Replacement drive

Raistlin · 21st June 2010, 08:20

I want to replace my laptop HDD with a bigger one.

I'm not keen on starting installation from scratch to a blanck drive

I intended to use Acronis True Image to clone the original HDD to the new HDD attached as a USB external drive and then physically swap the drives.

Unfortunately, when booting from the Acronis True Image CD, it doesn't recognise the USB ports so I can't do as I intended

Any ideas would be appreciated please. The OS on my laptop is Windows XP.

StevenWilliams · 21st June 2010, 09:28

Raistlin, you normally have a few pc's or bits around.

I'd get a laptop to USB adaptor and image the drive on a PC. Much easier.
You have to install tru-image but it works just as good as an installed program as a bootable CD.

If you don't have a 2.5" to USB adaptor I can let you borrow one if you like?

Raistlin · 21st June 2010, 11:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by StevenWilliams

Raistlin, you normally have a few pc's or bits around.

I'd get a laptop to USB adaptor and image the drive on a PC. Much easier.
You have to install tru-image but it works just as good as an installed program as a bootable CD.

If you don't have a 2.5" to USB adaptor I can let you borrow one if you like?

Thanks Steven. Good idea

I do have the appropriate adaptor (luckily both drives are SATA) but again, thank you for your offer

James.uk · 21st June 2010, 11:35

I replaced my "C" drive using Norton Ghost, but on a desk top, with another internal drive, not on a laptop. I had to put WinXP on the new disk first so that "Ghost" could find it before I could do the copy-back..

...

Raistlin · 21st June 2010, 17:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by James.uk

I replaced my "C" drive using Norton Ghost, but on a desk top, with another internal drive, not on a laptop. I had to put WinXP on the new disk first so that "Ghost" could find it before I could do the copy-back..

...

That's why I want to use something that works at a more fundamental lever than Ghost James but thanks for the idea

brownie21 · 21st June 2010, 21:03

Installing from scratch isn't that bad, a reformatted windows will be much faster and free from any 'bugs' picked up that slow everything down. All you have to do then is transfer any files you wish to keep from the old hard drive via USB. I re-install around every 6 months.

baconbuttyman · 28th June 2010, 17:04

i use acronis all the time, if i have several machines the same to load up i load one to how i like it, then clone the drive from with in the acronis prog, i dont boot into acronis, its easier from inside window.

chrissyboy · 19th July 2010, 23:32

i thought when installing a new hard drive it had to be formatted anyway ,so may as well go the whole hog and install a nice fresh copy of windows too..

21st June 2010, 08:20	#1
Raistlin Banned 75 CDT Connoisseur SE Auto Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Wolverhampton Posts: 8,450 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Replacement drive I want to replace my laptop HDD with a bigger one. I'm not keen on starting installation from scratch to a blanck drive I intended to use Acronis True Image to clone the original HDD to the new HDD attached as a USB external drive and then physically swap the drives. Unfortunately, when booting from the Acronis True Image CD, it doesn't recognise the USB ports so I can't do as I intended Any ideas would be appreciated please. The OS on my laptop is Windows XP.

21st June 2010, 09:28	#2
StevenWilliams This is my second home Rover 75 Saloon 2.5 V6 British Racing Green. 81,000 miles and counting Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Crawley, West Sussex Posts: 6,183 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Raistlin, you normally have a few pc's or bits around. I'd get a laptop to USB adaptor and image the drive on a PC. Much easier. You have to install tru-image but it works just as good as an installed program as a bootable CD. If you don't have a 2.5" to USB adaptor I can let you borrow one if you like? __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] Rover 75 2.5 2000 Club SE. British Racing Green. MEMBER NUMBER: MMMDCCXXVI Looking for: 7 seater

21st June 2010, 21:03	#6
brownie21 Gets stuck in Rover 75 Saloon 1.8T Club SE Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Huddersfield Posts: 521 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Installing from scratch isn't that bad, a reformatted windows will be much faster and free from any 'bugs' picked up that slow everything down. All you have to do then is transfer any files you wish to keep from the old hard drive via USB. I re-install around every 6 months. __________________ Wayne [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] We all have mental problems, it's just that some of us choose to show them.

19th July 2010, 23:32	#8
chrissyboy This is my second home lovely little ford focus. Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: East Dulwich Posts: 7,877 Thanks: 2 Thanked 82 Times in 68 Posts	i thought when installing a new hard drive it had to be formatted anyway ,so may as well go the whole hog and install a nice fresh copy of windows too.. __________________ [ I'm really confused. -I keep dreaming I'm an insomniac

21st June 2010, 11:35	#4
James.uk Passed Away 2002 Pale Blue. Rover 75 CDTi Connoisseur auto. 170K miles Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Near the M67. Posts: 14,509 Thanks: 199 Thanked 585 Times in 397 Posts	I replaced my "C" drive using Norton Ghost, but on a desk top, with another internal drive, not on a laptop. I had to put WinXP on the new disk first so that "Ghost" could find it before I could do the copy-back.. ...

28th June 2010, 17:04	#7
baconbuttyman Banned Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 5,724 Thanks: 0 Thanked 9 Times in 7 Posts	i use acronis all the time, if i have several machines the same to load up i load one to how i like it, then clone the drive from with in the acronis prog, i dont boot into acronis, its easier from inside window.