Drive Copying Software

Simon W · 13th December 2007, 09:04

Has anyone got any recommendations for a piece of software that will clone C:drive - i.e. make an exact copy (not an image) onto an identical hard drive?

My C:drive is in a caddy in the tower. I have an identical spare drive (not in the tower) and want to make a copy of the master so I can just swap the two over in the event of a crash.

OS is Windows 2000 Pro.

JamesP · 13th December 2007, 19:27

Is this the sought of thing you are after?
http://www.symantec.com/norton/produ...r&pvid=ghost12.

Ther is a way using fdisk but that doesn't work under win2k does it?

Found this if it does...

Fdisk and format the new drive

Then at a dos prompt type the following command.

xcopy c:\*.* d:\ /s/e/r/c/h/k/y

substitute the drive letter for your new drive for d:

Then when all files are copied shut down take out the old drive.

Set the new drive as master.

Simon W · 13th December 2007, 21:28

It is - but I used Ghost (and SystemSuite) for ages and eventually gave up due to the endless bugs with all Norton products. I wouldn't touch any of them again.

PowerQuest's Drive Image 7 was good but still prone to crashing. I was wondering if there were any other more reliable programmes around now.

JamesP · 13th December 2007, 22:06

Hello

Sorry I haven't used these type of products myself,I always partion my drives so that my data is hopefully safe in the event of a virus or a bad cluster on the boot drive.

I do have a program called O&O bluecon XXL though for data recovery, thankfully I've not had to use it yet.

Simon W · 13th December 2007, 22:18

Hi James

PowerQuest did a good partition programme called PartitionMagic 8. It never crashes.

I'm just looking for something that will make a direct copy of C: onto an identical hard drive - ready for when Windows goes loopy again.

JohnDotCom · 13th December 2007, 22:27

The Trouble with Most of these so called Programs.
They don't copy all the Hidden files and Registry entries even when you tell it to show Hidden Files.
Some Microsoft Products don't like to be un-Hidden so to speak.
It would in the End be Simpler to Load OS and Programs onto your new Drive and then copy across all your Info.
Bear in Mind (2000 to old) that Microsoft won't activate on New Hard Drive most OS's and Programs,
You require a new Licence as you are only Purchasing One Licence and what you wish to do now requires Two.

Simon W · 14th December 2007, 10:45

PowerQuest's Drive Image copies hidden files and everything else John -and it runs in Windows. It crashes fairly often but when it doesn't it will clone a drive exactly without making an image - in spite of the name of the programme.

Re-installing the OS and programmes, then copying all data from one drive to the other takes several days whereas Drive Image will make an exact clone of a 123Gb C:drive in about 90 minutes.

You're right about activation - Windows XP won't activate on a second drive and needs another license. Windows 2000 doesn't have activation so it'll install on a clone.

I prefer Windows 2000. I've got an XP Pro SP2 machine and a 2K Pro SP4 machine - the Windows 2000 OS is the faster of the two.

BMC123 · 14th December 2007, 11:31

I am actually about to do the same thing, and have just bought this

http://www.farstone.com/software/driveclone.htm

Although I may not bother, as i am also waiting for a 64bit version of Vista to arrive from microsoft, and as I have to do a clean install (you cannot upgrade from 32 bit to 64 bit it seems) I may wait until I have that done.

I'll let you know how i get on later, as its going to be fun trying to run this on my Raid stripe setup

....maybe it's just my own experience with these things, but I get the feeling this will either work smoothly, or go south very quickly

Simon W · 14th December 2007, 12:00

That looks interesting - I wonder if it works.

It says it's ok for both 64 and 32 bit versions of Vista. (There's a link to a separate page on raid).

I wonder if the 30-day trial is fully functional. Might be worth a shot if it is.

radi8or · 15th December 2007, 03:19

I use Acronis True Image backed up to an external drive, never had to use it, (touch wood) but it copies OS, system settings, everything.
Clicky

13th December 2007, 09:04	#1
Simon W This is my second home Rover 75 2.0 Litre Club Saloon Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: S Posts: 3,280 Thanks: 38 Thanked 50 Times in 47 Posts	Drive Copying Software Has anyone got any recommendations for a piece of software that will clone C:drive - i.e. make an exact copy (not an image) onto an identical hard drive? My C:drive is in a caddy in the tower. I have an identical spare drive (not in the tower) and want to make a copy of the master so I can just swap the two over in the event of a crash. OS is Windows 2000 Pro.

13th December 2007, 19:27	#2
JamesP Loves to post Rover 75 ConnSE CDTi 131 Starlight Silver Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Truro Posts: 354 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Ghost Is this the sought of thing you are after? http://www.symantec.com/norton/produ...r&pvid=ghost12. Ther is a way using fdisk but that doesn't work under win2k does it? Found this if it does... Fdisk and format the new drive Then at a dos prompt type the following command. xcopy c:\. d:\ /s/e/r/c/h/k/y substitute the drive letter for your new drive for d: Then when all files are copied shut down take out the old drive. Set the new drive as master.

13th December 2007, 21:28	#3
Simon W This is my second home Rover 75 2.0 Litre Club Saloon Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: S Posts: 3,280 Thanks: 38 Thanked 50 Times in 47 Posts	It is - but I used Ghost (and SystemSuite) for ages and eventually gave up due to the endless bugs with all Norton products. I wouldn't touch any of them again. PowerQuest's Drive Image 7 was good but still prone to crashing. I was wondering if there were any other more reliable programmes around now. Last edited by Simon W; 13th December 2007 at 22:13..

14th December 2007, 10:45	#7
Simon W This is my second home Rover 75 2.0 Litre Club Saloon Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: S Posts: 3,280 Thanks: 38 Thanked 50 Times in 47 Posts	PowerQuest's Drive Image copies hidden files and everything else John -and it runs in Windows. It crashes fairly often but when it doesn't it will clone a drive exactly without making an image - in spite of the name of the programme. Re-installing the OS and programmes, then copying all data from one drive to the other takes several days whereas Drive Image will make an exact clone of a 123Gb C:drive in about 90 minutes. You're right about activation - Windows XP won't activate on a second drive and needs another license. Windows 2000 doesn't have activation so it'll install on a clone. I prefer Windows 2000. I've got an XP Pro SP2 machine and a 2K Pro SP4 machine - the Windows 2000 OS is the faster of the two. Last edited by Simon W; 14th December 2007 at 10:56..

14th December 2007, 11:31	#8
BMC123 Posted a thing or two 2004 1.8 Connoisseur SE, 1999 XJ8 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 1,163 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	I am actually about to do the same thing, and have just bought this http://www.farstone.com/software/driveclone.htm Although I may not bother, as i am also waiting for a 64bit version of Vista to arrive from microsoft, and as I have to do a clean install (you cannot upgrade from 32 bit to 64 bit it seems) I may wait until I have that done. I'll let you know how i get on later, as its going to be fun trying to run this on my Raid stripe setup ....maybe it's just my own experience with these things, but I get the feeling this will either work smoothly, or go south very quickly __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

13th December 2007, 22:06	#4
JamesP Loves to post Rover 75 ConnSE CDTi 131 Starlight Silver Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Truro Posts: 354 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hello Sorry I haven't used these type of products myself,I always partion my drives so that my data is hopefully safe in the event of a virus or a bad cluster on the boot drive. I do have a program called O&O bluecon XXL though for data recovery, thankfully I've not had to use it yet.

13th December 2007, 22:18	#5
Simon W This is my second home Rover 75 2.0 Litre Club Saloon Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: S Posts: 3,280 Thanks: 38 Thanked 50 Times in 47 Posts	Hi James PowerQuest did a good partition programme called PartitionMagic 8. It never crashes. I'm just looking for something that will make a direct copy of C: onto an identical hard drive - ready for when Windows goes loopy again.

13th December 2007, 22:27	#6
JohnDotCom * Rover 75 FaceLift Tourer CDTi 170BHP Auto ConnSE 2005 Model Starlight Silver Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Abergele Posts: 28,735 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts	The Trouble with Most of these so called Programs. They don't copy all the Hidden files and Registry entries even when you tell it to show Hidden Files. Some Microsoft Products don't like to be un-Hidden so to speak. It would in the End be Simpler to Load OS and Programs onto your new Drive and then copy across all your Info. Bear in Mind (2000 to old) that Microsoft won't activate on New Hard Drive most OS's and Programs, You require a new Licence as you are only Purchasing One Licence and what you wish to do now requires Two.

14th December 2007, 12:00	#9
Simon W This is my second home Rover 75 2.0 Litre Club Saloon Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: S Posts: 3,280 Thanks: 38 Thanked 50 Times in 47 Posts	That looks interesting - I wonder if it works. It says it's ok for both 64 and 32 bit versions of Vista. (There's a link to a separate page on raid). I wonder if the 30-day trial is fully functional. Might be worth a shot if it is.

15th December 2007, 03:19	#10
radi8or Gets stuck in Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Dagenham Posts: 760 Thanks: 11 Thanked 11 Times in 10 Posts	I use Acronis True Image backed up to an external drive, never had to use it, (touch wood) but it copies OS, system settings, everything. Clicky __________________ Regards. Bob Member # 45 Last edited by radi8or; 15th December 2007 at 03:45..