Advice needed regarding Disk Cloning

[Frozzy_]

Hi bros,

Here's my question:

I have a 500GB HDD currently, and the current 500GB HDD has 2 partitions, and I want to clone it to a 1TB HDD.

I want to clone everything exactly over the other side. Question I want to ask is that after cloning, I will need to manage manually for the unallocated space? Or rather nothing affects my current data after cloning over?

Do you guys use Acronis to clone disks? Because this is my first time doing it.. Just to be sure... and hope no data loss. As Acronis has different options to do so..

Sorry for the noob question..

 

[stan216]

*Based on my previous experience with another cloning software*

Yes, you can clone the data over from the 500GB HDD to the 1TB HDD.

Since the original source is 500GB, the remaining space in the 1TB would be unallocated. you should be free to format this remaining space (remainder 500GB) as you see fit when you boot into windows.

The cloning should copy the entire logical partition as it is. Meaning, if your current 500GB is partitioned like partition A 250 GB, partition B 250GB, after cloning into the 1TB HDD you should get partition A and B as it was in the 500GB HDD. (And the remaining unallocated space is free for you to use as you see fit.)

All the data inside the logical partitions should remain as it is. That's the purpose of cloning after all right? To copy over everything as it is without the hassle of reinstalling everything else.

have you tried to google search for some online help?
Acronis Backup & Recovery 11.5 Help

Worst come to worst, you simply wasted your time copying over to the 1TB HDD.

 

[Frozzy_]

Okay! thanks for the reply bro.

Will research more using google.

 

[xtreme84]

It should be as stan216 mentioned. I've cloned multiple HDDs and SSDs and they've turned out perfectly fine so far.

Usually you will have to manage the unallocated space manually, which I feel is a good thing actually. Cos that means you can increase the space of your current partitions if you wish to.

 

[meonline]

Hi bros,

Here's my question:

Do you guys use Acronis to clone disks?

Sorry for the noob question..

Paragon Partition Manager Free Edition - Free Download
use the above for free

 

[Mythmaker]

stan216 is almost correct, except for the unallocated part.

The "unallocated part" will be allocated to the 2nd partition by default in your case.

So if your original C: drive partition have 100GB and D: drive 400GB, you will end up with c: 100GB and d: 900GB when you boot up.

That's for the latest Arconis. I just cloned last week.

 

[Louisloo]

Acronis will give you the option to
1) size remains the original and leave extra as unallocated
2) size will expand proportionally
3) do a manual resize. You can select which partition to increase or remain the original size.

 

[Frozzy_]

okay. Noted~ thanks for the input guys. Appreciated

 

[Peach Tea]

It should be as stan216 mentioned. I've cloned multiple HDDs and SSDs and they've turned out perfectly fine so far.

Usually you will have to manage the unallocated space manually, which I feel is a good thing actually. Cos that means you can increase the space of your current partitions if you wish to.

can clone from 500gb HDD to 120gb SSD?
HDD used less then 80gb space.

 

[stan216]

can clone from 500gb HDD to 120gb SSD?
HDD used less then 80gb space.

If a partition in the 500GB space is 120GB or less, yes, you can clone that partition.

If that 1 partition takes up the entire 500GB HDD, no, you cannot clone the partition over to the 120GB SSD. You have 500ml of water, you can't squeeze that amount into a 250ml container. You need to shrink the partition to the same size or smaller than the SSD.

As Mythmaker said my reply in my earlier post is almost correct, I should add that I do not know what kind of features/options the more recent disk cloning utility software has to offer. For example, in the thread starter's case, the "unallocated part" will be allocated to the 2nd partition by default. That said, I do not know if the latest Acronis has the option to copy over only the data files, which in your case totals less than 80GB. My experience was with another software some 4+ years back, but in general, disk cloning utilities should at the very least allow the cloning of partition as it is onto another disk.

assuming there isn't a partition shrinking option in whichever 3rd party disk cloning utility you are using, you got to shrink the partition in windows first before you clone it over to SSD. Do note that if you happen to be using windows XP, you cannot resize a partition without formatting the partition. It sucks, right? This feature/function should be available in Vista onwards.


take note of the realignment issue when cloning from HDD to SSD. Use this guide:
How to Migrate your System to an SSD - HardwareZone.com.sg

 

[xtreme84]

can clone from 500gb HDD to 120gb SSD?
HDD used less then 80gb space.

I used Acronis many years back and I can't really remember if I managed to do so. I think I might have.

What I'm using now is THIS for convenience as I do help my family/friends with their computers quite often. Being able to just pop the HDDs in and let the docking station do its magic is really much easier. The only drawback is that the target disk has to be larger than the source disk.

 

[Frozzy_]

Side track abit..

Anyone have any idea how much difference of in terms of speed comparing with SSD and SSHD? I know SSD is definitely faster.

But if by 2 to 3 sec difference only, probably I might go for SSHD instead with that large storage at a more cheaper price with longer disk lifespan.

 

[Louisloo]

Depending on what you use your PC for.

If just normal office or home PC and no graphics intensive games or applications, then SSHD is good enough.

 

[Kiwi8]

What I'm using now is THIS for convenience as I do help my family/friends with their computers quite often. Being able to just pop the HDDs in and let the docking station do its magic is really much easier. The only drawback is that the target disk has to be larger than the source disk.

How much is that? That seems very convenient indeed!

 

[Peach Tea]

How much is that? That seems very convenient indeed!

NEO USB 3.0 2-Bay Hard Drive/SSD Docking Station with Cloning [DKS30CSLV] - S$75.00 : Alltronic Computer (S) Pte Ltd

 

[Kiwi8]

NEO USB 3.0 2-Bay Hard Drive/SSD Docking Station with Cloning [DKS30CSLV] - S$75.00 : Alltronic Computer (S) Pte Ltd

I see.... would be useful if it supported HDDs larger than 3TB.

 

[xtreme84]

How much is that? That seems very convenient indeed!

I see.... would be useful if it supported HDDs larger than 3TB.

I think I paid around that price for mine at Challenger. It is indeed very convenient. I'm not sure if it really doesn't support larger than 3TB HDDs as I use mine mainly for cloning the OS drive, so usually it's less than 1TB even.

Was quite useful when I helped my friends/family migrate to SSD.

 

[Asure7]

can clone from 500gb HDD to 120gb SSD?
HDD used less then 80gb space.

Can. I just cloned 500GB hdd (150GB used space) to a 240GB SSD using Acronis True Image.

I think it depends on how you use the software.
There are difference ways to clone i.e. Full Disk Image... Sector-by-sector cloning (usually done when file system type is unknown or not supported) ..... or File level Cloning (which is faster and have flexibility to adjust target partition size).