How do I clone a hard drive?
Moderators: AArdvark, Ice Cream Jonsey
- AArdvark
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How do I clone a hard drive?
Friend of mine needs a hard drive cloned for god-knows-why. Since I am the closest thing to a 'computer guy' that he knows, I got elected.
Never did it before so I thought I would ask the experts here.
How hard could it be? It's an XP system, that's all I know right now...
THE
UH.....
AARDVARK
Never did it before so I thought I would ask the experts here.
How hard could it be? It's an XP system, that's all I know right now...
THE
UH.....
AARDVARK
- Jizaboz
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- AArdvark
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Re: How do I clone a hard drive?
Cool! Maybe I can just show him that and let him do it. I really don't want to mess up his data. My data, I could care less about, someone else's is a different stoty
- Tdarcos
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Re: How do I clone a hard drive?
I was going to recommend Clonezilla too. The only problem is when the new drive is not the same as the old one (usually it will be much larger). Clonezilla can handle the problem, as you could basically use any program that can do a binary copy of every sector to the new drive. Linux has dd which can do this, and drive format doesn't matter as you're just copying block-to-block identically. You end up with a drive with a lot of empty space in the unassigned partition. If it is successfully copied, Windows Disk Management can resize the existing partition to recover the additional space.
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- AArdvark
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Re: How do I clone a hard drive?

This is not the sata drive you're looking for.
I gotta clone this?
- Ice Cream Jonsey
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Re: How do I clone a hard drive?
Does Clonezilla work on Windows XP?
Does he have another IDE drive to clone to? I appreciate him wanting to know how to do backups. I do not envy you.
Does he have another IDE drive to clone to? I appreciate him wanting to know how to do backups. I do not envy you.
the dark and gritty...Ice Cream Jonsey!
- AArdvark
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Re: How do I clone a hard drive?
So I got some further information about this. It's a hard drive out of an industrial machine, the guy is a millwright, he rebuilds machine tools. He wants the programs and other data out of this 80 gig Seagate because the drive itself is starting to go wonky. I don't have any other ribbon cable type (whatever the term is) hard drives, all my spares are sata. Even though I may recover the data he would have to buy another new ribbon cable style drive to put back into the machine. I don't think he knows this. If I'm successful I can probably burn everything on a DVD for him and let him deal with finding a replacement. Details to follow when I get around to it...
THE
BLAZE A NEW PATH
AARDVARK
THE
BLAZE A NEW PATH
AARDVARK
- Flack
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Re: How do I clone a hard drive?
These USB adapters are really helpful. It's a USB cable with SATA and IDE connections. I have a SATA toaster with two slots on my desk for accessing or cloning SATA drives externally, but these cables sure come in handy when trying to get something off of an older IDE drive. Mine came with a few different adapters and I keep the whole kit and caboodle in a Crown Royal bag.
Link: Amazon Link
Link: Amazon Link
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- Ice Cream Jonsey
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Re: How do I clone a hard drive?
Thanks! I get a large kickback from Amazon links posted here. Anywhere from about 15-340 dollars per purchase. This helps keep all the lights on.
the dark and gritty...Ice Cream Jonsey!
- AArdvark
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Re: How do I clone a hard drive?
The guy is willing to pay me. I can give you a cut for being a sub contractor. The guy will just include it in the bill to his customer, its a win win!
- Ice Cream Jonsey
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Re: How do I clone a hard drive?
Ok, but the deal I made - and the deal your friend will have to make, in dealing with Amazon - is to commit, unilaterally and without hesitation, to drinking our own piss from a bottle.AArdvark wrote: Sat Dec 25, 2021 7:34 pm The guy is willing to pay me. I can give you a cut for being a sub contractor. The guy will just include it in the bill to his customer, its a win win!
HE IN??
the dark and gritty...Ice Cream Jonsey!
- AArdvark
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Re: How do I clone a hard drive?
This is a Bezos thing, isn't it
- AArdvark
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Re: How do I clone a hard drive?

It's a non-standard pin spacing and wont fit any of my cables.
Any ideas?
My thought is just not to mess with it
- Flack
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Re: How do I clone a hard drive?
Top one looks like a 2.5 IDE drive (44 pin), bottom one looks like a 3.5" IDE connector. That USB thing I linked to from Amazon has a connector for it. Otherwise, you'll need an adapter like this one: LINK
"I failed a savings throw and now I am back."
- Ice Cream Jonsey
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Re: How do I clone a hard drive?
Another link! JC is finally turning a profit!!
The rest of you - get your drives cloned! Now! Now, god dammit!
The rest of you - get your drives cloned! Now! Now, god dammit!
the dark and gritty...Ice Cream Jonsey!
- AArdvark
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Re: How do I clone a hard drive?
I didn't know there were different kinds.
think I'll just call the whole thing off. I don't have any smaller IDE cables and I don't really want to do the job. It's going back to the hell it spawned from.
THE
WASH HANDS
AARDVARK
think I'll just call the whole thing off. I don't have any smaller IDE cables and I don't really want to do the job. It's going back to the hell it spawned from.
THE
WASH HANDS
AARDVARK
- Ice Cream Jonsey
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Re: How do I clone a hard drive?
Noooooo!
I'm in financial RUIN!!! AFFILIATE THOSE LINKS!
I'm in financial RUIN!!! AFFILIATE THOSE LINKS!
the dark and gritty...Ice Cream Jonsey!
- AArdvark
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Re: How do I clone a hard drive?
Alright, I ordered it. Against my better judgement...
- Ice Cream Jonsey
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Re: How do I clone a hard drive?
Shoot, the link didn't register. Can you order 2-30 more?
the dark and gritty...Ice Cream Jonsey!
- AArdvark
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Re: How do I clone a hard drive?

How's this for a cobbled pc. Got the adapter today. Now I have to resurrect my ONE motherboard that has an IDE socket. I wanted to be past this kind of stuff years ago but here I go again. Stay tuned