Trying to clone a previously cloned drive
So here's the deal.
My C drive (SSD) got infected by some malicious software. I spent some time uninstalling it but was concerned there was still things left behind. I couldn't use system restore because I have it switched off. So I thought it would be the ideal time to use my clone? The clone is on an identical SSD (OCZ Vertex 4 128GB) and was created by ATI 2013. I connected up the cloned SSD via eSATA and then booted from the bootable disc I created when I first got ATI and have always used since. All good so far... I then opened the cloning tool as usual, and selected the cloned drive as the source and the C drive as the target and hit go... After a couple of seconds I got an error window saying cloning failed or words to that effect. When I tried to reboot my computer it would hang on the start up screen. The cloning process had only copied the 100MB boot partition. The rest of the drive was turned into unallocated space so I was now completely reliant on my cloned copy. Fortunately it worked fine and my system is running ok, but here's the problem... I can't make a clone of the "clone". I prepared the original SSD by formatting it as a single partition, but it fails every time. All that gets cloned is the boot partition, and the rest is left as unallocated space. After several attempts I was convinced it was the SSD so I tried cloning to an external USB HDD, but the exact same thing happened.
I'm now convinced it's something to do with the cloned copy, but what and how to work round it?
Sorry for the long winded explanation. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Rob.
Thanks for your reply tuttle. I have my system restore turned off because it is not beneficial for my SSD. I do not backup my drive by any other means so I rely on cloning. I hope that helps clarify things?
Again, system restore is not something that needs to be enabled. You must be confusing that process with something else, such as ASRM as I mentioned.
Regular full disk mode backups would be a much safer backup strategy than a periodic clone. And, restoring such a backup is safer than cloning.
No offence tuttle but you seem to be the one who is confused...I did not come here for advice on backing up, I just wanted to know if I can clone a clone?....just like it suggests in the title!
Thanks again for your reply.
I'm simply responding to your comment about being unable to use the restore function because you don't have it enabled. I wanted you to know that no such "enabling" is necessary. Restores do not require any prior enabling.
As for clone, you should be able to clone a clone. The result would depend on the first clone being an exact copy of the original. Perhaps there are vagaries with your specific setup, and as I advise against cloning (backup and restore is a safer option) I left that issue open for someone else to reply.
A clone by definition should be an exact copy of the original. I'm also hoping someone else can help. Failing that I'm going to bite the bullet and buy different software. Given that they are asking £20 for PPI with no guarantees, it seems like a viable option. I was just hoping for some sort of explanation as to why I'm having this problem, or even compare notes with other unfortunate users.
Robert,
Your results is why most (maybe all) of the volunteers helpers recommend the creation of a safety backup before any clone is performed. A safety net is needed to offset potential hardware or user errors. Restoring a backup has no risk as the source is not connected.
Also, Acronis recommend that if clone is the technique used for creating the new disk, that the clone process be done when booted from the TI Recovery CD.
If you have no backup and no system disk which works, you will probably need to re-install Windows.
There may be some "undo" tools out there as that would be about your only other choice as I see it.
Not having an Acronis Backup of your disk means you are missing some of the reasons to have backup software.
Disk cloning has a risk and that risk is coming into play here. Errors and malfunctions do occur. A quality disk image backup would save the day.
Sorry to be the bearer of the not so good news.
Hi GroverH and thanks for your reply.
If you read my original post, you'll see that I do have a working disc in the form of the cloned copy, and I did create it from a bootable disc.
All I want to do now is make a clone of the clone!
Again, thanks for your input.
Have you ever booted the PC with the first clone? If not, perhaps it wasn't a functional system. That could explain why cloning it doesn't result in success. There are many things that can go wrong with cloning, some due to hardware issues and some due to inadvertent user actions.
tuttle, my system is running on the cloned drive and everything is working perfectly. I just can't get it to re clone any more than the 100MB system partition. A error message comes up saying cloning failed. I then find that the rest of the drive has been turned back into unallocated space???? (the drive I'm trying to clone to)
Have we established whether we are dealaing with GPT disks or MBR disks?
What size if the source and what size is the target?
If both the same size, and MBR, then do the clone when booted from the TI REcovery CD
and use the Manual clone method and thel "AS IS" for the move method.
Use Diskpart and run the clean option on the target disk before cloning.
2014 will not clone a GPT PARTITIONED DISK.
I haven't checked that to be honest. Good point!
Both SSDs are identical. I did use Diskpart to delete the system partition, but then I just formatted in the normal way.
I'll have a go at the method you describe and get back to you. You'll have to give me a couple of days as I'm busy with work until Sunday.
Thanks for your reply.
Consider using Diskpart to get info about the diswk
DISKPART
LISTY DISK
SELECT DISK X (WHERE X IS THE SOURCE DI9K)
LIST PARTITION
The resulting display will provide info as to MBR or GPT and how the partitions are arranged.
So both disks are GPT according to Diskpart. I cleaned the target disk and initialised it as MBR. Now what? Because if what you say is correct then there is no way I can clone my cloned copy because it's GPT and the only way to alter that is to clean the disk and start over, correct?
Oh and by the way I have the full 2013 version of ATI and the 2011 Western Digital version if that helps?
Can you provide a printout (hand written ok) of the
list partition command results for the source boot disk.
Yes I will do tomorrow because I need to get some sleep now.
Thanks for your help.
Here you go Grover. Not sure what you're hoping to see but I hope it helps?
I've been doing some research, and it seems that Acronis does not support GPT drives at all. So the bottom line is I will have to try elsewhere.
What I don't understand and find slightly annoying is the fact that ATI created the clone that I'm now using as my C drive. So why is it GPT if it's not supported???? Surely a clone is an IDENTICAL copy, so therefore the original source disk must have also been GPT????.........