Replace failing hard drive
- Thread starter cam26
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SpacemanSpiff
Known around here
These are the basic steps to follow
1: create rescue disk and boot from it
2: choose direct to disk clone
3: identify the sick HDD as the source, and the new HDD as the destination
Be sure to watch the video shared earlier, as you will want to re-size the partitions moving to the new drive to maximize the use of the larger drive.
sebastiantombs
Known around here
I've cloned using a USB/SATA adapter many times using Macrium. I usually use disk manager and resize the partition if the new drive is bigger after I'm up and running on the new drive. I also keep a same size SATA drive in the machine and clone the M2 to it once a week. Should the M2 fail, all I have to do is point to machine to boot from the cloned SATA drive.
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SpacemanSpiff
Known around here
A larger image file is no different than, say, a text file on a drive. You cannot copy the contents of the disc image file while it is 'open' and actively being created. Just as you cannot copy/move a text file that is 'open' and actively being created/modified.
Symantec Ghost, Clonezilla, Carbon Copy & acronis true image are the titles I've used repeatedly over time. When cloning from one drive to another, it (indeed) copies the contents of one drive to another with no image file involved.
Apparently, for some reason, Macrium won't let me create a rescue disk on a USB drive, I'll have to see if I have any CD's available to burn to.
I also feel like the connection between the HDD and PC is super unstable- the plug has to be just in the right spot on the PC in order for the HDD to boot up. Maybe need to replace the cable.
This is becoming quite the process...
*disregard- different flash drive works after formatting
I also feel like the connection between the HDD and PC is super unstable- the plug has to be just in the right spot on the PC in order for the HDD to boot up. Maybe need to replace the cable.
This is becoming quite the process...
*disregard- different flash drive works after formatting
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SpacemanSpiff
Known around here
Yupp... this happens sometimes. Glad to see you got the bootable usb issue resolved
IAmATeaf
Known around here
With Macrium you need to copy the entire disk and not just the C: partition, copying just the partition will result in a non bootable drive.
iwanttosee
Pulling my weight
I use this for cloning hardrive/ssd, works with Windows 7-10.
www.easeus.com
EaseUS Todo Backup - Best Free Backup Software for Windows 11/10/8/7
EaseUS Todo Backup Free is an award-winning and easy-to-use free data backup software for Windows 11/10 users to back up photos, music, videos, documents, system, etc. for PC users.
www.easeus.com
Is it common to have a power issue to the drive? Should I replace the power cable from the SSD to the computer? I had to get it set just right at the connection into the computer in order to get the old SSD to boot.
Then, when I was able to boot from the USB rescue drive, it was unable to find and load from the new SSD, I'm thinking because of that same power issue.
Then, when I was able to boot from the USB rescue drive, it was unable to find and load from the new SSD, I'm thinking because of that same power issue.
sebastiantombs
Known around here
It can't hurt to try a new cable, in fact both cables. That'll eliminate them from the troubleshooting chart.
Guys… it’s working now, and I’ll explain how I fixed it in just a bit.
For now and on to the next (smaller) issue… I can’t expand my C drive into the unallocated space. It appears as though the recovery partition is in the way. So dumb.
Any ideas on how I can merge C into the unallocated space to take advantage of this bigger drive?
For now and on to the next (smaller) issue… I can’t expand my C drive into the unallocated space. It appears as though the recovery partition is in the way. So dumb.
Any ideas on how I can merge C into the unallocated space to take advantage of this bigger drive?
sebastiantombs
Known around here
See if you get a menu by right clicking on the unallocated space.
Yep, but it just gives me the option to shrink
Mike A.
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It's been a while since I've done but I think you need to delete the adjacent partition before you can do anything with that space. That will kill the files there obviously so you'd want to back up anything you want to keep. I don't think that there's any way to do it in a way that preserves the files on merge.
There are some third-party utilities that make it easier. I used one last time I did but don't recall which it was now.
Edit to add: I think I used AOMEI. Might take a look at that one.
There are some third-party utilities that make it easier. I used one last time I did but don't recall which it was now.
Edit to add: I think I used AOMEI. Might take a look at that one.
sebastiantombs
Known around here
Have a look at this one
www.easeus.com
EaseUS Partition Master - Free Partition Manager to Manage Disk Partitions in Windows
EaseUS Partition Master Free is a free partition software that can partition hard drive and reoragnize the disk space for better performance. You can resize，move, merge and create partitions for Windows 11/10/8/7/Vista/XP.
www.easeus.com
Flintstone61
Known around here
Aomei partition assistant or what ever it's called now. lots of them out there. It can resize C:\ after all the BS is over and your running, you select the unallocated space up to the Recovery partition. if you get really adventurous you can delete the recovery partition, ( but1st copy the whole image with all the partitions selected before you destroy it) as a Macrium Image onto WD purp if you got room.
IAmATeaf
Known around here
Using easus you should be able to move that partition to the end, then expand the C: drive into the free space.
I did something similar a while back using the GPARTED utility off a bootable USB drive to adjust and move some partitions. Was a bit fiddly but it resolved my issue.
Thanks everyone.
First, just in case anyone else reads this thread and finds themselves in this same situation, my problem and solution to the HDD issue was this:
I had a failing 128gb SSD HD and wanted to replace it with a 256gb SSD HD. I used Macrium to clone the old disk to the new, and disconnected the old HD to replace.
When I disconnected the old HD and put in the new, the PC wouldn't boot- it would pass through CD, USB, both HDD's (C: and V:- WD Purple), then onto the network to try to boot. I tried fixing it by putting the old HD back in, with no consistent luck. I was able to get it to boot a couple times, but only after messing with the cable connection at the PC side. I was unable to get it to boot from the new HD. Replaced the data cable with no luck.
I then decided to disconnect both the CD drive and V: drive and to only have the old HDD connected, and subsequently got it to boot. I did the same with the new HDD, and was able to get it to boot as well. I then reconnected the CD and V: drive and it's been working without issues ever since.
Second, and thanks to everyone who offered suggestions, including @sebastiantombs @Valiant @IAmATeaf @Flintstone61 @Mike A. , I used a program (the first suggested) called AOMEI to rearrange the partitions so that I could expand my C: drive into the extra 128gb this new drive provided.
All is well now and working fine, just took a couple restarts to get BI and the drives to sort themselves out.
I appreciate everyones help and, if anyone can offer their expert opinion, does anyone know why I had to disconnect everything but the C: HDD in order to get it to boot properly?
First, just in case anyone else reads this thread and finds themselves in this same situation, my problem and solution to the HDD issue was this:
I had a failing 128gb SSD HD and wanted to replace it with a 256gb SSD HD. I used Macrium to clone the old disk to the new, and disconnected the old HD to replace.
When I disconnected the old HD and put in the new, the PC wouldn't boot- it would pass through CD, USB, both HDD's (C: and V:- WD Purple), then onto the network to try to boot. I tried fixing it by putting the old HD back in, with no consistent luck. I was able to get it to boot a couple times, but only after messing with the cable connection at the PC side. I was unable to get it to boot from the new HD. Replaced the data cable with no luck.
I then decided to disconnect both the CD drive and V: drive and to only have the old HDD connected, and subsequently got it to boot. I did the same with the new HDD, and was able to get it to boot as well. I then reconnected the CD and V: drive and it's been working without issues ever since.
Second, and thanks to everyone who offered suggestions, including @sebastiantombs @Valiant @IAmATeaf @Flintstone61 @Mike A. , I used a program (the first suggested) called AOMEI to rearrange the partitions so that I could expand my C: drive into the extra 128gb this new drive provided.
All is well now and working fine, just took a couple restarts to get BI and the drives to sort themselves out.
I appreciate everyones help and, if anyone can offer their expert opinion, does anyone know why I had to disconnect everything but the C: HDD in order to get it to boot properly?
looney2ns
IPCT Contributor
It will help others if you have your terminology correct.
A SSD drive is not a HD or HDD.
HD equals Hard Drive.
HDD equals Hard Disc Drive. HD and HDD refer to the same thing.
SSD equals Solid State Drive, and is a completely different animal from a HDD.
SSD vs. HDD: What's the Difference?
Do you like your storage cheap and plentiful, or fast and shockproof? Here's how to choose between a traditional hard drive and a solid-state drive in your next PC.