1Gb maiin drive on its way out - cloning?

HarryM1BYT · 14th March 2014, 08:12

My desktop PC's not that old drive, which I cloned from the original 250Mb drive, started to complain of cluster errors earlier in the week - just out of warranty. Rather than let it wear further and get worse, I dropped it out and made my original 250Gb my main drive (more than twice its age) whilst a replacement 1Gb turned up.

I'm now wondering how successful I might be, when the new drive turns up and I attempt to clone from the old failing 1GB to the new one. Will cloaning still work, even with a failing drive?

I'm using XXclone free.

pm77 · 14th March 2014, 08:26

I take it there is only one partition on the drive? Personally I would use a linux boot cd to cloan a drive (which should work on a failing drive). The only downside is most the linux commands are dos only.

I don't know if xxclone does it block by block or just copies the files over as best it can

pm77 · 14th March 2014, 08:36

Just had a quick shufty round the t'interweb for you Harry,

if you look here, http://www.cyberciti.biz/open-source...ging-software/ this gives a good roundup. If your not used to using command line software, I would go with redo backup as it's easier to use (and all the software is FREE

)

HarryM1BYT · 14th March 2014, 09:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by pm77

I take it there is only one partition on the drive? Personally I would use a linux boot cd to cloan a drive (which should work on a failing drive). The only downside is most the linux commands are dos only.

I don't know if xxclone does it block by block or just copies the files over as best it can

This seems to suggest it is file by file, so it is in with a chance. http://www.xxclone.com/itheory.htm

The drive was delivered ten mutes ago, so its suck it and see...

I've the original to clone from, or if all else fails, the 250Gb which was current 9 months ago.

pm77 · 14th March 2014, 10:11

Although they say xxclone is better as it copies files over (you wouldn't slate your own product though), block by block will give better results.

For instance, if you have a picture file, block by block copying will endevour to get as much of the file copied over as possible, there may be a part of the picture missing if one or more blocks are corrupted but most of the picture will still remain.

If you try to copy the file and part of it is corrupted, more than likely xxclone will just skip the file, thinking its corrupt when only part of it is and it is lost forever

(if you bin the drive afterwards).

If you have the space you could always try both methods.

Reminds me of the old Amiga days, you had to use a special program to copy ALL disks block by block, as some wouldn't work with the default disk copy program.

HarryM1BYT · 14th March 2014, 15:12

I'm back...

It appeared to clone to the new drive OK, or at least xxclone made no complaints at all. Then it wouldn't at first boot from it. Instead it insisted on running CHKDSK on the new drive, after which it seemed to from it - but I'll need to see if can boot again from it. All seems OK, but no doubt some files will be missing which I will no doubt discover in time...

HarryM1BYT · 14th March 2014, 22:14

Still doing battle with it - MS Outlook is loading my previously downloaded emails, but will not download any new ones or let me create one. I seem to have mislaid my 2007 Office install disk, so I'm now struggling with it.

Avulon · 14th March 2014, 23:13

Used the built in tools in Windows 7 last week to take a drive image from a failing drive on a work PC to external USB disk, swapped the hard drive out (not easy on a Dell 'all in one' ) and used Windows boot disk to reload the backed up image. No problems at all. It's now been running all week like nothing happened.

(trouble is, in my job, the smoother something like this goes the less appreciation you actually receive and the greater the expectation next time something needs fixing)

HarryM1BYT · 15th March 2014, 22:43

It seems something was too corrupted on my failing drive, so I'm having to do a mix and match/ cut and shut, between an old back up and the failing drive. Got all of my emails back, by lifting outlook's .pst.

Guess how many times I went around the loop of partitioning, but not giving the drive a letter, then wondering why it wasn't showing up in the list of drives and how many hours I wasted?

Jumper75 · 11th April 2014, 01:23

Restorer 2000 does a fairly good job of recovering data even from drives with physical faults. It's not free though.

What I find amazing though is that you have a 250mb drive! That must date back to the early 90s. If it's lasted this long it's done well. That can't be the case you mean gb surely.

14th March 2014, 08:12	#1
HarryM1BYT This is my second home 75 Contemporary SE Mk II 2004 Man. Sal. CDTi 135ps, FBH on red diesel, WinCE6 DD Join Date: May 2010 Location: Leeds Posts: 17,273 Thanks: 2,160 Thanked 2,061 Times in 1,586 Posts	1Gb maiin drive on its way out - cloning? My desktop PC's not that old drive, which I cloned from the original 250Mb drive, started to complain of cluster errors earlier in the week - just out of warranty. Rather than let it wear further and get worse, I dropped it out and made my original 250Gb my main drive (more than twice its age) whilst a replacement 1Gb turned up. I'm now wondering how successful I might be, when the new drive turns up and I attempt to clone from the old failing 1GB to the new one. Will cloaning still work, even with a failing drive? I'm using XXclone free. __________________ Harry How To's and items I offer for free, or just to cover the cost of my expenses... http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...40#post1764540 Fix a poor handbrake; DIY ABS diagnostic unit; Loan of the spanner needed to change the CDT belts; free OBD diagnostics +MAF; Correct Bosch MAF cheap; DVB-T install in an ex-hi-line system; DD install with a HK amp; FBH servicing. I've taken a vow of poverty. To annoy me, send money.

14th March 2014, 08:36	#3
pm77 Gets stuck in Volvo XC70 D5 AWD Auto Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Darlington Posts: 926 Thanks: 5 Thanked 133 Times in 121 Posts	Just had a quick shufty round the t'interweb for you Harry, if you look here, http://www.cyberciti.biz/open-source...ging-software/ this gives a good roundup. If your not used to using command line software, I would go with redo backup as it's easier to use (and all the software is FREE)

14th March 2014, 15:12	#6
HarryM1BYT This is my second home 75 Contemporary SE Mk II 2004 Man. Sal. CDTi 135ps, FBH on red diesel, WinCE6 DD Join Date: May 2010 Location: Leeds Posts: 17,273 Thanks: 2,160 Thanked 2,061 Times in 1,586 Posts	I'm back... It appeared to clone to the new drive OK, or at least xxclone made no complaints at all. Then it wouldn't at first boot from it. Instead it insisted on running CHKDSK on the new drive, after which it seemed to from it - but I'll need to see if can boot again from it. All seems OK, but no doubt some files will be missing which I will no doubt discover in time... __________________ Harry How To's and items I offer for free, or just to cover the cost of my expenses... http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...40#post1764540 Fix a poor handbrake; DIY ABS diagnostic unit; Loan of the spanner needed to change the CDT belts; free OBD diagnostics +MAF; Correct Bosch MAF cheap; DVB-T install in an ex-hi-line system; DD install with a HK amp; FBH servicing. I've taken a vow of poverty. To annoy me, send money.

14th March 2014, 22:14	#7
HarryM1BYT This is my second home 75 Contemporary SE Mk II 2004 Man. Sal. CDTi 135ps, FBH on red diesel, WinCE6 DD Join Date: May 2010 Location: Leeds Posts: 17,273 Thanks: 2,160 Thanked 2,061 Times in 1,586 Posts	Still doing battle with it - MS Outlook is loading my previously downloaded emails, but will not download any new ones or let me create one. I seem to have mislaid my 2007 Office install disk, so I'm now struggling with it. __________________ Harry How To's and items I offer for free, or just to cover the cost of my expenses... http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...40#post1764540 Fix a poor handbrake; DIY ABS diagnostic unit; Loan of the spanner needed to change the CDT belts; free OBD diagnostics +MAF; Correct Bosch MAF cheap; DVB-T install in an ex-hi-line system; DD install with a HK amp; FBH servicing. I've taken a vow of poverty. To annoy me, send money.

14th March 2014, 23:13	#8
Avulon This is my second home 1.8t Tourer Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Tanelorn Posts: 4,830 Thanks: 956 Thanked 1,148 Times in 916 Posts	Used the built in tools in Windows 7 last week to take a drive image from a failing drive on a work PC to external USB disk, swapped the hard drive out (not easy on a Dell 'all in one' ) and used Windows boot disk to reload the backed up image. No problems at all. It's now been running all week like nothing happened. (trouble is, in my job, the smoother something like this goes the less appreciation you actually receive and the greater the expectation next time something needs fixing) __________________ Need a T4 ?: T4 Owners Map thanks to Stevestrat ( use at your own risk) Where?: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanelorn Mods/Retrofits: PCV vortex 'filter'; bluetooth; inline thermostat; reversing sensors; plenum spyhole ; headlamp washers ; Diy mp3 player replacing CD multichanger; FBH with remote; Headlamp washers; black/chrome front grille, rear blind; Xenon projectors To do: puddle lights; 2 Din cd/nav to fit; boot release button

14th March 2014, 08:26	#2
pm77 Gets stuck in Volvo XC70 D5 AWD Auto Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Darlington Posts: 926 Thanks: 5 Thanked 133 Times in 121 Posts	I take it there is only one partition on the drive? Personally I would use a linux boot cd to cloan a drive (which should work on a failing drive). The only downside is most the linux commands are dos only. I don't know if xxclone does it block by block or just copies the files over as best it can

14th March 2014, 10:11	#5
pm77 Gets stuck in Volvo XC70 D5 AWD Auto Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Darlington Posts: 926 Thanks: 5 Thanked 133 Times in 121 Posts	Although they say xxclone is better as it copies files over (you wouldn't slate your own product though), block by block will give better results. For instance, if you have a picture file, block by block copying will endevour to get as much of the file copied over as possible, there may be a part of the picture missing if one or more blocks are corrupted but most of the picture will still remain. If you try to copy the file and part of it is corrupted, more than likely xxclone will just skip the file, thinking its corrupt when only part of it is and it is lost forever (if you bin the drive afterwards). If you have the space you could always try both methods. Reminds me of the old Amiga days, you had to use a special program to copy ALL disks block by block, as some wouldn't work with the default disk copy program.

15th March 2014, 22:43	#9
HarryM1BYT This is my second home 75 Contemporary SE Mk II 2004 Man. Sal. CDTi 135ps, FBH on red diesel, WinCE6 DD Join Date: May 2010 Location: Leeds Posts: 17,273 Thanks: 2,160 Thanked 2,061 Times in 1,586 Posts	It seems something was too corrupted on my failing drive, so I'm having to do a mix and match/ cut and shut, between an old back up and the failing drive. Got all of my emails back, by lifting outlook's .pst. Guess how many times I went around the loop of partitioning, but not giving the drive a letter, then wondering why it wasn't showing up in the list of drives and how many hours I wasted? __________________ Harry How To's and items I offer for free, or just to cover the cost of my expenses... http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...40#post1764540 Fix a poor handbrake; DIY ABS diagnostic unit; Loan of the spanner needed to change the CDT belts; free OBD diagnostics +MAF; Correct Bosch MAF cheap; DVB-T install in an ex-hi-line system; DD install with a HK amp; FBH servicing. I've taken a vow of poverty. To annoy me, send money.

11th April 2014, 01:23	#10
Jumper75 Loves to post Rover 75 Connoisseur CDT Tourer Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Cardigan Posts: 358 Thanks: 6 Thanked 49 Times in 44 Posts	Restorer 2000 does a fairly good job of recovering data even from drives with physical faults. It's not free though. What I find amazing though is that you have a 250mb drive! That must date back to the early 90s. If it's lasted this long it's done well. That can't be the case you mean gb surely. Last edited by Jumper75; 11th April 2014 at 01:26..