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Thread ID: 93963 2008-10-08 08:46:00 Backing up (Cloning) your HDD - Recommendations? Sylar (953) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
710781 2008-10-08 08:46:00 Hey,
I heard that you clone your HDD using a program.
Say if you wanted to clone your own HDD by yourself, what would be a good program to use ?
Also, if i went to a tech and got it done for me how much would it cost to clone my HDD (which is 80gb)
And approx how long would it take to clone a 80gb HDD (assuming it's full)

Thanks
Sylar (953)
710782 2008-10-08 09:07:00 I've used Norton Ghost, and also Acronis True Image. Both can clone disks ok, can't give you an indicative time frame though.... sorry Paladin (14233)
710783 2008-10-08 10:31:00 For the free edition of HDClone (www.miray.de) it would take 250 minutes (4hr 10min) but only because the free version limits the transfer rate to 300mb/s. If you got the basic version(costs money) then it will take approx. 82 minutes. Get the next version up and it will take just 41 minutes. Norton Ghost and Acronis may have similar time frames, but I am unsure.

I've heard that Clonezilla (http://www.clonezilla.org/)(free) is also very fast but it has no UI and I have heard that it is reasonably hard to use.

There is also DriveImage XML (www.runtime.org), which is free for home users and I have had successful experiences with.

Hope this helps
Blam

And BTW am not too sure about the costs but I would think that it would definitely be under $100.

Many forum member's here are from Auckland and may be able to help you should you decide to seek professional help in the end.
Blam (54)
710784 2008-10-08 10:36:00 This (packratstudios.com)may also be of some use...

Can't say I've tried any of them yet though....
Paladin (14233)
710785 2008-10-08 20:53:00 O ok,
thanks for the help guys
Sylar (953)
710786 2008-10-08 20:59:00 I've read a bit about the CloneZilla program. It backs up the whole HDD including partions (all the drives) right?
O, i later read that this can only be used on Linux OS, am i right?
Sylar (953)
710787 2008-10-09 01:07:00 Which one would be better for cloning a whole HDD including all partitioned drives:
HDClone or DriveImage XML ? (My pc is dual booted with XP and Vista, but i'll probably be running the program on Vista)
Sylar (953)
710788 2008-10-09 02:09:00 HDClone seems pretty good but I haven't used it before, so I am unsure of how the results would be. I have had successful experiences with both ghost and DriveImage XML and I find DI XML slow but very good.

Some experienced techs from this forum may be able to tell you there experiences with these programs.

BTW Clonezilla actually works with both NTFS and FAT system partitions, so it should work on M$ systems too. The website is just trying to state that Clonezilla is a linux distrubution.

I know that Clonezilla is fast but I would probably go with a program with a less complicated UI if I were an inexperienced user.

Don't decide which programs to use yet until you have more suggestions from more experienced people from this forum, as I am young and not as experienced as they are, I just state my knowledge :)

Cheers and Good Luck
Blam
Blam (54)
710789 2008-10-09 03:47:00 Thanks, i am deciding on using DriveImage XML or HDClone but im not sure it the programs clone the whole HDD including the partitioned drives and everything Sylar (953)
710790 2008-10-09 04:14:00 Thanks, i am deciding on using DriveImage XML or HDClone but im not sure it the programs clone the whole HDD including the partitioned drives and everything

Btw, is it possbile to somehow clone my laptop HDD onto my PC drive
Or can i only clone it to a cd, usb or ext HDD?
Sylar (953)
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