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How to install an Image to a smaller drive?

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How to install an Image to a smaller drive?

1. I have a 500GB drive but I want install an Image to a smaller drive say a 320GB on the same machine?

2. I have a 500GB drive but want to make 2 partitions and install the Image to 1 of the partitions on the same machine?

What can I do in both situations I have ATI 2010 Build 7046.
In the past I tried to install from a 320GB drive to a 500GB drive and it only gave 320 out of 500 this is why I'm asking this Question!

TIA,

TH

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I thought that so long as the data size allowed it, you could resize the partition during recovery, making it smaller (or larger) as you choose. When you resized the partition from 320 GB to 500 GB, TI ignored your settings?

Resizing the partition is an option on the Settings of Partition... screen of the Recovery wizard (see pp. 99-100 of the User's Guide). You tried this before and it did not work?

True Image can make partitions on a previously unpartitioned drive. See Chapter 21 of the User's Guide.

In the past I tried to install from a 320GB drive to a 500GB drive and it only gave 320 out of 500 this is why I'm asking this Question!

Is this a Dell machine? If not, Most likely, this result was caused by your checkmarking the disk as the selected option--rather than a single partition only. Was the remaining space left over as unallocated or was the space just lost and the effective drive size reduced?

http://forum.acronis.com/forum/9754

http://forum.acronis.com/forum/9303

It is a Dell laptop with MediaDirect and the remaining space was unallocated! I've seen the comments about Dells with MediaDirect! But now I want to partition the 500GB drive to Run my Image of Win 7 32bit at 300GB and the rest on the other to install a fresh copy of Win 7 64bit! I have 140GB used space ATM.

Is there more I should no before trying? I just did a full Image of my current state so if all fails I can go and install my Image without the partition!

TIA,

TH

Sorry but it failed but I didn't try the steps mentioned in the Dell article, there must be an easier way? Is there?

TH

I can't help you with Dell but a few more questions so others might respond.

What is it that failed? what have you tried? Was there an error message?

Did you try restore option by checkmarking the disk option restore which would leave you left over unallocated space for a fresh install of Win7-64. Create you 2nd partition in the blank space and will Win7-64 install.

Again, I can not help you with Dell & media direct but just offering possibilities.

In one of Grover's guides

http://forum.acronis.com/sites/default/files/forum/2009/08/3426/gh_acro…

there is a section about Dell laptops with Media Direct (page 9). I don't understand it myself (I have a Dell desktop with other issues), but perhaps this could help. If you have already seen this, I apologize - I don't quite know what "Dell article" you were referring to.

GroverH wrote:

I can't help you with Dell but a few more questions so others might respond.

What is it that failed? what have you tried? Was there an error message?

Did you try restore option by checkmarking the disk option restore which would leave you left over unallocated space for a fresh install of Win7-64. Create you 2nd partition in the blank space and will Win7-64 install.

Again, I can not help you with Dell & media direct but just offering possibilities.

I got to the point that I made 2 partitions that was fine But the problem was trying to put the Image from 500GB full drive to 300GB partition that's where I'm having the problem I can't seam to get the Image which still says 463GB to go on to 300GB partition! How come you can't help because it's a Dell? :-) See attached!

TH

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I think that you cannot have the checkbox by Disk 1 selected - this will not allow resizing of the partitions. The partitions need to set up individually.

There looks like there is room to shrink the partitions - they aren't all that filled.

I guess the best bet is to do a complete reinstall that's allot of work but I see no other answer ATM :-( Then do an Image!

TH

Then you go back, check each individually, set up the resize individually. If the Disk 1 box is check, this is the "disk option" so it will make an exact copy of the disk - no resizing allowed. See section 10.2 "Recovering a disk backup to a different capacity disk".

Look at p. 87 Step5. Look carefully at all pp. 85-90.

Like it says in B? So I have to Back Up each partition not the whole disk Right?

There's only 37 pages?

TH

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You have a disk backup. What you are doing is restoring. If you want to restore the whole disk, the whole disk will be restored AS IS WAS BACKED UP - the same size.

I'm sorry but you lost me can you give me more details as to Start this?

1. Back Up each partition not the whole disk? Right? The one's that I have are all whole disk back ups!

2.?

3.? and so on

TIA,

TH

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No, backing up the entire disk (all partitions) is the right thing to do. What you want to do is to restore the partitions with resizing - restoring the entire disk with the partitions as it was backed up will not allow resizing of the individual partitions, which is what you want to do. Really, the best thing to do is to read Chapter 10 in the User's Guide, pages 85-90, probably several times. If you don't have the User's Guide, you can download it by clicking on Home Product Guides under Useful Links in the upper left panel of this page. Study this carefully. I can't relate the entire scenario here - it take true understanding on the part of the user.

And you want to do this running True Image from bootable media - not from Windows. And make sure to validate the backup also running True Image from bootable media, not running from Windows.

And the reason we (at least Grover and I) find it difficult to help is that we do not have Dell systems with Media Direct - and there are special considerations that only someone experienced with such systems would be aware of. I have a Dell system with a hidden partition - this issue I know a lot about, but this is not your issue. And many times these subtle issues make all the difference in a whether you get a working system or a boat anchor after a restore - this is not just a file copy activity. It must be approached with careful study and preparation, and no one but you can do this.

Well, you actually have two hidden partitions, the FAT32 MediaDirect and the FAT16 Dell Utility Partition - make sure these are in the proper order, and I don't think it would be a good idea to resize these. You should sort this partitions on Start to make sure the order is correct. It may be unwise to move the starting location of the Windows 7 partition - resize only from the right edge. Otherwise it may be unbootable. BE CAREFUL!

I'm curious to see if you get this to work. I tried and wasn't successful. Thread here http://forum.acronis.com/forum/9508 although I also tried Acronis chat support to no avail.

I've also been wondering if the MBR & Track 0 was included in the disk backup. I don't see it listed with the partitions given above. From what I can see from what I read about MediaDirect, there is a nonstandard MBR involved, so it would seem that you would need to include the MBR & Track 0 in the restoration to a new disk.

Again, you must know the actual physical layout of the the partitions on the original disk. My guess is that the two hidden partitions come before the system partition - but you will have to determine this.

When you say In the past I tried to install from a 320GB drive to a 500GB drive and it only gave 320 out of 500 do you mean that you have successfully transferred this system to another disk in the past, or is this with another system (with MediaDirect, etc.)/

Yes I have but the problem is making the partitions now and the MBR is included! I try 2 or 3 times without the MBR & Track 0 but when I go back to restore MBR & Track 0 it will not boot so at this time I'm giving up and going to do a clean install of everything I want with Win 7 32bit & Win 7 64bit and the other partitions as the MediaDirect Disc does the partitions for me so I can have my cake and eat it! And then do an Image!

Thanks for your help!

Cheers,

TH

I made an image from a 320 gig drive. The image was 14 gig. I have been going crazy trying to restore it to another system with a 80 gig drive. Is this possable or am I doing something wrong