Imaging a Hard drive

I have a hunch that I may possibly have to replace my hard drive.
Obviously, installing the OS, as well as all the programs on a new drive is a time-consuming PITA.
Will an imaging program (such as Acronis True Image or Image for Windows) help make the job easier?
IOW: Can I take an image of my exsiting hard drive (say on an external HD), transfer the image to a
new hard drive, and just keep on using the computer with the new drive without having to reinstall
the OS and the programs?
For the $ 50 - $ 65 which those imaging programs cost, this seems to be a really good solution.

Knowledgeable opinions, please?

Thanks!
__________________________________
johnn
__________________________________
"God is dead"
- Nietzsche (1844-1935)
"Nietzsche is dead"
- God

Yes, however retail hard drives include the same type of software for no
extra charge.
---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

johnn wrote:
I have a hunch that I may possibly have to replace my hard drive.
Obviously, installing the OS, as well as all the programs on a new drive is a time-consuming PITA.
Will an imaging program (such as Acronis True Image or Image for Windows) help make the job easier?
IOW: Can I take an image of my exsiting hard drive (say on an external HD), transfer the image to a
new hard drive, and just keep on using the computer with the new drive without having to reinstall
the OS and the programs?
For the $ 50 - $ 65 which those imaging programs cost, this seems to be a really good solution.

Knowledgeable opinions, please?

Thanks!
__________________________________
johnn
__________________________________
"God is dead"
- Nietzsche (1844-1935)
"Nietzsche is dead"
- God

Yes, however retail hard drives include the same type of software for no
extra charge.
---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

johnn wrote:
I have a hunch that I may possibly have to replace my hard drive.
Obviously, installing the OS, as well as all the programs on a new drive is a time-consuming PITA.
Will an imaging program (such as Acronis True Image or Image for Windows) help make the job easier?
IOW: Can I take an image of my exsiting hard drive (say on an external HD), transfer the image to a
new hard drive, and just keep on using the computer with the new drive without having to reinstall
the OS and the programs?
For the $ 50 - $ 65 which those imaging programs cost, this seems to be a really good solution.

Knowledgeable opinions, please?

Thanks!
__________________________________
johnn
__________________________________
"God is dead"
- Nietzsche (1844-1935)
"Nietzsche is dead"
- God

On Mon, 12 Jan 2009 20:14:03 -0500, Leonard Grey
wrote:

Yes, however retail hard drives include the same type of software for no
extra charge.
---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

"Same type"?? The copy utility that comes with a new drive is hardly
the same thing as Acronis True Image - and in my experience (WD) it
doesn't get the job done..

There's a reason it's free.



johnn wrote:
I have a hunch that I may possibly have to replace my hard drive.
Obviously, installing the OS, as well as all the programs on a new drive is a time-consuming PITA.
Will an imaging program (such as Acronis True Image or Image for Windows) help make the job easier?
IOW: Can I take an image of my exsiting hard drive (say on an external HD), transfer the image to a
new hard drive, and just keep on using the computer with the new drive without having to reinstall
the OS and the programs?
For the $ 50 - $ 65 which those imaging programs cost, this seems to be a really good solution.

Knowledgeable opinions, please?

Thanks!
__________________________________
johnn
__________________________________
"God is dead"
- Nietzsche (1844-1935)
"Nietzsche is dead"
- God

On Mon, 12 Jan 2009 20:14:03 -0500, Leonard Grey
wrote:

Yes, however retail hard drives include the same type of software for no
extra charge.
---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

"Same type"?? The copy utility that comes with a new drive is hardly
the same thing as Acronis True Image - and in my experience (WD) it
doesn't get the job done..

There's a reason it's free.



johnn wrote:
I have a hunch that I may possibly have to replace my hard drive.
Obviously, installing the OS, as well as all the programs on a new drive is a time-consuming PITA.
Will an imaging program (such as Acronis True Image or Image for Windows) help make the job easier?
IOW: Can I take an image of my exsiting hard drive (say on an external HD), transfer the image to a
new hard drive, and just keep on using the computer with the new drive without having to reinstall
the OS and the programs?
For the $ 50 - $ 65 which those imaging programs cost, this seems to be a really good solution.

Knowledgeable opinions, please?

Thanks!
__________________________________
johnn
__________________________________
"God is dead"
- Nietzsche (1844-1935)
"Nietzsche is dead"
- God

The op asked for Knowledgeable opinions.



--
The Real Truth http://pcbutts1-therealtruth.blogspot.com/




"Leonard Grey" wrote in message
...
Yes, however retail hard drives include the same type of software for no
extra charge.
---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

johnn wrote:
I have a hunch that I may possibly have to replace my hard drive.
Obviously, installing the OS, as well as all the programs on a new drive
is a time-consuming PITA.
Will an imaging program (such as Acronis True Image or Image for Windows)
help make the job easier?
IOW: Can I take an image of my exsiting hard drive (say on an external
HD), transfer the image to a
new hard drive, and just keep on using the computer with the new drive
without having to reinstall
the OS and the programs?
For the $ 50 - $ 65 which those imaging programs cost, this seems to be a
really good solution.

Knowledgeable opinions, please?

Thanks!
__________________________________
johnn
__________________________________
"God is dead" - Nietzsche (1844-1935)
"Nietzsche is dead"
- God

Then what are /you/ doing here? The only "knowledge" you have is what
you copy from other people and pretend to be your own.
---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

The Real Truth MVP wrote:
The op asked for Knowledgeable opinions.

Then what are /you/ doing here? The only "knowledge" you have is what
you copy from other people and pretend to be your own.
---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

The Real Truth MVP wrote:
The op asked for Knowledgeable opinions.

Johnn,

As Leonard Grey said, many manufacturers of hard drives have a free tool
available to image your old drive to the new one. Check and see if the
manufacturer of either your new or old hard drive has one available.

I've imaged old hard drives to new ones several times using Norton Ghost.
And I've done it several times using Western Digital's free utility. Both
have worked well for me.

MIlt

"johnn" wrote:

I have a hunch that I may possibly have to replace my hard drive.
Obviously, installing the OS, as well as all the programs on a new drive is a time-consuming PITA.
Will an imaging program (such as Acronis True Image or Image for Windows) help make the job easier?
IOW: Can I take an image of my exsiting hard drive (say on an external HD), transfer the image to a
new hard drive, and just keep on using the computer with the new drive without having to reinstall
the OS and the programs?
For the $ 50 - $ 65 which those imaging programs cost, this seems to be a really good solution.

Knowledgeable opinions, please?

Thanks!
__________________________________
johnn
__________________________________
"God is dead"
- Nietzsche (1844-1935)
"Nietzsche is dead"
- God

Johnn,

As Leonard Grey said, many manufacturers of hard drives have a free tool
available to image your old drive to the new one. Check and see if the
manufacturer of either your new or old hard drive has one available.

I've imaged old hard drives to new ones several times using Norton Ghost.
And I've done it several times using Western Digital's free utility. Both
have worked well for me.

MIlt

"johnn" wrote:

I have a hunch that I may possibly have to replace my hard drive.
Obviously, installing the OS, as well as all the programs on a new drive is a time-consuming PITA.
Will an imaging program (such as Acronis True Image or Image for Windows) help make the job easier?
IOW: Can I take an image of my exsiting hard drive (say on an external HD), transfer the image to a
new hard drive, and just keep on using the computer with the new drive without having to reinstall
the OS and the programs?
For the $ 50 - $ 65 which those imaging programs cost, this seems to be a really good solution.

Knowledgeable opinions, please?

Thanks!
__________________________________
johnn
__________________________________
"God is dead"
- Nietzsche (1844-1935)
"Nietzsche is dead"
- God

The op asked for Knowledgeable opinions.

So what the hell are you doing here?






"Leonard Grey" wrote in
message
...
Yes, however retail hard drives include the
same type of software
for no extra charge.
---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

johnn wrote:
I have a hunch that I may possibly have to
replace my hard drive.
Obviously, installing the OS, as well as all
the programs on a new
drive is a time-consuming PITA.
Will an imaging program (such as Acronis True
Image or Image for
Windows) help make the job easier?
IOW: Can I take an image of my exsiting hard
drive (say on an
external HD), transfer the image to a
new hard drive, and just keep on using the
computer with the new
drive without having to reinstall
the OS and the programs?
For the $ 50 - $ 65 which those imaging
programs cost, this seems
to be a really good solution.

Knowledgeable opinions, please?

Thanks!
__________________________________
johnn
__________________________________
"God is dead" - Nietzsche (1844-1935)
"Nietzsche is dead"
- God

The op asked for Knowledgeable opinions.

So what the hell are you doing here?






"Leonard Grey" wrote in
message
...
Yes, however retail hard drives include the
same type of software
for no extra charge.
---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

johnn wrote:
I have a hunch that I may possibly have to
replace my hard drive.
Obviously, installing the OS, as well as all
the programs on a new
drive is a time-consuming PITA.
Will an imaging program (such as Acronis True
Image or Image for
Windows) help make the job easier?
IOW: Can I take an image of my exsiting hard
drive (say on an
external HD), transfer the image to a
new hard drive, and just keep on using the
computer with the new
drive without having to reinstall
the OS and the programs?
For the $ 50 - $ 65 which those imaging
programs cost, this seems
to be a really good solution.

Knowledgeable opinions, please?

Thanks!
__________________________________
johnn
__________________________________
"God is dead" - Nietzsche (1844-1935)
"Nietzsche is dead"
- God

I have a hunch that I may possibly have to
replace my hard drive.
Obviously, installing the OS, as well as all the
programs on a new
drive is a time-consuming PITA. Will an imaging
program (such as
Acronis True Image or Image for Windows) help
make the job easier?
IOW: Can I take an image of my exsiting hard
drive (say on an
external HD), transfer the image to a new hard
drive, and just keep
on using the computer with the new drive without
having to reinstall
the OS and the programs?
For the $ 50 - $ 65 which those imaging programs
cost, this seems to
be a really good solution.

Knowledgeable opinions, please?

Thanks!
__________________________________
johnn
__________________________________
"God is dead"
- Nietzsche (1844-1935)
"Nietzsche is dead"
- God

Either Norton Ghost or Acronis True Image will get
the job done for you. Not familair with the other
one.

Also, your new drive should come with, or the mfr
should have available free, a "clone" program
which will create an image of the old drive to use
on the new drive. Those are pretty reliable
cloning programs in my experience and have never
had one fail to do the job.
You still might want to consider Ghost or True
Image though;

HTH,

Twayne
--
Johnn's god isn't dead; just ignoring him.

I have a hunch that I may possibly have to
replace my hard drive.
Obviously, installing the OS, as well as all the
programs on a new
drive is a time-consuming PITA. Will an imaging
program (such as
Acronis True Image or Image for Windows) help
make the job easier?
IOW: Can I take an image of my exsiting hard
drive (say on an
external HD), transfer the image to a new hard
drive, and just keep
on using the computer with the new drive without
having to reinstall
the OS and the programs?
For the $ 50 - $ 65 which those imaging programs
cost, this seems to
be a really good solution.

Knowledgeable opinions, please?

Thanks!
__________________________________
johnn
__________________________________
"God is dead"
- Nietzsche (1844-1935)
"Nietzsche is dead"
- God

Either Norton Ghost or Acronis True Image will get
the job done for you. Not familair with the other
one.

Also, your new drive should come with, or the mfr
should have available free, a "clone" program
which will create an image of the old drive to use
on the new drive. Those are pretty reliable
cloning programs in my experience and have never
had one fail to do the job.
You still might want to consider Ghost or True
Image though;

HTH,

Twayne
--
Johnn's god isn't dead; just ignoring him.

On Mon, 12 Jan 2009 19:34:10 -0500, johnn wrote:

I have a hunch that I may possibly have to replace my hard drive.
Obviously, installing the OS, as well as all the programs on a new drive is a time-consuming PITA.
Will an imaging program (such as Acronis True Image or Image for Windows) help make the job easier?
IOW: Can I take an image of my exsiting hard drive (say on an external HD), transfer the image to a
new hard drive, and just keep on using the computer with the new drive without having to reinstall
the OS and the programs?


Yes. The best such program, in my view, is Acronis True Image, but new
hard drives often come with free programs that do this, so if yours
does, you might want to try that first.



For the $ 50 - $ 65 which those imaging programs cost, this seems to be a really good solution.

Knowledgeable opinions, please?

Thanks!
__________________________________
johnn
__________________________________
"God is dead"
- Nietzsche (1844-1935)
"Nietzsche is dead"
- God

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
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