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diluzio91
08-08-2011, 05:37 PM
I know this should be in the tech talk area, but i need help with this asap, and google isn't being as helpful as usual, probably because i don't know what i actually need to do.

I have a 320gb 7200 rpm hdd for my friends PC, which currently contains a 640GB 5400 rpm drive.

Instead of reinstalling windows, all his programs, ect, Is it possible to create a clone of his 640 (about 200gb used) and drop it into the 320? Just remove the 640 and use the 320 as a boot drive, format the 640 and turn it into a data drive. The tools i have are

My laptop,His laptop, an 8gb usb stick, the tower (that needs the drives), and the appropriate cables.

If it can't be done i can always back his data up onto my laptop (which would suck royally) and reinstall, but I don't wanna spend the whole day that i get to hang out with him just fixing his computer.

Thanks a ton guys!!

After tomorrow (the 9th) if a mod wants to move this thread and delete this line i would be greatful, sorry to post in the cb, but i needed help asap and this is where most people go first.
mDust
08-08-2011, 06:20 PM
Hook the new drive to his computer and quick format normally. Install some cloning software. Run it. Shutdown and remove old HDD. Power on. You may or may not need to start up with repair (OS) disk depending on if clone software correctly copied all boot info.
Also, either use the original data cable from the first drive, or change the boot order in BIOS.
AmEv
08-08-2011, 06:58 PM
I am an expert with Ubuntu's GPartEd (http://gparted.sourceforge.net/livecd.php).

Swing by the TBCS Chat, and I can walk you through it.
Twigsoffury
08-08-2011, 10:38 PM
get a 10$ external hard drive (USB) enclosure and run it as a extended drive and let his a@# spend hours transfering his stuff?

plus he gets a neat external drive.
diluzio91
08-08-2011, 10:51 PM
lol... hes my roomie, lol... im just gonna have to give up and use a cd it looks like
AmEv
08-08-2011, 11:33 PM
Glad I could try helping you.
diluzio91
08-08-2011, 11:40 PM
i think i might be able to clone it, if not, i have a plan b and c. thanks for all the help guys!
Twigsoffury
08-08-2011, 11:44 PM
i think i might be able to clone it, if not, i have a plan b and c. thanks for all the help guys!

Have You tried hitting it?
Cale_Hagan
08-09-2011, 06:23 AM
Have You tried hitting it?

lol :D :stupid:
SXRguyinMA
08-09-2011, 08:22 AM
use windows to create a system image onto an external drive, then pop in the new drive and restore the system image to it. I've done it before, works fine. Although I did it from a 500GB IDE drive to a 500GB SATA drive, not sure if the capacity difference would matter http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l11/sportrider12584/Smilies/confused.gif
diluzio91
08-09-2011, 11:55 AM
^

lol... thats plan b
AmEv
08-09-2011, 02:44 PM
sledgehammer.jpg
diluzio91
08-09-2011, 03:13 PM
Lol... so while taking my computer apart today i broke my dvd drive... kind of... the little tab that the sata cable attaches to snapped off, but the gold connections were still in place... So using the same cable (which has the plastic jammed in to it) i jammed it on, and my dvd drive still magically works. =) take that steve jobs! My magic.
Twigsoffury
08-09-2011, 05:39 PM
Lol... so while taking my computer apart today i broke my dvd drive... kind of... the little tab that the sata cable attaches to snapped off, but the gold connections were still in place... So using the same cable (which has the plastic jammed in to it) i jammed it on, and my dvd drive still magically works. =) take that steve jobs! My magic.

I ran a 250GB drive for the longest time that was like that.


Don't ever misplace that cable hahahah!
diluzio91
08-10-2011, 01:39 AM
Lol. well, with the exception of adding a fan i can say that this tower is done until future upgrade.... which i honestly cant think of anything at the moment...

I already have 2 gfx cards, 2tb mechanical drives, ssd, nice fans, ect ect... overkill rocks...
x88x
08-10-2011, 07:05 AM
Missed this when you posted it...
If you haven't gotten something figured out yet, or for posterity if someone else runs across this thread with a similar problem, what I would do is:
1) Shrink the partition using gPartEd or the like.
2) Use CloneZilla to clone the shrunk partition to the new drive.
3) Enjoy.

note: Step 1 might not even be necessary...I forget if CloneZilla lets you clone a partition to a smaller partition that is just larger than the amount of used space...
TheMainMan
08-10-2011, 10:29 AM
The answer to your speculation on the need for step 1 is it must be equal or larger.
From the CloneZilla homepage:

Limitations:
The destination partition must be equal or larger than the source one.