangoJuliet]

Use the cloning software provided for free by the manufacturer of the new drive. Pretty much every hard drive manufacturer has one.

There was no software in the box from WD. I went to their website and tried to download the software but I am getting errors from their servers.

 

[Fardringle]

http://support.wdc.com/product/downloaddetail.asp?swid=119

 

[TangoJuliet]

http://support.wdc.com/product/downloaddetail.asp?swid=119

yep, thats the software that I keep trying to download. It stops around 60mb out of 121mb and the connection times out

 

[Fardringle]

It must be something wrong on your end, then. I just downloaded it multiple times on multiple different computers for testing (maxing out my 8mb connection) and had no problems at all. Do you have a different computer that you can use to download the file (or even just a different browser)?

 

[TangoJuliet]

It must be something wrong on your end, then. I just downloaded it multiple times on multiple different computers for testing (maxing out my 8mb connection) and had no problems at all. Do you have a different computer that you can use to download the file (or even just a different browser)?

yeah it must have been my wifi connection. I moved to a different location in the house and it worked fine. Installing the software now. Thanks!

 

[TangoJuliet]

That Acronis software worked great. Copied the 2 partitions exactly and was very quick. I highly recommend it!

 

[Fardringle]

No problem. I'm glad I could help. 🙂

 

[KeypoX]

That Acronis software worked great. Copied the 2 partitions exactly and was very quick. I highly recommend it!

Is it able to just copy 1 out of 2 partitions and move to new drive?

I want to move my windows to a newer WD its a bit faster.

Did you have to copy the system drive and boot record? Did you use windows 7?

 

[TangoJuliet]

Is it able to just copy 1 out of 2 partitions and move to new drive?

I want to move my windows to a newer WD its a bit faster.

Did you have to copy the system drive and boot record? Did you use windows 7?

It copied both partitions. You launch the program and it asks you what u want to do. Then it reboots and copies everything. It copied both partitions exactly in one session - took 4 steps to do it. Its very easy. I used WinXP.

 

[Fardringle]

Is it able to just copy 1 out of 2 partitions and move to new drive?

I want to move my windows to a newer WD its a bit faster.

Did you have to copy the system drive and boot record? Did you use windows 7?

You can choose which partition(s) you want to copy. If your Windows installation is not on the primary partition of the original drive you will need to copy both partitions (or re-install Windows on the new drive after the copy) since the primary partition contains files that Windows needs in order to boot properly.