Complex HDD clone and restore

[stroebs]

Hi all.
I have a 1TB hard drive which is split into a 120GB partition and the rest storage. The 120GB has my OS on it but the OS is at the END of the drive logically.

My plan: I am purchasing a new TB HDD and plan to move everything from one to the other and not sure if it will work. I need to create a new 320GB partition on the new HDD, copy my data into the rest of the drive so the OS is first on the drive logically and the data second. Then I need to restore the system image of the OS back onto the 320GB partition so it will function.

Will this work? Can I use Windows 7 Backup & Restore to create an image to achieve this or should I be using other software like Acronis, CloneZilla or Partimage?

 

[ponder]

Is the OS using drive letter C:?

It should be doable. Just use linux to image the partition to the new drive and then use gparted to move it to the front of the drive.

 

[stroebs]

Is the OS using drive letter C:?

It should be doable. Just use linux to image the partition to the new drive and then use gparted to move it to the front of the drive.

Copying the image then moving it sounds a bit complicated. Could I not make an image of the partition and then restore that partition to the new partition of the new drive? Then move the rest of my data over to the rest of the drive... It has about 300GBs of free space as I purcahsed an external drive and have most of my important stuff on there.

 

[ponder]

Copying the image then moving it sounds a bit complicated. Could I not make an image of the partition and then restore that partition to the new partition of the new drive?

Yes you can. In linux I would just specify source & destination partition using dd or dd rescue. There is also clonezilla but I have never used it but it should also do the trick as it's just a frontend for command line tools.

 

[stroebs]

Yes you can. In linux I would just specify source & destination partition using dd or dd rescue. There is also clonezilla but I have never used it but it should also do the trick as it's just a frontend for command line tools.

Well I'm okay with using CLI, used to it being a Ubuntu user with a Broadcom b43-based wireless card in my lappie. I'mma go ahead and try dd or dd rescue, should be easy enough as I will have both drives plugged into the PC when I'm doing it.

 

[ponder]

I'mma go ahead and try dd or dd rescue, should be easy enough as I will have both drives plugged into the PC when I'm doing it.

Please just be careful not to confuse the source & destination devices else it's bye bye data like has happened to many people out there before...

 

[stroebs]

Please just be careful not to confuse the source & destination devices else it's bye bye data like has happened to many people out there before...

Thanks, I've heard of many an account where this has happened. I will be very cautious