Basic/noob's questions before cloning Win8

Discussion in 'backup, imaging & disk mgmt' started by dogbite, Feb 15, 2015.

  1. dogbite

    dogbite Registered Member

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    I am missing something here. How can I restore an image (for example made with Macrium) if I do not have any system running on the computer?
    I mean, after making the image, I have to remove the HDD and install the SSD where nothing is installed. Basically the computer is a brick at this point.
    I place the image on a DVD or USB and I boot from there? I getting confused.
     
  2. oliverjia

    oliverjia Registered Member

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    LOL that's the beauty of cold bare metal restore. You should have created a WinPE based boot USB/CD and use the bootable media to do the rest.
     
  3. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    dogbite,

    Create your images to an external HD. Don't create images on DVDs unless you are a masochist.

    Have you decided whether you will delete the Recovery partition?
     
  4. dogbite

    dogbite Registered Member

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    Yeah I need a cable. Then I can connect the SSD while the HDD is still there.

    Brian, first I want to copy the booting files as you said, then when all goes well I will decide.
    But now it's late here maybe tomorrow I can do it.
     
  5. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    That's a bad idea. You want the SSD installed internally in the boot position for the image restore process. Don't have the HD connected to the computer until Win7 on the SSD is running properly.
     
  6. dogbite

    dogbite Registered Member

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    How can I boot the image if the HDD is gone? The SSD is empty..
    As I said I am sure I miss something here.
     
  7. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    dogbite,

    As Oliverjia indicated, you need to make a boot disk in your imaging app. It can be a CD or USB flash drive. You boot this disk and it enters a "mini operating system" where you can see the empty SSD and the external HD which contains your backup image.

    Which imaging app will you use? Someone familiar with that app will advise how to make the boot disk and what options are needed for the restore.

    Do you have a USB external HD?
     
  8. dogbite

    dogbite Registered Member

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    Yes, I have an external HD.

    I've found this guide which seems easy:

    http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/5409/create-a-system-repair-disc-in-windows-7/

    I am going to create a bootable DVD and then get to the image.
    Still I am not sure whether to use Macrium Reflect Free or Win7 own imaging.

    I decided not to delete the Recovery partition. I am already close to give up with all of this so I want to keep it as easy as possible.

    Just a last question:
    If I skip all of this and I simply boot from the Win8.1 Dell Recovery CD and then install Win8.1 on the SSD (empty), it should be all fine, shouldn't it?
    OK at the end I will have to use Win8.1 instead of 7 but that is not a big problem.

    In this case the process would be:
    1. Take away the HDD.
    2. Install the new empty SSD (should I format it before or does the BIOS automatically detect it?)
    3. Boot from Win8.1 Recovery and install Win8.1 on the SSD
    4. Replace DVD with original HDD, using a caddy.

    This is maybe easier, I won't have to create any image. Then I will install Ubuntu alongside Win8.1 and I am ready to go.
     
  9. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    Windows7 imaging is the worst choice so don't bother creating a Windows bootable DVD.

    Macrium Reflect is a great choice. Use it.

    Don't lose heart. You can do this and we can help you. It's easy and you will learn a lot of useful techniques. Even if you make a restore mistake you can just delete the partitions on the SSD and do it again. If you later decide you would like Win8 instead of Win7, that's easy too.
     
  10. dogbite

    dogbite Registered Member

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    Sorry guys, I went skiing a couple of days.
    The current situation is:
    1. Resizing done with Gparted. All fine.
    2. SSD in transit (but delayed), it should be here today. I hope I can do it all tomorrow.
     
  11. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    dogbite,

    OK. Install Macrium and create rescue media. Make sure the media boot into the recovery environment.

    Create a partition image for each of your 3 partitions.

    Get back to us when the SSD arrives.
     
    Last edited: Feb 23, 2015
  12. dogbite

    dogbite Registered Member

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    Brian, happy to say all worked pretty well.

    I used EaseUS, cloned the HDD to the SSD which was connected via USB-Sata cable. Mounted the SSD. All works.

    I know that is still not very optimized system, I mean I could have got rid of the Recovery but for the moment I am ok with that.

    HDD has already replaced the DVD Writer, now I need just to install Ubuntu and I am done.

    Thanks much again for your patience and help.
     
  13. dogbite

    dogbite Registered Member

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    Ubuntu installed with success. No more info to add to this thread from my side.
     
  14. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    dogbite,

    Great work. You are ten steps ahead of me.
     
  15. dogbite

    dogbite Registered Member

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    I think you are overselling me. :D
     
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