Cloning to existing internal HDD
I wish to either Clone or Ba/Re Image from my existing C: system HDD (all one large partition) to a much larger HDD within the same computer. This larger drive already has 2 partitions on it and they both contain data, and I don't want to disturb the partitions and lose the data.
Because of some concerns over TI Cloning, I was thinking of instead Imaging the C: drive to an external USB drive, preparing the larger drive (for C: system) by adding a new 3rd partition, then restoring the Image to that larger drive in the new added 3rd partition. (I was thinking on using Partition Magic for the re-partitioning.)
After that, I would shut down the computer, remove the old HDD and replace it with the larger HDD in the same primary location, and allow a reboot with Windows identifying the new drive and system. This would avoid confusion with Windows trying to identify 2 system drives .
After I'm satisfied that the replaced system (and drive) works well, I could later reinstall the old HDD, reformat and relabel it for data use.
Will this work satisfactorily ..or is there a better solution ?
I have WinXp Pro Sp2
What you propose should work. However, as stated by DwnNDrty, it's strongly recommended to have an Entire Disk Image backup of a drive prior to making any partitioning changes, especially if the existing data is important.
Also, the existing partitons on the drive are probably located from the start. I assume you would want your OS partition located at the start for optimal speed. This would require at least one of the existing partitions to be resized (or moved). This type of operation is much more risky than just adding a third partition in unallocated space at the end of the drive (assuming some exists).
Please excuse me if it appears that I'm repeating myself, perhaps not being clear in the original post. But I do need this process to work well the first time through it.
Perhaps this attached jpg of my diskmanager may help with my explanation.
As Disk 0 is failing, I want to move the System contents from Disk 0 to the larger and newer Disk 1 as there seems enough room on there for it, but only if I condense the partitions to accomodate a third partition. As previously indicated I think I may be able to manipulate the disk partitions by using Partition Magic, with the System (c) on the first part of the larger disk 1, and call that new partition unallocated.
If not, then having partitions E & F backed up on my external USB disk 2, repartitioning Disk 1 to three partitions, and restoring E & F back to it -- will that work for sure? And if I do that how will TI know where to stick them and still allow Windows to access them?
Further comments now that you see the picture ?
