Byte for byte HDD copy software?

[Kale]

One of my drives is failing, anybody here know of good software to make an identical byte for byte copy of my main boot drive so i can replace it with another new drive but keep all software and os the same as before? Freeware if possible, commercial if necessary.

thanks.

[eevee]

What operating system?

Can you slave the new drive to the existing one?

[PB]

I've only ever used Ghost (commercial) and it does a fantastic job.

However, I did download this freeware app the other day, but haven't tried it:

http://www.pc-inspector.de/clone-maxx/uk/welcome.htm

Sounds like it may do the same type of job. I'll have a play later.

[Kale]

OS is windows 2000 server and its a scsi drive system with swapable disks. i have 3 bays left so installing a new drive is no problem

[eevee]

Ooops!

Not sure it would work on your system.

On Win98/95, using standard IDE drives it si simple to copy over without any other software.

[PB]

Okay, I tried Clone-Maxx and it seems to do what you want... it basically
dumps one drive to the other as an exact clone. I didn't actually proceed
with the process though because it would have destroyed the data on my
second drive, but it seems to be what you want...

[Kale]

Okay, I tried Clone-Maxx and it seems to do what you want... it basically
dumps one drive to the other as an exact clone. I didn't actually proceed
with the process though because it would have destroyed the data on my
second drive, but it seems to be what you want...

Doesn't seem to boot Win2000 Server using scsi HDDs tho'

[PB]

> Doesn't seem to boot Win2000 Server using scsi HDDs tho'

Do you mean after a clone copy with it?

[Kale]

> Doesn't seem to boot Win2000 Server using scsi HDDs tho'
Do you mean after a clone copy with it?

Nah, the boot disk it makes doesn't boot the machine that has the win2000 installed on it. Its a funny system with lots of removable scsi drives and a strange motherboard. Norton Ghost doesn't like it either! I've contactacted HP and getting them to send an engineer with some fancy software to do it for me.

[Pupil]

Maybe this might work?
http://www.grc.com/sr/spinrite.htm

[Max.]

One of my drives is failing, anybody here know of good software to make an identical byte for byte copy of my main boot drive so i can replace it with another new drive but keep all software and os the same as before? Freeware if possible, commercial if necessary.

thanks.

I am using (at work)

- Ghost

For mass roll outs.

- HDCopy

When Ghost fails.

- True Image

When doing an online backup (aka while running the regular OS) on the same select computers that need to be cloned regularily

- Drive Snapshot

When it is not appropriate to install (install, reboot, clone) the cloning software but you need a quick backup, even from a batch.

Oh, and very rarely, I use dd from a Linux live system

Code: Select all

dd if=/dev/hdb1 of=/clone.img

[akee]

try power quest now sold to symantec

[Psychophanta]

Symantec seems like a giant black hole, almost like M$

[PB]

> the boot disk it makes doesn't boot the machine that has the win2000 installed on it

That's strange... a boot floppy doesn't care what OS is installed on a HD.

[griz]

Kale,

I recommend True Image from http://www.acronis.com. You can download a trial version and it should do the trick for you.