Partition Image or Partition Backup?

[Epsilon]

Hi,

I have an old 320Gb HDD (FAT32 format) that has two partitions, I and H. Recently, when I start the computer, Checkdisk sometimes pops up wanting to check the files on I partition, never the H partition. I always allow it and it has never found a problem. I'm concerned that this may be an indication that the HDD is starting to fail.

Therefore, I would like to backup both partitions to an external HDD. I'm not sure if it's better to have a file/folder type backup or a disk partition image. If it does fail and I install a new HDD (NTFS format) that is a different make and has a much greater capacity, which type of backup is the most likely to be able to be restored without problems? I've read that disk images may not restore to substantially different HDD's. Is this still the case?

Thanks.

[Anupam]

An image is generally made of the drive, or partition having the operating system files, so that you do not have to install the OS, and the various applications again. For non-system partitions, just backup should be done.

In your case, however, I think you should go for a backup. Reason is, you have a FAT32 system, and if you try to image it back on to a NTFS system, I don't think you can do that.

If you have a Windows CD, I suggest you take backup of your system, apart from the system files. Then, since, you fear that the hard drive might be failing, do a low level format of the hard drive. After that, run the diagnostic utility from the hard drive manufacturer to see if the hard drive is OK. If its OK, then install the Windows fresh, this time formatting using NTFS, since its more secure. FAT32 is older technology, and is non-secure, and therefore, should not be used anymore.

An image can be restored to a larger drive, or to a different drive. I have done that with Paragon Backup and Recovery. Problem might occur on smaller drives though.

crank, the editor of BF Drive Imaging, or someone else, with knowledge on this, might have some more to say, or correct me, if I am wrong somewhere .

[Epsilon]

Thanks for the reply.

I started a backup of the I partition using FBackup 4. That partition is 74 Gb. So far it's taken 6 hours and is now verifying and is at 85% done. That seems a long time to me. Would that be normal or is FBackup just slow?

[crank]

Originally Posted by Epsilon

Thanks for the reply.

I started a backup of the I partition using FBackup 4. That partition is 74 Gb. So far it's taken 6 hours and is now verifying and is at 85% done. That seems a long time to me. Would that be normal or is FBackup just slow?

Hi, I just found this, that is way too much time, that said, I have seen this type of behavior myself and heard about it from others here. i don't know what is happening, my guess is some kind of conflict with another app or the system. You may redo it another day and it takes 15-20 minutes, about what a 74 GB partition should take. Did you by any chance ramp up the compression settings? That is one possibility.

Now, as to the data itself, if the files are regular files on the two partitions with fat32 formatting, you only need to do a file backup, or just copy. Is there a purpose to the two partitions being split, and why fat32? If the fat isn't necessary, convert to NTFS, or maybe one of them. You could always copy the data to another disk and reformat the old disk, make like brand new again, disks for the most part are pretty robust and long-lived. Have you looked at the SMART readouts for the disk [if it has SMART]. Look into CrystalDiskInfo, a hard disk monitoring tool that you can even set up to email you if your disk starts to degrade more. Good luck, I hope this helps.

[Epsilon]

Hi crank,

Thanks for the reply.

There wasn't much compression because the zip file if 56 Gb. The drive was my one and only drive in an old PC dating back to 2004. I was still using Windows 98. I split it into two partitions - one for data and one for OS. Then a few years later I had the PC upgraded. I had a new 500 Gb NTFS HDD installed with the OS and the old drive was installed as my backup drive. The technician said something about having a problem getting the two drives to work and having to make both Primary. All I know is that it has worked okay all these years and I was reluctant to convert it to NTFS in case a problem occurred. The FBackup of both I and H partition succeeded without error. I'll also do an image of both partitions with Easus or Macrium. I'll also try CrystalDiskInfo as you advised.

Just seems to be one problem after another at present. I'm currently reformatting a 2 TB USB drive that was used with a TV and had a GPT Protective Partition so my PC would not recognize it until I used Disk Part to convert it back for PC use.

Thanks again.

[Anupam]

Since you are already having a 500 GB hard drive with OS and all.. I will suggest that you check the drive with CrystalDiskInfo, or other drive diagnostic tool to see if its OK. You can also download a drive diagnostic tool from the manufacturer of the hard drive. For example, if its a Seagate drive... Seagate has a tool called Seagate Tools. In that short, and long tests are there to check the drive. It can also perform low level format of the drive.

So, if you feel the need for a low level format, do that.

Long test, and low level format take a lot of time, so be warned.

After that just format the drive as NTFS, and use it as a data drive. Formatting with NTFS wont have any detrimental effect on the drive, so don't worry about that.

[crank]

I'm glad things worked out. I thought I'd add a little to what Anupam has said, all good advice if you are really worried about the drive, though I'd be inclined to just reformat it as is and see how things went. It is pretty old, might not have SMART. As to the compression, I'm not sure what your response meant, if you turn compression on at a high level, and if the data is already mostly compressed, like movies or pix, then your software will likely churn away for a long time and actually end up with a larger file. The highest compression settings will tend to take quite a long time regardless. And the 'make both Primaries' makes no sense that I can see, I don't know what that guy meant. The GPT formatting is PC formatting, it is only a matter of time before they're all like that.

Happy New Paradigm!!!