Options for imaging/copying partitions on laptop HD to Desktop HD? 1

[dalchri]

I have a hard drive image that I use for all the workstations on our network. It contains all of the installed programs we use, printers, personal settings for outlook, etc... I restore this image whenever we get a new workstation or one goes down.

However, I can't find a way to restore this image to a laptop hard drive. Since I am locked into the partition manager I am using after having created the images using it, I am looking for a hardware solution.

Is there any way to connect a desktop HD to a laptop or vice versa?

Any ideas for other options to be able to use my partition manager (Boot-it NG)?

Thanks for any ideas!

 

[Freestone]

An example of a laptop hard drive to desktop adapter can be found here:

http://shop.store.yahoo.com/priorityelectronics/nblahadradto.html

I use this only as an example and should not be viewed as an endorsement for the particular site.

If the image you are transferring contains an Windows OS, it may not work very well due to hardware differences between your workstations and the laptop.

If the laptop is network capable, an alternative to the adapter would be to partition the existing laptop drive into a least two and copy the image to the second partition via the network. Also, what about CDs or DVD holding the image to read?

 

[G0AOZ]

I store (PowerQuest) images on a server running W2K, and make a network boot disk for a laptop. It's then a simple matter to boot up the laptop which is connected to the network, and restore the relevant image.

I have used Freestone's adaptor technique to good effect, but bear in mind some laptops need to be almost completely dismantled in order to extract the hard disk!

ROGER - G0AOZ.

 

[dalchri]

Your responses made me think to try using a USB external enclosure as the connector. I never thought that it would be that easy but sure enough, it showed up in Boot-it!

Thanks for the ideas.