Disc Cloning Sanity Check

The computer is a P4 running XP-PRO SP2. I’ve been intimidated after reading several FAQs and postings about cloning the C: drive to a new and larger single partitioned drive. My single partitioned C: (80 GB) needs to be replaced. The replacement drive is a 160GB (Ultra ATA/133). There is a second drive (300GB) also installed.

After powering down the computer, I was going to remove the 300GB drive and install the new 160GB drive (unformatted and not partitioned) and configured as the slave.

Boot using the Acronis TI (build 903) rescue disc
Run the clone routine - destination is the 160GB
When the disc cloning is completed - power down the computer
Remove the old C: cloned drive - set the jumper on the 160GB to master
Put in the 300GB second drive - slave
Restart the computer - check to see if the BIOS have the correct settings.

The old 80GB is going to be reformatted in another computer that uses Win98.

Do I need to run SYSPREP?

Will I be prompted to partition the new drive – I want a single 160GB partition

I’m exceedingly nervous and do not want end up with an unusable computer

Ken, wb4zoh

 

1, Your planned steps are correct. As long as your new drive has not been in the computer ahead of time and not been seen by Windows just follow your plan.(So nice that you did your homework!)

2. Don't run sysprep !!!

3. Read carefully, you'll get a chance to expand the drive to fill the 160 Gbyte drive

 

wb4zoh,

Have a look at these. One is about Ghost 9 but the same principles apply to Acronis TI.

http://radified.com/cgi-bin/YaBB/YaBB.cgi?board=general;action=display;num=1117581957

http://www.goodells.net/multiboot/partsigs.htm