disk cloning

hillary_clinton · 26. Nov 2010, 01:37 PM

Hi

I have 2 that I bought on the same day disk that are completaly identical. same size, same model etc.
one is in my computer and has my operating system. the second: I want to be an exact clone of the first in case the first one encounters a physical error.

now lets say my hard disk suddenly crashes (remember: the hard disk my operating system is on)
I need is to be able to just switch between the broken disk and the new disk (which was cloned from the broken disk from a previous time) as if nothing happen.

no bootable CD or USB flash drives required, just toss out the broken disk and insert the new one instead of it.
there should be NO difference between the disks after the clone operation

I used to do this with Acronis and with Ghost.

I read this:
http://www.techsupportalert.com/best...ng-program.htm

I see a lot of programs create images.

creating images is not good enough when your operating system hard disk crashes, because you don't have the cloning software or the operating system anymore.

also I don't trust CD or USB flash drives.

is there a freeware program that can do what I want ? a real cloning ?

thanks

terrawarra · 01. Dec 2010, 10:55 AM

Not too sure how old this thread is but for what it's worth, I recommend a programm known as "XXClone".
I've used their free version for years and it's never let me down. It creates a bootable copy of your existing C drive onto another hard drive on your PC which is configured by the jumper settings to be a slave drive.

When disaster strikes your working drive, simply boot into your copy on the second drive and there's your replica right there ready for action. However, If you decide to replace your trashed drive, remove it from the PC and throw it away. Then change the jumper setting on your cloned copy from "slave" to "Master" and it then becomes your new drive.

The free version doesn't do incremental back-ups but I overcome this by wiping the second drive maybe monthly or so,. then make a fresh copy of your working drive.

Reviews here and you can also download from this reputable site:

http://www.snapfiles.com/opinions/xxclone/xxclone.html

crank · 06. Dec 2010, 03:47 AM

From what you are saying, you should go RAID 1, it provides the automatic redundancy I think you are looking for, let wiki explain:

Quote:

In RAID 1 (mirroring without parity or striping), data is written identically to multiple disks (a "mirrored set"). Although many implementations create sets of 2 disks, sets may contain 3 or more disks. Array provides fault tolerance from disk errors or failures and continues to operate as long as at least one drive in the mirrored set is functioning. With appropriate operating system support, there can be increase to read performance, and only a minimal write performance reduction. Using RAID 1 with a separate controller for each disk is sometimes called duplexing.

Ritho · 06. Dec 2010, 06:42 AM

The problem with RAID 1 is if it happens to be a virus that brings your machine down, both disks will be equally affected. RAID is not a complete backup solution. The only thing it protects against is physical hard disk falure.

eyeb · 06. Dec 2010, 07:29 AM

I don't see a problem with making images like original post said about if HDD crashes...
Using driveXML I can make a bootable USB drive that has drivexml on it. From there I can restore/backup a image file. I can even use USB to grab files I need from HDD and save it to flashdrive. And just incase I want to quickly re-image, I've placed a copy of the current image on the same flashdrive so I can boot to it and restore laptop with only 1 flash drive.

The only thing imaging cant fix is physical damage, which is what Raid does... For the virus thing, you could just use raid then keep a backup image. This way you can grab files from raid hdd then restore an image over it.

26. Nov 2010, 01:37 PM	#1 (permalink)
hillary_clinton Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 6	disk cloning Hi I have 2 that I bought on the same day disk that are completaly identical. same size, same model etc. one is in my computer and has my operating system. the second: I want to be an exact clone of the first in case the first one encounters a physical error. now lets say my hard disk suddenly crashes (remember: the hard disk my operating system is on) I need is to be able to just switch between the broken disk and the new disk (which was cloned from the broken disk from a previous time) as if nothing happen. no bootable CD or USB flash drives required, just toss out the broken disk and insert the new one instead of it. there should be NO difference between the disks after the clone operation I used to do this with Acronis and with Ghost. I read this: http://www.techsupportalert.com/best...ng-program.htm I see a lot of programs create images. creating images is not good enough when your operating system hard disk crashes, because you don't have the cloning software or the operating system anymore. also I don't trust CD or USB flash drives. is there a freeware program that can do what I want ? a real cloning ? thanks

01. Dec 2010, 10:55 AM	#2 (permalink)
terrawarra Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Bundanoon, Australia Posts: 19	Not too sure how old this thread is but for what it's worth, I recommend a programm known as "XXClone". I've used their free version for years and it's never let me down. It creates a bootable copy of your existing C drive onto another hard drive on your PC which is configured by the jumper settings to be a slave drive. When disaster strikes your working drive, simply boot into your copy on the second drive and there's your replica right there ready for action. However, If you decide to replace your trashed drive, remove it from the PC and throw it away. Then change the jumper setting on your cloned copy from "slave" to "Master" and it then becomes your new drive. The free version doesn't do incremental back-ups but I overcome this by wiping the second drive maybe monthly or so,. then make a fresh copy of your working drive. Reviews here and you can also download from this reputable site: http://www.snapfiles.com/opinions/xxclone/xxclone.html __________________ Life's too short to drink cheap wine ! Last edited by terrawarra; 01. Dec 2010 at 11:06 AM. Reason: omitted text

06. Dec 2010, 06:42 AM	#4 (permalink)
Ritho Foundation Editor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Planet Earth Posts: 1,391	The problem with RAID 1 is if it happens to be a virus that brings your machine down, both disks will be equally affected. RAID is not a complete backup solution. The only thing it protects against is physical hard disk falure. __________________ The smallest good deed is better than the greatest intention.

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06. Dec 2010, 07:29 AM	#5 (permalink)
eyeb Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Planet X Posts: 487	I don't see a problem with making images like original post said about if HDD crashes... Using driveXML I can make a bootable USB drive that has drivexml on it. From there I can restore/backup a image file. I can even use USB to grab files I need from HDD and save it to flashdrive. And just incase I want to quickly re-image, I've placed a copy of the current image on the same flashdrive so I can boot to it and restore laptop with only 1 flash drive. The only thing imaging cant fix is physical damage, which is what Raid does... For the virus thing, you could just use raid then keep a backup image. This way you can grab files from raid hdd then restore an image over it.