Imaging question

[FnG]magnolia · 28 Oct 2008 at 21:47

Is it worth imaging an relatively old install of a hard drive to use with a newer and bigger HD? I cba installing all my games and music etc unless I really have to but will if I will notice any genuine benefits of a fresh install.

Also, is Acronis True Image good for imaging? I believe it comes with the 500GB Seagate drive I'm just about to order.

Advice and tips welcome

fobose · 28 Oct 2008 at 22:15

I have used Acronis TI to clone my laptop drive when I wanted to upgrade it, worked fine. I have also used it to clone another PC as a "backup" image, but I haven't needed to use it yet so time will tell, but it was the same method as what I did with the laptop.

semi-pro waster · 28 Oct 2008 at 22:47

Are you only going to be changing the hard drive or will you be changing other parts at the same time? If it is just swapping the hard drive for a larger model then cloning the hard drive should be ok (although still not ideal as Windows installations do tend to get a bit cluttered over time), if it is more than that you are changing I'd recommend a fresh install just for the sake of not having obsolete drivers kicking about if nothing else.

smids · 29 Oct 2008 at 00:55

Acronis is a great program and I have used it for exactly the purpose you have mentioned. It has not failed me yet, unlike Norton Ghost.

However, I agree with semi-pro... a fresh install is probably the best thing you can do. It's not that time consuming and will definitely offer a boost in performance. Might also be worth slipstreaming XP SP3 (as I'm assuming it's XP) onto the install disk to save time and avoid the clutter of a service pack install.

Sadgeek · 30 Oct 2008 at 13:37

Just make sure you remove your original drive once cloned, and before booting up into Windows, otherwise your drives get all muddled.

Not the end of the world, but you will end up having to use regedit to correct the mappings

Flukester · 30 Oct 2008 at 15:16

agree if old HD with old windows install on, just start again... then just reinstall games as you need them.

nothing worse when people spend like 3 days reinstalling everything they own, it just clutters up the systems and makes windows chug

psd99 · 30 Oct 2008 at 15:52

Use Acronis mate it is the best out there for sure

smids · 30 Oct 2008 at 17:18

Sadgeek said:
Just make sure you remove your original drive once cloned, and before booting up into Windows, otherwise your drives get all muddled.

Not the end of the world, but you will end up having to use regedit to correct the mappings

Never had this problem myself with Acronis :confused:

In fact, I just did this very thing today and it worked fine again...

New hard drive took the C:\ drive letter and bumped the old install to F: (where the destination drive used to be located. All it did was reload the storage volume drivers.

[FnG]magnolia · 31 Oct 2008 at 09:48

Thanks for the input.

I now have two problems

The drive was an OEM version so I didn't get Acronis TI with it. The bigger problem I have at the moment is that the new drive isn't recognised by Windows. It doesn't cause any problems or re-starts or crashes or anything like that, it just doesn't appear in Device Manager or My Computer or anywhere else.

My current set-up is 1 x 120GB IDE HD and 1 x 160GB SATA HD. The new Barrucada HD (500GB) SATA was to replace the 160GB drive so I unplugged the 160GB drive and connected the SATA data cable and the SATA power lead to the 500GB drive. The only difference between the 160GB SATA drive and the new 500GB SATA drive is that the 160GB drive used a 4 pin molex for power and the new drive uses a SATA connector. I've never used this connector before but can only assume that it works properly.

Is there a way of testing if (a) the drive is receiving power and, if so, (b) why Windows doesn't 'see' the new drive? Could it be BIOS?

Thanks for your help.

smids · 31 Oct 2008 at 10:34

[FnG]magnolia;12804953 said:
Is there a way of testing if (a) the drive is receiving power and, if so, (b) why Windows doesn't 'see' the new drive? Could it be BIOS?

Thanks for your help.

Touch it when you turn on the computer. If you feel it vibrating healthily, then it is working fine.

You have checked in Disk Management?

Right click 'My Computer' > Manage > Disk Management tab > Is it listed?

Have you left the jumper on the drive which forces 150MB/s transfer rate? If not, you might need to replace this as your SATA controller might be having difficulty negotiating.

[FnG]magnolia · 31 Oct 2008 at 10:37

smids said:
Touch it when you turn on the computer.

You have checked in Disk Management?

Right click 'My Computer' > Manage > Disk Management tab > Is it listed?

Have you left the jumper on the drive which forces 150MB/s transfer rate? If not, you might need to replace this as your SATA controller might be having difficulty negotiating.

Which part should I touch and what should I expect to feel?

I've removed the jumper so it's running at the full rate (or not in this case, heh) and I've checked in Disk management; it is not listed.

Any thoughts?

smids · 31 Oct 2008 at 10:56

The top - literally the silver casing. You will feel a mild vibration. If you touch it, then hit the power button, you should even notice it spinning up. It's very noticeable. You could try listening to it as well.

I would replace the jumper and check again - your SATA controller may not like the full rate.