Best way to copy one external HDD to another

[ormdig]

Hi all, I put in a new SSD a couple of months ago. My original plan was to format my old C drive 1TB HDD and use it for a backup boot drive. As I use several HDDs for photo storage I decided to go a different route and save it for archival storage and bought a 1TB WD Elements. I have a 500MB external HDD I use for jpeg backup that is getting full and decided to copy it to the 1TB drive, format the 500MB and use it to clone my C drive to for backup.

Alas, I don't know what I am doing. I used Acronis to do my initial cloning of my old C drive to the SSD and it worked perfectly so I decided to do the same thing for this operation and it failed after an hour due to some file it couldn't find on the drive I was cloning. I am wondering if it was looking for whatever makes a drive bootable.

Question: Is cloning only for bootable drives? I am trying to copy 400+ MBs of jpegs to another drive. What is the best way to do this if cloning isn't the right way to do it? Thank you,
Pete

 

[soloryb]

Hi all, I put in a new SSD a couple of months ago. My original plan was to format my old C drive 1TB HDD and use it for a backup boot drive. As I use several HDDs for photo storage I decided to go a different route and save it for archival storage and bought a 1TB WD Elements. I have a 500MB external HDD I use for jpeg backup that is getting full and decided to copy it to the 1TB drive, format the 500MB and use it to clone my C drive to for backup.

Alas, I don't know what I am doing. I used Acronis to do my initial cloning of my old C drive to the SSD and it worked perfectly so I decided to do the same thing for this operation and it failed after an hour due to some file it couldn't find on the drive I was cloning. I am wondering if it was looking for whatever makes a drive bootable.

Question: Is cloning only for bootable drives? I am trying to copy 400+ MBs of jpegs to another drive. What is the best way to do this if cloning isn't the right way to do it? Thank you,
Pete

My experience with Acronis has been that it works wonderfully well......... until you really need it. Then it craps out.

I would suggest that you purchase Macrium Reflect. It can do what you want and I've found it to be highly reliable.

soloryb

 

[fishy wishy]

A powerful utility is free: Microsoft Windows Robocopy (XP026 version and later as in "utility spotlight")

An advantage of it is- if you already have partitions, you can mirror by folder without replicating the fragmentation on the original drive which was slowing accesses down, and also preserve folders with the original timestamps.

However you need to be very careful with the command line. The origin drive is on the left of the command, the destination on the right. E.g:

Windows start button, Run... > cmd (opens a DOS-type command window)

robocopy E:\myphotos F:\myphotos /mir /DCOPY:T

which means E:\myphotos is source, F:\myphotos is destination, mirror source to destination folder, preserve filestamps

Robocopy will happily wipe files in its quest to mirror, without resort to the recycle bin, which is why you must be careful. It also works over networks.

I'll admit I often use it for drive mirroring by simply moving all the drive contents I want into one folder, and creating a new folder with the same name on the newer drive...

 

[ericN2]

Hi all, I put in a new SSD a couple of months ago. My original plan was to format my old C drive 1TB HDD and use it for a backup boot drive. As I use several HDDs for photo storage I decided to go a different route and save it for archival storage and bought a 1TB WD Elements. I have a 500MB external HDD I use for jpeg backup that is getting full and decided to copy it to the 1TB drive, format the 500MB and use it to clone my C drive to for backup.

Alas, I don't know what I am doing. I used Acronis to do my initial cloning of my old C drive to the SSD and it worked perfectly so I decided to do the same thing for this operation and it failed after an hour due to some file it couldn't find on the drive I was cloning. I am wondering if it was looking for whatever makes a drive bootable.

Question: Is cloning only for bootable drives? I am trying to copy 400+ MBs of jpegs to another drive. What is the best way to do this if cloning isn't the right way to do it? Thank you,
Pete

My experience with Acronis has been that it works wonderfully well......... until you really need it. Then it craps out.

I would suggest that you purchase Macrium Reflect. It can do what you want and I've found it to be highly reliable.

soloryb

I also have an external 500Gig USB drive on which I keep some of my d/load files etc but it's near full and want to move all those onto a new 1Tb USB drive I've got ready.
I've got a Retail copy of Paragon Drive Copy Pro but never used this before...before I use this.. can you tell me whether it's OK and as good as I'd get from Macrium ??

 

[soloryb]

I also have an external 500Gig USB drive on which I keep some of my d/load files etc but it's near full and want to move all those onto a new 1Tb USB drive I've got ready.
I've got a Retail copy of Paragon Drive Copy Pro but never used this before...before I use this.. can you tell me whether it's OK and as good as I'd get from Macrium ??

 

[bananahead]

I would keep it simple.



I would use Windows drag and drop ( copy / paste ).



You're not going to do it very often so why spend money.

 

[ericN2]

I also have an external 500Gig USB drive on which I keep some of my d/load files etc but it's near full and want to move all those onto a new 1Tb USB drive I've got ready.
I've got a Retail copy of Paragon Drive Copy Pro but never used this before...before I use this.. can you tell me whether it's OK and as good as I'd get from Macrium ??

 

[edispics]

Keep in mind that there is a difference between cloning a drive so that the copy is a bootable duplicate and just copying files form one HD to another. If all you want to do is move files, you can just do that with Windows explorer. If you need to clone to create a bootable duplicate, then you need to look at specialized software. From your post I wasn't sure which you were trying to do.

 

[edispics]

[No message]

 

[edispics]

If you really do need disk cloning software. Do some research. Google disk imaging software and read the reviews. Here is one example:

http://www.maximumpc.com/hard_drive_cloning_software_2014

There are many more.

Don't go by anecdotal stories. I have used Acronis for years with no problems but I don't doubt that others have run into issues. But the same is true for any cloning software you will look at - there are just so many oddball PC configurations out there that I doubt that any software will always work every single time, perfectly.

Read the reviews, check the features, find user reviews where you can, then make your choice.

 

[ericN2]

Keep in mind that there is a difference between cloning a drive so that the copy is a bootable duplicate and just copying files form one HD to another. If all you want to do is move files, you can just do that with Windows explorer. If you need to clone to create a bootable duplicate, then you need to look at specialized software. From your post I wasn't sure which you were trying to do.

All I want/need to do really is to simply copy all the files/folders etc AS THEY ARE right now on the 500Gig drive to a new 1Tb drive...my old one is getting close to full..too close really.. so I need to move what there is on it to a drive of same kind but with more capacity.
It's possible that there are some things on the present drive that just MAY be as well deleted now.. but I just haven't time right now to go through umpteen files/folders to weed out a few...better I thought to just copy the lot to a new and bigger dive then if I do need to delete any old stuff I can do it at a more leisurely time..

So it's just simply..a straight copy...NOT bootable in any way..just upgrading capacity.

I have done something similar once before with WinExplorer. It does work OK of course.. but I found it a long job in my case and I just had the idea that a more specialised Copy program MAY do it quicker. On the other hand.. I usually have no problems with a WinExplorer Copy/Paste... so perhaps that IS indeed the simple answer.. just devote a day or so of time and let it run... with no other interference on the computer.

My present computer is a good old friendly Sony laptop with XP..I've got on it such a lot that I fear may NOT be the same...OR the system most certainly...on a more modern computer so I just think.. why make changes that are unnecessary...In which event the computer is not the fastest on Earth of course..and 500Gig is a lot to copy for this dear friend !..BUT time's my own I guess..

 

[ericN2]

If you really do need disk cloning software. Do some research. Google disk imaging software and read the reviews. Here is one example:

http://www.maximumpc.com/hard_drive_cloning_software_2014

There are many more.

Don't go by anecdotal stories. I have used Acronis for years with no problems but I don't doubt that others have run into issues. But the same is true for any cloning software you will look at - there are just so many oddball PC configurations out there that I doubt that any software will always work every single time, perfectly.

Read the reviews, check the features, find user reviews where you can, then make your choice.

That's turned out maybe to be quite helpful...
Since I ONLY want to do a pretty straight-forward duplication (Copy/Paste type) of ALL the contents on one external USB-plugged-in drive.. to a new bigger size USB-plugged-in drive (plugged to a seperate socket on the computer when copying...then later 'renamed' to the same letter-drive as the old (to take its place)...that MACRIUM REFLECT FREE looks to be a very good answer..do you think??

P.S. I see from the d/load page that it appears to come via CNET.. so THAT maybe looks like I'd need to be careful of any rubbish extras that CNET appears to be handy at adding in these days !!

--
/eric
Staffordshire, UK

 

[soloryb]

If you really do need disk cloning software. Do some research. Google disk imaging software and read the reviews. Here is one example:

http://www.maximumpc.com/hard_drive_cloning_software_2014

There are many more.

Don't go by anecdotal stories. I have used Acronis for years with no problems but I don't doubt that others have run into issues. But the same is true for any cloning software you will look at - there are just so many oddball PC configurations out there that I doubt that any software will always work every single time, perfectly.

Read the reviews, check the features, find user reviews where you can, then make your choice.

I agree that research is almost always a good thing but not all sites give fair and unbiased (to say nothing of accurate) reviews. Anecdotal accounts - especially on forums such as DPR - can be useful, but obviously must be taken with at least as heavy a grain of salt as some of these so-called expert reviews.

My own experience has been with Macrium, Acronis, Norton Ghost, Shadow Protect, Novostor and Paragon. I've owned all these programs and tested them quite a bit. Only Macrium did not disappoint in the end.

soloryb

 

[soloryb]

If you really do need disk cloning software. Do some research. Google disk imaging software and read the reviews. Here is one example:

http://www.maximumpc.com/hard_drive_cloning_software_2014

There are many more.

Don't go by anecdotal stories. I have used Acronis for years with no problems but I don't doubt that others have run into issues. But the same is true for any cloning software you will look at - there are just so many oddball PC configurations out there that I doubt that any software will always work every single time, perfectly.

Read the reviews, check the features, find user reviews where you can, then make your choice.

That's turned out maybe to be quite helpful...
Since I ONLY want to do a pretty straight-forward duplication (Copy/Paste type) of ALL the contents on one external USB-plugged-in drive.. to a new bigger size USB-plugged-in drive (plugged to a seperate socket on the computer when copying...then later 'renamed' to the same letter-drive as the old (to take its place)...that MACRIUM REFLECT FREE looks to be a very good answer..do you think??

P.S. I see from the d/load page that it appears to come via CNET.. so THAT maybe looks like I'd need to be careful of any rubbish extras that CNET appears to be handy at adding in these days !!

 

[ericN2]

If you really do need disk cloning software. Do some research. Google disk imaging software and read the reviews. Here is one example:

http://www.maximumpc.com/hard_drive_cloning_software_2014

There are many more.

Don't go by anecdotal stories. I have used Acronis for years with no problems but I don't doubt that others have run into issues. But the same is true for any cloning software you will look at - there are just so many oddball PC configurations out there that I doubt that any software will always work every single time, perfectly.

Read the reviews, check the features, find user reviews where you can, then make your choice.

I agree that research is almost always a good thing but not all sites give fair and unbiased (to say nothing of accurate) reviews. Anecdotal accounts - especially on forums such as DPR - can be useful, but obviously must be taken with at least as heavy a grain of salt as some of these so-called expert reviews.

My own experience has been with Macrium, Acronis, Norton Ghost, Shadow Protect, Novostor and Paragon. I've owned all these programs and tested them quite a bit. Only Macrium did not disappoint in the end.

soloryb

I've just d/loaded the Macrium Free and in view of the CNET business I read with care what Macrium said about checking the Digital Signature on the d/load....it was quite OK and exactly as it said it should be.. so that looks OK.

NOW I just need the darned new 1Tb drive !!..should have been here by now but no post at all today.. Royal Mail here gets worse by the day since it got taken over and really is German Mail now ..probably might well be that quite soon.. but the Macrium Free seems OK to go .. and I guess it won't do but to give it a try..I'm still keeping my current drive of course ..NOT a CUT/Paste.. until it's double-checked.
Thanks for the guidance on this though... much appreciated

 

[ormdig]

I appreciate the responses. I tried the Acronis one more time but same result. Started to just copy and paste the folders but ran into a problem. On my drive with the jpegs I usually view them as to the date I copied them to the drive so that I can see what new folders I need to back up to another drive. I also can view them with their descriptive names in alphabetical order if I know what folder I am looking for. The problem with copy and paste is that all of the folders now have todays date when viewed "by date" so the chronological order is not the same as the original drive.

So, do I need to copy them one at a time starting with the oldest folder and working my way forward? How can I copy them exactly in the order they are in on the original drive so that I can view them in chronological order (date I originally copied them to the drive)?

Also, what is the difference in the terms "mirroring", "imaging" and "copying"?

Thanks again,

 

[ericN2]

If you really do need disk cloning software. Do some research. Google disk imaging software and read the reviews. Here is one example:

http://www.maximumpc.com/hard_drive_cloning_software_2014

There are many more.

Don't go by anecdotal stories. I have used Acronis for years with no problems but I don't doubt that others have run into issues. But the same is true for any cloning software you will look at - there are just so many oddball PC configurations out there that I doubt that any software will always work every single time, perfectly.

Read the reviews, check the features, find user reviews where you can, then make your choice.

That's turned out maybe to be quite helpful...
Since I ONLY want to do a pretty straight-forward duplication (Copy/Paste type) of ALL the contents on one external USB-plugged-in drive.. to a new bigger size USB-plugged-in drive (plugged to a seperate socket on the computer when copying...then later 'renamed' to the same letter-drive as the old (to take its place)...that MACRIUM REFLECT FREE looks to be a very good answer..do you think??

P.S. I see from the d/load page that it appears to come via CNET.. so THAT maybe looks like I'd need to be careful of any rubbish extras that CNET appears to be handy at adding in these days !!

 

[Patco]

If you really do need disk cloning software. Do some research. Google disk imaging software and read the reviews. Here is one example:

http://www.maximumpc.com/hard_drive_cloning_software_2014

There are many more.

Don't go by anecdotal stories. I have used Acronis for years with no problems but I don't doubt that others have run into issues. But the same is true for any cloning software you will look at - there are just so many oddball PC configurations out there that I doubt that any software will always work every single time, perfectly.

Read the reviews, check the features, find user reviews where you can, then make your choice.

I have also used Acronis for years. I have done many backups & restores with no issues at all.

Seagate & Western Digital have enough faith in Acronis to offer their own branded light versions, which should be adequate for most purposes:

http://www.seagate.com/ca/en/support/downloads/discwizard/

http://support.wdc.com/product/downloaddetail.asp?swid=119

If it's good enough for two major drive manufacturers, it's good enough for me ;-)

 

[soloryb]

If you really do need disk cloning software. Do some research. Google disk imaging software and read the reviews. Here is one example:

http://www.maximumpc.com/hard_drive_cloning_software_2014

There are many more.

Don't go by anecdotal stories. I have used Acronis for years with no problems but I don't doubt that others have run into issues. But the same is true for any cloning software you will look at - there are just so many oddball PC configurations out there that I doubt that any software will always work every single time, perfectly.

Read the reviews, check the features, find user reviews where you can, then make your choice.

That's turned out maybe to be quite helpful...
Since I ONLY want to do a pretty straight-forward duplication (Copy/Paste type) of ALL the contents on one external USB-plugged-in drive.. to a new bigger size USB-plugged-in drive (plugged to a seperate socket on the computer when copying...then later 'renamed' to the same letter-drive as the old (to take its place)...that MACRIUM REFLECT FREE looks to be a very good answer..do you think??

P.S. I see from the d/load page that it appears to come via CNET.. so THAT maybe looks like I'd need to be careful of any rubbish extras that CNET appears to be handy at adding in these days !!

 

[fishy wishy]

The problem with copy and paste is that all of the folders now have todays date when viewed "by date" so the chronological order is not the same as the original drive.

So, do I need to copy them one at a time starting with the oldest folder and working my way forward? How can I copy them exactly in the order they are in on the original drive so that I can view them in chronological order (date I originally copied them to the drive)?

Your problem is only that you're not listening.

You've already been given a perfectly simple free way to do what you need and pre-empt the question you had, but because it needed you to type in a line of instructions you ignored it.

It's your loss- of time.