Help cloning an old HDD to a new HDD partition

TheAscension · Jan 8, 2009, 07:44 PM

I have a 6GB hard drive that I would like to move to a partition on another hard drive. This needs to be an exact bit-for-bit copy that will look identical on the partition as it does on the whole physical hard drive. Plus I would like to do this for free.

I have tried SelfImage Self Image - The FREE (and open source) hard drive imaging utility for Windows and I could not get it to clone to the partition I had made. I initially used the “drive to drive” feature, but the output drop-down box would only list the entire physical drives and not any partitions on the drives.

I then just created a .IMG file of the 6GB hard drive with SelfImage in hopes I could clone the data to the partition that way. However, the output drop-down still only shows entire physical drives and not partitions.

I then tried to use Daemon Tools to just access the hard drive image as a virtual drive but Daemon tools does not support .IMG files.

So basically I just need to be able to access a bit-for-bit copy of that old physical hard drive that is stored on the new hard drive. Then I can take that old dying hard drive out of the system and get rid of it.

Advice?

RoyBatty · Jan 8, 2009, 08:20 PM

Try GParted. Make a free space on the destination drive and then copy the old partition there.

TheAscension · Jan 8, 2009, 11:11 PM

Wow, I downloaded two different file sets of this program and no where in them was an installation executable. How do I install it and get into the GUI as shown in the screenshots? Am I missing something?

Tipstaff · Jan 9, 2009, 01:10 AM

There's no installer for the program from what I remember. It's a standalone bootable program that comes in different flavors, usually a bootable USB pen drive, or bootable CD (LiveCD).

My advice, download THIS one, which is an ISO image, and burn that to a CD using something like IMGBurn, or your favorite burning software.

However, you can also use Acronis True Image Home 2009, or Acronis Migrate Easy. They have a free 15 day trial version you can use for both products. You install them in Windows, and then run the software to clone from within Windows. If you pay for the software you get the option to create the standalone CD that works similar to the GParted disc, but has more options like creating a bootable recovery manager, and a secured recovery partition.

RoyBatty · Jan 9, 2009, 06:01 PM

Yes, download the ISO Tipstaff linked, burn it to a CD and boot from the CD, then you'll get a PartitionMagic-like GUI.

TheAscension · Jan 9, 2009, 07:19 PM

Awesome, I'll give it a try tonight. Thanks!

TheAscension · Feb 17, 2009, 12:00 AM

I found this software, used it multiple times, and it works amazing! Plus, it is free!

As Partition Magic alternative, EASEUS Partition Manager is for Windows Server 2000/2003/2008 and 2000/XP/Vista partition software to manage server and non server partitions, etc. Free for home users.

Jan 8, 2009, 07:44 PM	#1
TheAscension DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Milwaukie, OR Posts: 94 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Help cloning an old HDD to a new HDD partition I have a 6GB hard drive that I would like to move to a partition on another hard drive. This needs to be an exact bit-for-bit copy that will look identical on the partition as it does on the whole physical hard drive. Plus I would like to do this for free. I have tried SelfImage Self Image - The FREE (and open source) hard drive imaging utility for Windows and I could not get it to clone to the partition I had made. I initially used the “drive to drive” feature, but the output drop-down box would only list the entire physical drives and not any partitions on the drives. I then just created a .IMG file of the 6GB hard drive with SelfImage in hopes I could clone the data to the partition that way. However, the output drop-down still only shows entire physical drives and not partitions. I then tried to use Daemon Tools to just access the hard drive image as a virtual drive but Daemon tools does not support .IMG files. So basically I just need to be able to access a bit-for-bit copy of that old physical hard drive that is stored on the new hard drive. Then I can take that old dying hard drive out of the system and get rid of it. Advice?

Jan 8, 2009, 08:20 PM	#2
RoyBatty HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 1,941 Rep Power: 122 System Specs	Re: Help cloning an old HDD to a new HDD partition Try GParted. Make a free space on the destination drive and then copy the old partition there.

Jan 8, 2009, 11:11 PM	Thread Starter #3
TheAscension DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Milwaukie, OR Posts: 94 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Re: Help cloning an old HDD to a new HDD partition Wow, I downloaded two different file sets of this program and no where in them was an installation executable. How do I install it and get into the GUI as shown in the screenshots? Am I missing something?

Jan 9, 2009, 01:10 AM	#4
Tipstaff HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Real capital of Canada: Torauna Posts: 6,772 Rep Power: 190 System Specs	Re: Help cloning an old HDD to a new HDD partition There's no installer for the program from what I remember. It's a standalone bootable program that comes in different flavors, usually a bootable USB pen drive, or bootable CD (LiveCD). My advice, download THIS one, which is an ISO image, and burn that to a CD using something like IMGBurn, or your favorite burning software. However, you can also use Acronis True Image Home 2009, or Acronis Migrate Easy. They have a free 15 day trial version you can use for both products. You install them in Windows, and then run the software to clone from within Windows. If you pay for the software you get the option to create the standalone CD that works similar to the GParted disc, but has more options like creating a bootable recovery manager, and a secured recovery partition. __________________ Portal: The Flash Version _________________________________ Brain: So, you sacked the cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker? Mr. Sackett: The second cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker I've sacked since the sixth sitting sheet slitter got sick. Last edited by Tipstaff; Jan 9, 2009 at 01:19 AM.

Jan 9, 2009, 06:01 PM	#5
RoyBatty HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 1,941 Rep Power: 122 System Specs	Re: Help cloning an old HDD to a new HDD partition Yes, download the ISO Tipstaff linked, burn it to a CD and boot from the CD, then you'll get a PartitionMagic-like GUI.

Jan 9, 2009, 07:19 PM	Thread Starter #6
TheAscension DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Milwaukie, OR Posts: 94 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Re: Help cloning an old HDD to a new HDD partition Awesome, I'll give it a try tonight. Thanks!

Feb 17, 2009, 12:00 AM	Thread Starter #7
TheAscension DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Milwaukie, OR Posts: 94 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Re: Help cloning an old HDD to a new HDD partition I found this software, used it multiple times, and it works amazing! Plus, it is free! As Partition Magic alternative, EASEUS Partition Manager is for Windows Server 2000/2003/2008 and 2000/XP/Vista partition software to manage server and non server partitions, etc. Free for home users.