Cloning

[Admin]

Hello,

I hope this post is acceptable. Here's why I ask: I want to clone a portion of my Thinkpad T41 laptop. I upgraded to a IDE 120GB HDD. I have a CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive so no DVD burner capabilities. My networking experience is not as advanced as I would like. I have the use of another computer if I could network but not sure how to accomplish the task I would like to do.

Okay, the specifics:

111GB of space of storage.

XP was cloned from the seller of the Thinkpad - C: 43GB approx. with 4.6 GB used. D: 60*approx. with .8 GB used (extra drivers and folders)

I probably should just re-install (I have Thinkpad T30 drivers/files etc. and other files of other Thinkpads included on here) but I wanted to:

A) learn how to clone

B) there are some programs/utilities I would like to retain (worth it? I dunno)

The problem is I am not sure what to do. I would like to use open source software or freeware (can I say that here??? ) but I am open to all and any suggestions, ideas and recommendations.

I thought of using:

Partimage

Clonezilla

Acronis Image (I'd have to buy it... was my 3rd or bottom choice because of that)

I'd get Acronis if it was the best choice but then I'd have to wait as it's not available locally and I'd have to find $50 or whatever, anyway. I wanted to try this soon.

Anyway, I have no idea on how to clone or what software to use. I wanted to clone the portion of the drive that is used, currently. So, XP OS plus the files/folders etc. Then, I would re-install using a Lenovo/IBM drivers CD I have burned. I am not sure whether I could install the programs on the current XP install but that's another question.

If there is a good way to clone my current XP I would be so happy! I have a copy of retail/valid XP so I am set for a re-install and I only need the valid code on the bottom of my Thinkpad so everything is legitimate.

I was going to install a Linux distro on my Thinkpad, too so I was hoping to preserve the current XP install in case I wanted to refer back to it.

I also wondered about where to store it. If I install it to another HDD, then I would need an external drive? I could use an internal drive in an enclosure via USB, maybe, to store it so I didn't have to compress the install into an image?

Okay, I hope this is not too long. I really hope to obtain some replies!

THANKS in advance to anyone who replies!!!!

[Seshomaru Samma]

both partimage and clonezilla will do it. Acronis is more user friendly - but that comes at a cost

[-pops-]

I use XXclone for cloning hard drives. It's simple and it's free (unless you want the advanced version)

http://www.xxclone.com/

[Admin]

Okay, but I am still confused.

I would like to know my options regarding the process. Can I use an external drive that is connected via USB? Or would that not work? Or does it depend on the software?

Also, the clone most likely would be made on different hardware so although the source drive is 120GB and the space used is approx. 5GB on 1 partition and less than a 1GB on a 2nd partition, the target drive would not be the same. I probably wouldn't be using a 120GB drive and since it's coming from a Thinkpad with limited connection options, I need either to do this via networking or connecting another drive via USB or some other way? I would like to know my options and what is the most likely way/method to avoid corruption when trying to clone. Does that make sense? I guess would hope to limit mistakes and time when I try to do this.

There's a bunch of software choices but I'm still confused on how to do the cloning. If it was from my desktop, there would be more options (more space to add another hard drive etc. and I'd have the use of a DVD burner) but since it's an older laptop that is specific to Thinkpad, I perceive limited options. Also, is the clone going to be an image or an identical clone? Would it be compressed or the same size?

I also was wondering since I was trying to 'retain' used portions of TWO partitions, how would that work or can it work?

I was hoping to obtain more than just, 'this XYZ software would 'do it.'' Do what? Sorry to be a bother.... But, I am extremely confuzzzzzzzzled.... ;-)

[AlanHo]

I use Acronis and copy my 32 GB system drive image to a 500 GB external USB hard drive using Acronis. I imagine other back-up software would also be capable of copying to a USB hard drive.

[-pops-]

I gave a link to my suggestion. Other sites can be obtained from a Google search.

Only you can decide if the software will fulfil your requirements, either by reading about its capabilities or downloading and testing.

[Admin]

I gave a link to my suggestion. Other sites can be obtained from a Google search.

Only you can decide if the software will fulfil your requirements, either by reading about its capabilities or downloading and testing.

XXClone sounds interesting. I guess I could try it. I decided that I should try to clone using an internal hard drive in an enclosure connected via USB. I will need to get an enclosure though. Also, the particular setup in my Thinkpad is like this:

C: 4.6 GB used, 40GB approx. free

D: 0.8 GB used (mostly drivers) 60 GB approx. free

I am not sure how I'd clone something like that. I don't know why the seller set it up like that. Does it make sense?

Also, should I clone to desktop HDD or notebook HDD or does it matter? The host HDD is 120 GB IDE using XP OS for a Thinkpad. I have a spare 500GB SATA HDD I could use so if I connect it via USB, it won't matter that it's SATA. It is a bit larger than I need, too (right?)

Could I use a thumb drive (usb?)? If so, how large (capacity) would it need to be? For XXClone or any other imaging program?

Some clone the entire blocks and some clone only the used blocks. Since I wish to clone from two different partitions, would the cloning be just the used blocks portions so, 4.6 GB + 0.8GB = 5.4GB total (8GB Thumb drive would do?) Would it be bootable?

I'm making my head hurt and confusing myself... :-/ Thinking too much into this but I would like to learn how... I'm almost thinking I shouldn't try so hard to preserve this XP configuration so I could experiment at will!

Oh vell....