Best laptop harddrive clone tool?

pop80_uk · 30-06-2011, 09:28

Hey all,
My hard drive in my laptop has started to make the sounds of near death, ive got a new one, but I have heard you can get (and crucial use, although only sell with their SSD drives) a clone tool which means you can clone the old to new and pop the new drive in no hassle.

Any ideas which are best? Free or paid?

Thanks

Kymmy · 30-06-2011, 09:35

Unless you get exactly the same laptop then there simply isn't such a tool..

The clone tools you hear about clone the drive itself which includes all the system files, the problem there is that differing processors/graphics and other devices means that windows from one laptop may not boot in the other when copied across.

Ghost, EASEUS, and even the tools in puppylinux will clone drives/partitions easy enough (you'd have to clone to a USB drive then clone from the USB drive to the new drive ) or via a network if using ghost..

What you do need is a program that migrates user accounts from PC to PC (I believe this is built into windows called Windows Easy Transfer) but you will need to re-install most programs from the original disks as it might need more files than what's installed..

pop80_uk · 30-06-2011, 11:38

Thanks for the reply

So the tool crucial supply with their SSD drives will not work ?

Thanks

Kymmy · 30-06-2011, 11:53

Hard to say unless you provide details of the transfer (like for example which laptops)

Aragorn · 30-06-2011, 12:09

Do you have a WD drive (either new or old one)?
If so, WD have a free version of Acronis True Image that will clone to or from a WD drive. You would also need a 2.5" external disk caddy to temporarily hold the new one.
I used one similar to this, and the WD util is here.
But the util will only install if one of the drives is a WD, and Windows may still have to download drivers if you have changed manufacturer.

Kymmy · 30-06-2011, 12:12

Windows may not start at all if the HAL has changed..

pop80_uk · 30-06-2011, 12:15

Toshiba laptop A100 to a be Seagate 500gb hard drive

Kymmy · 30-06-2011, 12:31

So are you just replacing the HDD in the Toshiba or moving everything from/to the Toshiba?

If the former then yes there is a lot of software that can do what you want (you will though need the capability of plugging in a 2nd drive (i.e.. USB Caddy)..

If the latter then the new laptop is likely to come with an OS and you're better off re-installing the other software then use the transfer tool to move over the accounts.. Unless it's an identical laptop then the former method can be used..

---------- Post added at 11:31 ---------- Previous post was at 11:23 ----------

Just to clarify, We need to know what the initial system is and what the destination system is.. That is the whole machine and not just the hdd or destination system

Otherwise it's impossible to give you an accurate answer

pop80_uk · 30-06-2011, 12:44

Thanks for the reply

I am replacing the hard drive in my current toshiba laptop
The current hard drive is close to death so I have a new replacement hard drive to go into it but want to copy all my programs and windows from old hdd to new (clone it)

Which is the best software?

---------- Post added at 11:44 ---------- Previous post was at 11:43 ----------

Laptop is a Toshiba Equium A100 and new hard drive is a Seagate 500gb one

Thanks

Kymmy · 30-06-2011, 12:53

Cool, it was more me getting confused with something I read yesterday

You have two good free choices in the form of EASEUS or puppylinux .. you will though need a way of attaching both drives to the laptop at the same time with these two programs as it copies one drive directly to another (resizing the partition if the drives are dissimilar sizes)

Ghost (or similar as ghost is chargable) can copy a drive to a network, DVD or other off-laptop device as a form of compressed file which can then be used to re-install the data on the original or other drive.

The first option is simplest (EASUS or Puppy) but as stated you will need a HDD caddy to work it.

---------- Post added at 11:53 ---------- Previous post was at 11:51 ----------

Links
Puppy Linux
EASEUS

pop80_uk · 30-06-2011, 14:28

The free options sound great as I have a caddy I'm going to be using

Which one is best out of the free options?

Kymmy · 30-06-2011, 14:57

If it's a windows drive then EASEUS is simple to use.. If it's linux then you'll need the other

royaltiger · 30-06-2011, 15:00

You should take a look at Acronis True Image 2011, they are bundling a plus pack which could be what you need, Â£23.95 at moment. Free programs are ok but there is always a catch to what they do, normally limited.

http://www.acronis.co.uk/homecomputi...age/#plus-pack

pop80_uk · 30-06-2011, 15:11

Windows vista

Thanks all! Will give it a go when I finish work

---------- Post added at 14:11 ---------- Previous post was at 14:06 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by royaltiger

You should take a look at Acronis True Image 2011, they are bundling a plus pack which could be what you need, Â£23.95 at moment. Free programs are ok but there is always a catch to what they do, normally limited.

http://www.acronis.co.uk/homecomputi...age/#plus-pack

Thanks
Is this better than the free one?

royaltiger · 30-06-2011, 16:33

Acronis is probably the market leader, personal preference comes into it also.