DanTheGamer11 Posted July 18, 2013 Posted July 18, 2013 As the title asks, what is the best free backup software for creating HDD images and recovering on a new HDD? I just want to clone somebodies old HDD on a larger one since it's running outta space. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wevsspot Posted July 18, 2013 Posted July 18, 2013 If either of the hard drives are WD brand, you can snag the free WD Edition of Acronis. Another option is Comodo. I use it from time to time and it works well. Alternatively, if you are running Windows 7 you can used the built in backup and cloning application to create a system image. There are other alternatives out there, just listing the three that I've used and know to work. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpikeSoprano Posted July 18, 2013 Posted July 18, 2013 Macrium Reflect , this is the one I've had the best luck with and easy to use. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wevsspot Posted July 18, 2013 Posted July 18, 2013 Macrium Reflect , this is the one I've had the best luck with and easy to use. Another really good solution! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IVIYTH0S Posted July 18, 2013 Posted July 18, 2013 If either of the hard drives are WD brand, you can snag the free WD Edition of Acronis. Another option is Comodo. I use it from time to time and it works well. Alternatively, if you are running Windows 7 you can used the built in backup and cloning application to create a system image. There are other alternatives out there, just listing the three that I've used and know to work.And Seagate DiscWizard is their flavor of free acronis! I love it because it makes the backup images as big as they actually are. Many of the others make them as large as the partition aka 216GB partition with 140GB used will make a 216GB file but Discwizard/Acronis for WD will make it 140GB if you choose no compression but most likely the file will be much smaller Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanTheGamer11 Posted July 18, 2013 Posted July 18, 2013 (edited) Thanks for the answer guys, but I got a dock for the HDD instead. I assume that I can use the WD flavoured Acronis to clone the drive?(Target drive is a 750GB 7200RPM Black 2.5 inch drive) Do I need to do anything special for the system partitions since the original is a 250GB HDD with recovery or whatever partitions? Or will the software you guys listed account for that? Edited July 18, 2013 by DanTheGamer11 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IVIYTH0S Posted July 18, 2013 Posted July 18, 2013 As long as a WD drive is plugged in the software can be used however you want. Yeah it will work, 750GB-->250GB might have issues but not the other way around. Just rememberto extend the partition later. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanTheGamer11 Posted July 19, 2013 Posted July 19, 2013 (edited) Well I'm trying to use the WD acronis clone tool but the WD drive is greyed out for Destination drive :/ Nvm, had to make that bootable acronis DVD and use original drive as external. Hate doing data and HDD related stuff Edited July 19, 2013 by DanTheGamer11 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IVIYTH0S Posted July 20, 2013 Posted July 20, 2013 The more you do...the more you learn about what you don't. ~Mythos Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanTheGamer11 Posted July 25, 2013 Posted July 25, 2013 (edited) The more you do...the more you learn about what you don't. ~Mythos Haha yeah Right so I copied his HDD no probs(The C drive had 650GB in My Computer with a 750GB drive, I know formatting gives you a smaller amount of usable space but 100GB gone? Doubt the hidded partitions use up that much either)! Thanks for the help guys! But I need one last bit of info/help please! At this moment I'm doing a backup of a laptop with a 500GB dirve(17 hours according to Macrium Reflect Free D:), is there any settings I should use specifically? I've set the compression to None(does it matter) and copy the disc exactly(again does it matter), but I can't seem to find the auto verify thing(default is N) and is XML or whatever good for backups? It's a shame that the Windows 7 Backup software keeps giving me an I/O error near the end of the back up, did it thrice Maybe it'll work on the other W7 laptop I want to backup. Edited July 25, 2013 by DanTheGamer11 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IVIYTH0S Posted July 25, 2013 Posted July 25, 2013 I've always used compression on any backups I make with Acronis, why not use less space storing them lol Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanTheGamer11 Posted July 25, 2013 Posted July 25, 2013 (edited) Ok so with about half an hour left I got another I/O error 1117, I'm starting to think it's the drive. I'm using a MyBook 2TB and I've read that a reformat can help with this issue but I'm not sure... If I manage to fix it then I can just use the intergrated W7 backup tool as it''s been giving me the same error. Can anybody help? Running chkdsk on the C drive.... I haven't seen this screen since I last used my W95(not in 95) machine xD Should I bother running chkdsk on the external HDD? It only has the WD software on it. Edited July 25, 2013 by DanTheGamer11 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now