[tsk1979]

Hi,
My Laptop(Dell inspiron 1500) HDD is almost full. After all its only 80GB.
I have lots of stuff installed and lots of photos too + music and videos.
Currently its 50GB+30GB partitions.
I am thinking of getting a 2.5" 250GB HDD now, but the problem is I do not want to reinstall everything.
From the 30GB music folder I am okay with copying stuff, but imaging reinstalling all the software etc.,
So is there a way that I get a 250GB harddisk, and mirror the 50GB partition + the boot sector on that? That way I can plug in the 250GB HDD and boot up. Then all new stuff can come up on the rest of the partitions.
Is there a painless way of doing this?
I understand windows XP will crib about new hardware and reactivation, but I have the original install CD(luckily I chose that option) and can use that to reactivate.

[theMAG]

For mirroring, the following has to be done:

1. The partitions - Actual and Mirrored have to have the same configurations, partition size and file systems.

2. The Actual partition(s) has to be upgraded to Dynamic Volumes- via Windows Disk Management

3. Apply the mirrors via Windows Disk Management

4. Even tho mirroring replicates the data of the actual partition, the end-user will see only 1 entry of this entire mirror setup which will be similar to a standard partition. You wont see any multiple copies of your partitions/files/folders etc

5. The Mirror will only be usable in case of the main HDD crash via boot-up options, during which case your complete live working environment is immediately available

So bottomline, the practical way you'll get to use the mirror is if your main Active Volume fails, in which case you wouldnt have to worry abt data loss.

I feel File Replication is what you actually need, which is accomplished thru 3rd party apps.

[tsk1979]

I just want to change my hard disk without having to reinstall everything.
Thats why I wanted to create a parition and boot sector on the new HDD which is an exact replica of the old HDD, so I can just swap the HDD and work without any issues.

[theMAG]

Originally Posted by tsk1979

I just want to change my hard disk without having to reinstall everything.

Then mirroring is perfect

[tsk1979]

Originally Posted by theMAG

Then mirroring is perfect

So what do I do? Some steps please?
I presume :
1. I buy a 2.5" HDD and a casing
2. Plug it into USB
3. Do the mirroring (Any tips on doing this?)
4. Put the hdd in laptop
5. Boot?

[rishibravo]

tanveer do you have Linux on it or windows or is it dualBoot. If its linux (with grub or lilo) mirror the data using dd. otherwise there is a software called acronis . Use this to make an image of the existing setup and then install this image on the new hard disk

[tsk1979]

The windows partition is NTFS. Thats why I do not want to play around with DD. I have been bitten many times, and have lost hard disks trying NTFS circus. The Linux partition mirroring and boot up is cakewalk, but in windows land I am lost.

[theMAG]

tsk,

Prereq: Upgrading to Dynamic Volume, under Disk Management, for both the HDDs

1. Right-click the grey desc panel and click Upgrade To Dynamic Disk




Assuming Disk 1 is the disk on which the image of Disk 0 will be mirrored, go to Disk Management:

1. Right-click Disk 0 and click Add Mirror

2. In the dialog box that opens, select your new HDD- Disk 1 (should be pre-partitioned to match the Disk 0 partition), and click Add Mirror

3. Both disks 0 and 1 will now have the same color code, the same drive letter and the volumes will the status "Regenerating" while the info is being copied from the 1st to the 2nd disk.


But tsk, I have my doubts on the success of this method on your setup. We've done mirroring on servers only to date. Windows 2003 Server R2 is typically required.

The easiest will be to make your new HDD as Secondary, in lieu of the above method.


NOTE:

1. I've excerpted the above from Microsoft KB Article # 323432

2. The above process is to mirror the system and boot partition (RAID 1)

[low_bass_makker]

mirroring is the best option but it has to be done from the setup level when you install the OS so I think it is better to install all the stuff from scratch or you can keep all the backup on the external and leave the whole thing like this only.....

[Xsailor]

Hi Tanveer.
My experience with mirroring is minimal [1 attempt and it worked out fine]. I used Norton Ghost to do the deed - Pleanty free/trial apps available on the net, though.

Important: Use the DOS route to mirror (ghost does that) otherwise you may get your partition paths wrong [C:, D:] and that will cause lots of software to malfx since registry entries will remain the 'original'.

All the best

Cheers

[tsk1979]

Ok found the solution.
There is a readymade solution too
Key Features | Casper hard disk drive copy software provides complete PC backup protection | Future Systems Solutions
The trial edition does what I need.
But checked out some sites
The steps are simple.
1. Create a mirror(either by software if I have a Maxtor drive) or manually.
2. Boot up new HDD and use windows CD in fix installation mode.

[rishibravo]

this looks good... I think all you need to do is fix the MBR after that or would that also be needed??

[tsk1979]

They say its not needed, its a complete drive2drive solution

[speedonline]

Hey Tsk, why dont you try norton ghost ?? I have it if you want or you can download it.

[tsk1979]

Originally Posted by speedonline

Hey Tsk, why dont you try norton ghost ?? I have it if you want or you can download it.

I also had a licensed copy of norton ghost which I uninstalled. I am scared of norton products and would use them as the last resort!
Too many bad experiences.