Restore to smaller SSD, win 7
HI, I must be doing something quite stupid. I have read and tried the GroverT manual as well. Sorry if the answer is in FAQ somewhere. The ssd is samsun840 which is 256gb. Original system HD was 1.5T. Only 70GB are in use. Backup goes fine. I am not a computer tech at all but cna generally get around OK.
When I restore it want to create three partitions. It see the new SSD as unallocated and can restore the first portion. Then it will NOT let me select that disk for the next one or third (MBR and track 0). First I went thru the Acronis instructions and I could not complete it as described. Then I went thru the Grover method and after carefully doing disk 1, i again can not select the new SSD for the next two partitions/areas. Sorry if my terminology is off.
I have tried this too many times and have no idea what to do as I heard this was simple so I must be making a silly newbie mistake. All I can think of it wants to create a partition of the orig disk size on the smaller SSD but I can not even try to change that if I can not select that drive in the first of three steps.
I am using True Image 2014, licensed and all. I read about a universal restore option but do not see that that. Maybe it would automatically do what I want.
Thanks in advance and I'll apologize as I figure user error and lack of knowledge is the culprit.
I note this is Windows 7. Would you post a screen capture of your Windows Disk Managemewnt graphical screen so we can see how the partitions are arranged.
Is the source disk MBR or GPT?
The best type of a backup to have (for most users) is the one which includes everything on the disk within the backup which is called a disk image backup. Look at signature link 2-A and the first few pictures shows how to create such a backup.
It looks like ATI is determining that the C:\ partition that you are trying to restore doesn't fit the SSD. Since you already restore the system reserved partition, ATI can see the SSD alright. I reckon that for some reason ATI sees a size issue.
How large is your backup TIB file?
Did you do a sector by sector backup by any chance?
What if, when you select what to restore, you check the box at the disk level? Can you then select the SSD?
IF that doesn't work, try to clone the original disk to the SSD. Does it work now? If the cloning goes through, DO NOT reboot the computer with both disks in it. First disconnect the old disk, then boot on the SSD. After the computer boots normally, you can reconnect the OLD disk and repurpose it the way you want.
Thanks for the help!
Pat L, The backup file is about 31GB and I did not do sector by sector. I used the default setting to backup a disk. I will check what happens if I selcet the disk level when I can try soe stuff again.
I will need to try GroverT method and maybe that will make a difference. It is quite a slow process as I pull my boot HDD and plug in the new drive each go around plus the CD loading. But that is the case for everyone.
Here is a screenshoot of my drives. The current boot HDD is MBR. The backup file is on a GPT drive if that matters but was not on my first few tries.
I'll try to new backup method and let that run while I go to work today. Thanks.
Use the guide in signature link 3, item 1 (restore to larger/smaller drive) and see if that helps.
When restoring for your steps,
pass1=checkmark only the 100mb system and restore to the unallocated.
pass2=checkmark only the window os and restore to the remining unallocated.
pass3=checkmark the track0/mbr and
also checkmark the "recover disk signature" which is on the screen where you select the new disk to receive the mbr.
Your disk layout is very standard. GPT vs. MBR for the backup storage doesn't matter.
Run chkdsk C: /R on the C:\ partition. THis will be very long, so do this over night or something. Maybe there is some info on this disk that throws ATI off wrt to the space that is occupied by data.
At any rate, in your case, you could try to clone from the recovery CD>
Alas the image and stepwise restore had the exact same issue. Unable to check the box for the new SSD drive in step two. Step one is fine as always. Tech support suggested I manually create the three partitions on the SSD but I have no idea how to do that and frankly am losing all patience.
I will try to clone next. Wish me luck!
Because of how simply your partitions are configured,. You can also use the guide listed in signature link 3, item 2.
Using a disk restore (simple 2 partition restore ) will allow the program to automatically resize/downsize the drive C windows partition. In order for this to work, you need the disk type backup which I referenced in the prior posting.
-------------------------------------
"The best type of a backup to have (for most users) is the one which includes everything on the disk within the backup which is called a disk image backup. Look at signature link 2-A and the first few pictures shows how to create such a backup."
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Boot from the TI Recovery CD.
When performing the restore, first step would be to use the Tools/Add new disk routine whereby, the existing data on the new target is deleted so the entire new disk is unallolcated. Initialize as MBR.
Then perform the restore as per the guide.
In Recovery mode, Check mark the box beside the disk and click ok or next--whatever
Your next screen should be a listing of disks--not partitions.
Select the target disk plus checkmark the Recover disk signature.
Ok, I tried to clone. It failed! But at least the log gave some info. I am doing a chkdsk /r . Not sure I can post the screenshot.
Failed to prepare operations. Error code 10 "file system error is found. Consider checking the disk using chkdsk utility' with extended code 487,776. MFT bitmap corrupted"
I do not know if that is bad or not but at least something tangible is causing the issue. I do not know if this is common or not. Thx for your help!
Check both your partitions.
Open disk management and assign a drive letter to the first partition, such as drive letter X
CHKDSK X: /R
ALSO
CHKDSK C: /R
After completion of checking, remove the drive letter x so the drive returns to no letter.
If that chkdsk fails to repair the issue, keep the temporary drive letter for the system reserved partition, unhide hidden files on both partitions, including system files, and try to do a *file* backup of each partition using the recovery CD. When and if ATI bumps into a corrupted file, it will tell you what file it is. Sometimes, it will be OK just to delete the file. Sometimes, just moving the file might work as well.
Thanks Pat. I think this is good news. I am off to work shortly but will try again again today.
Log Name: Application
Source: Microsoft-Windows-Wininit
Date: 8/12/2014 2:53:14 AM
Event ID: 1001
Task Category: None
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: SPROW-PC
Description:
Checking file system on C:
The type of the file system is NTFS.
A disk check has been scheduled.
Windows will now check the disk.
CHKDSK is verifying files (stage 1 of 5)...
308480 file records processed.
File verification completed.
834 large file records processed.
0 bad file records processed.
2 EA records processed.
44 reparse records processed.
CHKDSK is verifying indexes (stage 2 of 5)...
385214 index entries processed.
Index verification completed.
0 unindexed files scanned.
0 unindexed files recovered.
CHKDSK is verifying security descriptors (stage 3 of 5)...
308480 file SDs/SIDs processed.
Cleaning up 553 unused index entries from index $SII of file 0x9.
Cleaning up 553 unused index entries from index $SDH of file 0x9.
Cleaning up 553 unused security descriptors.
Security descriptor verification completed.
38368 data files processed.
CHKDSK is verifying Usn Journal...
35816592 USN bytes processed.
Usn Journal verification completed.
CHKDSK is verifying file data (stage 4 of 5)...
308464 files processed.
File data verification completed.
CHKDSK is verifying free space (stage 5 of 5)...
348906049 free clusters processed.
Free space verification is complete.
CHKDSK discovered free space marked as allocated in the
master file table (MFT) bitmap.
CHKDSK discovered free space marked as allocated in the volume bitmap.
Windows has made corrections to the file system.
1465032703 KB total disk space.
68817728 KB in 207571 files.
134492 KB in 38369 indexes.
0 KB in bad sectors.
456283 KB in use by the system.
65536 KB occupied by the log file.
1395624200 KB available on disk.
4096 bytes in each allocation unit.
366258175 total allocation units on disk.
348906050 allocation units available on disk.
Internal Info:
00 b5 04 00 bf c0 03 00 ba 1c 07 00 00 00 00 00 ................
46 6f 00 00 2c 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 Fo..,...........
00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
Windows has finished checking your disk.
Please wait while your computer restarts.
Event Xml:
1001
0
4
0
0
0x80000000000000
9074
Application
SPROW-PC
Checking file system on C:
The type of the file system is NTFS.
A disk check has been scheduled.
Windows will now check the disk.
CHKDSK is verifying files (stage 1 of 5)...
308480 file records processed.
File verification completed.
834 large file records processed.
0 bad file records processed.
2 EA records processed.
44 reparse records processed.
CHKDSK is verifying indexes (stage 2 of 5)...
385214 index entries processed.
Index verification completed.
0 unindexed files scanned.
0 unindexed files recovered.
CHKDSK is verifying security descriptors (stage 3 of 5)...
308480 file SDs/SIDs processed.
Cleaning up 553 unused index entries from index $SII of file 0x9.
Cleaning up 553 unused index entries from index $SDH of file 0x9.
Cleaning up 553 unused security descriptors.
Security descriptor verification completed.
38368 data files processed.
CHKDSK is verifying Usn Journal...
35816592 USN bytes processed.
Usn Journal verification completed.
CHKDSK is verifying file data (stage 4 of 5)...
308464 files processed.
File data verification completed.
CHKDSK is verifying free space (stage 5 of 5)...
348906049 free clusters processed.
Free space verification is complete.
CHKDSK discovered free space marked as allocated in the
master file table (MFT) bitmap.
CHKDSK discovered free space marked as allocated in the volume bitmap.
Windows has made corrections to the file system.
1465032703 KB total disk space.
68817728 KB in 207571 files.
134492 KB in 38369 indexes.
0 KB in bad sectors.
456283 KB in use by the system.
65536 KB occupied by the log file.
1395624200 KB available on disk.
4096 bytes in each allocation unit.
366258175 total allocation units on disk.
348906050 allocation units available on disk.
Internal Info:
00 b5 04 00 bf c0 03 00 ba 1c 07 00 00 00 00 00 ................
46 6f 00 00 2c 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 Fo..,...........
00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
Windows has finished checking your disk.
Please wait while your computer restarts.
Success! The chkdsk fixed the errors and viola it works great. I now realized that the backup size of half what the source drive had should have been a clue. I cloned it which was very easy and working fine for me.
I really appreciate the help here as I was about to give up. System is much improved and my of HDD clearly had a couple issues as well. Many thanks!
Great. Your next step is to start a new task and make new backups.
Be sure the backups are the "disk image" type as per signature link 2A below.
Depending upon the type backups (full only; or full with inc; of full with diff),
one of the examples will work for you.
GH11. Create Custom Full Backup Scheme.Keep 4 versions (chains). The 4 is user choice.
GH12. Create Custom Incremental Backup Scheme. 6 Inc, Keep 4 chains. The 6-4 is user choice.
GH13. Create Custom Differential Backup Scheme. 2 Diff, Keep 2 chains. The 2-2 is user choice.
Thanks Grover. I had actually already read that have have those backups scheduled to keep 4 versions. And my big data backup as well. So I am cooking with gas so to speak!
I'm sure I'll find something else to mess with and break soon enough :)