What's the best HDD cloning software out there?

[tbtcust]

Hi all.

Can someone recommend HDD cloning software?

I have a laptop with w2k OS and lots of other software on it. I have a new laptop and would like it to be exactly like the old one.

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[chipk]

I would not suggest any type of cloning software if the hardware is not identical. You can use a utility like Belarc Advisor to get a good list of what's installed on your current PC to work as a checklist for installing software on the new one. There are programs that will move some applications from one computer to another, but that is not a "clean" way to do things. There is also a profile migration tool that will move all your user data over:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...c9-f16c-4c52-a203-8daf944dd555&displaylang=en

 

[tbtcust]

Thanks chipk. I thought about that, but want to give it a try. I have all the drivers for the new laptop. So hopefully I can get the laptop booted up then install the drivers.

 

[wolluf]

tbt103 - you'll almost certainly have to run a repair reinstall after you clone and try to boot in new machine (ie, it probably won't boot):-

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;292175&Product=win2000

9 times out of 10 this will work - you'll still need to load drivers for various hardware devices - and machine will look exactly as before.

For cloning, how are you going to do this? (as laptops generally only support one hard drive) - via external hard drive (eg, buy external case for old drive, connect to new & clone directly). Or connect both drives to a PC and do it there? (old will probably be IDE, would need an IDE adapter, new probably SATA, just connects assuming PC has SATA support). If doing a direct clone, the new drive manufacturer will probably have free software on their site. If creating image first, something like ghost or True Image (I usually use True Image nowadays - don't like newer Ghost - but also still use Ghost 8 from a BARTPE disk - quicker than True Image outside normal windows environment).

 

[tbtcust]

wolluf,

I had not considered an external case. I assumed the cloning software would crate an ISO from the old laptop. I create the boot CDs for the new laptop.

 

[wolluf]

Ghost or True Image will create images to apply to new drive - but the drive manufacturer's tool almost certainly won't (as its to aid moving data from old disk to new one while both connected to same machine). Ghost/true image cost money, so does external enclosure - didn't know what you actually have already so suggestions.

 

[tbtcust]

Thank you all for your suggestions. I'm going to give the Ghost or True Image with the external enclosure a try.

 

[lb63640]

We have successfully used the server version of True Image to clone a server and restore to equipment that was not identical, so I would think/hope that the non-server version would have that nifty restore feature, too.

 

[Freestone]

True Image with their Universal Restore add-on works great restoring images to unlike hardware platforms. I moved images from AMD-based platforms to Intel, vice-versa, IBM platform machines to Compaq.

I've also had great success with their new True Image Echo along with their Universal Restore where additionally you can restore an image to a virtual machine, VMWare based or Microsoft's Virtual PC.

 

[LASERT]

Hi,

Sorry to be obvious.. but why not use ghost on a peer to peer connection.

Firstly install all nessecary drivers to the inf folder and run sysprep.

Install Norton ghost to both machines, connect via a crossover or switch and peer to peer clone.

Sysprep should deal with the hardware inconsitences.

 

[goombawaho]

I always pulled the laptop drive out and put it into a "desktop" (via a laptop to full size IDE adatper) with all my Ghost images on it and then ghosted it there.

Then reinstalled in laptop - boot, works, happy.