Upgrading laptop HDD, how do I copy the boot partition?

[NeoPTLD]

I'm upgrading a 40GB stock drive with a new 80GB 7200RPM. I have the new drive and an external enclosure.

I'd like to mount the 80GB drive externally, then copy over the boot partition of pre-existing drive, swap out the drives physically and get it to boot from the new drive.

What's the best way to pull this off?

 

[ericboo]

Symantec Ghost or some other drive imaging software would work.

 

[fbrdphreak]

I'm sure there are some free utilities, but I love Acronis TrueImage. Awesome software, great boot CD, extremely reliable. I've done dozens and dozens of images with no problems

In the Software forum here there is a thread stickied with free software, check that for imaging tools. Or try http://www.snapfiles.com

 

[NeoPTLD]

Ok, I tried Norton Ghost... Installed it on the computer which I'm going to be cloning.
Cloned C:\ to external 2.5", set as active.

Swapped the two drives and it seems to starts booting on the new drive, but booting stops at splash screen whether or not I use Safe mode.

 

[chmike]

I'm sure there are some free utilities, but I love Acronis TrueImage. Awesome software, great boot CD, extremely reliable. I've done dozens and dozens of images with no problems

You can get a slighty older version of this for free right now...

See this thread here

 

[corkyg]

I clone my laptop drives regularly every month. Have steadily upgraded them from 40 GB to 160 GB. Always have used Acronis TrueImage, started with 7, no have the third update of 9.

Anyway - it prepares a bootable CD. You run that and choose the CLONE function - it handles all formats and drives, internal and external. I clone from internal drive to an external in a Firewirecase. Then I swap the drives. It has never failed.

Cloning is not "Ghost's" strong point - but then - It's Symantec.

 

[Ayah]

Ghost or TrueImage.