[Solved] Copy an old disk to a new one

[Plastic Nev]

Hi Jim, just looked and yes I am afraid it does need a separate power supply cable to run the hard drive as that cable you linked to is just data only.

Have a look inside the computer first and see if there is a spare SATA power connector, it will be exactly the same as the one already connected to either the existing hard drive or the existing CD/DVD drive.

 

If there isn't a spare cable and you are going to go the clone route, the CD/DVD drive power cable can be used, as you will not be needing the rescue disk.

 

otherwise, I am sure I have seen a piggyback type of power connection extender that could be bought to use. I will look to see if I can find one.

 

Nev.

[mij]

Yes there is a spare power cable in the box.

I wonder where the cable is that Ken showed previously? If that will do the trick I can get that one. I looked for it but didn't find it.

jim

[Plastic Nev]

Edit to add:- just seen you have a spare power cable in the computer so ignore the below, though it may prove useful for someone else.

 

This is a power SATA splitter cable, that you may be able to use to provide the power by splitting away from the hard drive or CD/DVD drive power cable Jim.

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Akasa-AK-CBPW05-30-SATA-Power-Splitter/dp/B004BSFSVS/ref=pd_sim_computers_3

 

Nev.

[mij]

Just goes to show that I do not know a power cable from an info/data one. The spare cable that I was talking about looks like the power plug that goes in the back of the CD drive. It has round pins/sockets with two red. two yellow and four black wires emanating from the back of it.

A picture of it is here

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1916[/ATTACH]

There is no cable socket/plug as you have shown.

Assuming I got the one you showed I could use that after for another hard drive or CD etc.

jim

[Vr5fx]

Hi there

 

That there is a MOLEX power connector http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molex_connector

 

For a Sata connector http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_ATA

 

You can get something like this http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0066DA9N8/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=103612307&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B0002GRUV4&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=135EPA295YV7XVN7J6XF

 

That cable will allow power to a Sata device, from a molex cable.

 

Hope it helps.

 

-Vr

[Plastic Nev]

There is no cable socket/plug as you have shown.

Assuming I got the one you showed I could use that after for another hard drive or CD etc.

jim

 

 

Edit to add:- VR5FX beat me too it, thanks Steve, the connector you show can be used or the splitter I showed.

 

Yes Jim, correct for the cable I showed, the one in your picture is actually a spare power connector for a graphics or sound card.

 

If you carefully pull the cable off your hard drive, you will see there are quite a lot of fairly fine connectors rather than pins and socket holes, the SATA power connector is different to most other power connections.

 

Nev.

[mij]

Thanks Steve and Nev. It was looking at the 80GB SATA HDD here that made me think that the 15 pin connector was the data connection and the 7 pin connector was the power. Ah well we live and learn, even at my age.

I will get a couple of cables then as well so that I am wanting nothing on the day. I'll order them all in a moment.

cheers

jim

[Plastic Nev]

Hi again Jim, just to recap,

 

you are getting or have got a new hard drive of the same size or bigger of the old one.

 

You are buying a SATA to USB adapter cable.

 

You are buying either a molex to SATA power cable as Steve suggested, or the SATA power splitter that I suggested, one or the other will do, you don't need both.

 

You are going to go the route of cloning the old drive onto the new drive?

 

Or are you going for the image route? I suggest the cloning being the first to try as it should be simplest.

 

For cloning you need just this set up as per this diagram.

 

http://i73.servimg.com/u/f73/14/68/69/96/sata_s10.jpg

[mij]

Hi again Jim, just to recap,

 

you are getting or have got a new hard drive of the same size or bigger of the old one.

 

I've ordered the same Seagate model disk as is coming out.

 

 

You are buying a SATA to USB adapter cable.

 

Yes ordered one of these.

 

You are buying either a molex to SATA power cable as Steve suggested, or the SATA power splitter that I suggested, one or the other will do, you don't need both.

I have ordered both - they are very cheap.

 

You are going to go the route of cloning the old drive onto the new drive?

Yes, cloning appears the way to go.

As the parts are coming from multiple sources it is not so easy to get 'next day' delivery so it may be Thursday before I can go ahead. I don't mind the 'time to ponder' this, as long as the hard drive lasts out :D

For cloning you need just this set up as per this diagram.

 

http://i73.servimg.com/u/f73/14/68/69/96/sata_s10.jpg

Looking at this diagram I assume those contacts on the new hard drive are not in proportion. The larger contact is the power one isn't it? (that is goes via the red line on your diagram)

cheers

jim

Edited April 20, 2013 by mij

[mij]

Editing out of time again - I was saying that if this saves me all the trouble that a failed hard drive brings plus providing me with a back up CD disk to boot, it will have been worth it. Thanks very much to all concerned.

cheers

jim

[Plastic Nev]

OK Jim, let us know when all parts are together and hopefully all goes according to plan from there.

At least you have time to look over the Macrium reflect software and familiarise yourself with it. When the time comes to clone the old drive over to the new one you need to connect the new drive first, then open Macrium Reflect, the old drive should show up on the top section and the new empty drive in the bottom section. You then make sure the top section is highlighted, then select "Clone this disk" rather than "Image this disk" I will have a look at that myself to see if anything may be likely to be a difficult to understand thing after that point.

 

Nev.

[KenB]

Hi Jim,

 

Just a note re Amazon:

 

You have to be very careful these days who you are buying from.

The "dealer" from your original link ( where the power lead was missing ) could be somebody operating from home.

( Just checked yours - they seem legitimate )

The "dealers" are not vetted at all.

Anybody can advertise ................ I know because my brother in law has done this with LG web cams.

 

Also I have ordered thermal paste recently and ended up in dispute with the "company".

Delivery time was over a month !

It turns out that they were from Hungary !! - although they sounded very British.

 

Amazon will let anybody sell.

[mij]

Hi Jim,

You have to be very careful these days who you are buying from.

 

Amazon will let anybody sell.

 

Thanks for that reminder Ken, I do appreciate these well timed snippets as the memory is not as good as it used to be.

I did not go with the original one I cited but went with one who does both cables - yeah I know I don't need both.

 

I have had an email saying they have been dispatched, as has the new HDD. Although those suppliers quote the extreme outer end of postal delivery time of next Monday the 29th. It'll probably get here this week sometime - postal services allowing......

 

I'll now await deliveries.

Thanks for everything.

jim

[KenB]

Thanks for everything.

No problem Jim :)

 

I know you will keep us informed as to the progress .....

[mij]

The new Seagate HDD arrived this morning along with the molex to sata cables.

I have formatted the disk with NTFS (it was fat32)

I didn't get past page two in Macrium Reflect as it asked for a folder ID and I knew not what this was. I couldn't make one up as it would be an invalid path.

As the new disk seems to be called verbatum (D:) would that be along the right lines?

jim

PS I had to disable smilies as it wanted to replace the :) with a cheerful face.

Edited April 24, 2013 by mij

[mij]

Aaaagh! Did it wrong. I did not follow the tutorial correctly. Just like my school reports - Could do better!

Ok did it right I think, I have just heard a completion sound from the room my computer is in. That is the new hdd done next I do an image onto the external HDD then a restore copy on a CD or maybe a memory stick as that is so quick.

jim (from SWMBO's computer)

[mij]

Hi there, it seems to have 'cloned' the old HDD onto the new. I have to switch it off and replace the that drive in a minute.

Before I do I thought I would see if it worked on this 80GB drive that has nothing else on it.

I switched off, took of the new 465GB HDD and connected up the 80GB sata disk that has been in a draw for a few years. Having switched on and clicked on computer I expected to see it next to the C: drive as I did the other new HDD. Nope, not there. Yet it shows in device manager as an 80GB Seagate ST380811AS disk. Can anyone tell me why that is please? I don't think computers follow our logic at all.....

jim

[mij]

Over an hour later and it has successfully cloned my Seagate 465GB drive onto the much smaller SATA Seagate drive. What is more to test that, I disconnected the HDD and switched back on with only the smaller and older 80GB drive connected and hanging out of the side as depicted earlier. I am running off the cloned drive now so it definitely works ok. Albeit somewhat slower. Mind you I am only using 37GB of disk space according to the software. Ok I'll power down, have something to eat then exchange the old for the new drives.

jim

[KenB]

Hi Jim

 

Sorry nobody was around to answer your earlier questions - but it seems that you sorted it yourself :)

 

Looking good so far :)

[mij]

I have just got it back together having put in the new HDD - well except the bonnet bits and the back up casing. Perhaps I'll leave that out.

I'm using it for this and everything is werky-werky ::) cross fingers (BTW where is the crossed fingers emoticon).

Thanks for the tutorial and the additional advice. It was invaluable in carrying out this procedure to me. Perhaps it will help some other peeps especially the bit about cloning to a smaller disk than the old one. I had printed out a hard copy of the instructions before I started

and it was that that pointed out my error in not following it.

Ok next I'll do my back up on the external drive and I'll do one of SWMBO's as well.

jim

[KenB]

BTW where is the crossed fingers emoticon

Will this do ?? :)

http://www.emofaces.com/en/smilies/f/fingers-crossed-smile.gif

 

Let us know how the rest goes :)

[Plastic Nev]

Great stuff Jim, and very glad to hear all has gone so well, plus whatever minor hitch it was, you sorted that as well.

Well done and if I was there in person I would be giving a pat on the back. (well perhaps not Pat, he is a bit too big to carry :D)

 

Nev.

[mij]

Thanks Nev, I feel that I've learned something yesterday. And achieved something as well.

The rescue CD didn't go so well. I thought it was alright but failed when I tried to boot from it.

I'm unsure of what went wrong as the error message said something about 'acpi process', I used the linux option as advised. I always had problems with burning CD's so wondered if that has something to do with it.

jim

[mij]

I've just tried another CD disc. I have blank Sony DVD+R 120min/4.7GB discs and RiDisc 8xDVD+RW 4.7GB and I have had success/failures with both. The second went on too long and required another disc quarter of the way through or less - it looked like it was making another copy as on the new HDD. Perhaps I clicked the wrong button? Anything is possible.....Anyway that disc now has 387MB missing when I tried formatting it to erase the mistaken image.

jim

Edited April 25, 2013 by mij

[mij]

Just tried again with a RiDisc as that seems to be better. Also used Mr Fixit on the optical drive just to check things out. Equally unsuccessful I am sorry to say. It all looks good until the restore wizard (version V5.1.5828) doesn't let me pass the page requiring an input from me - where is the image stored. No matter what is 'entered' (the mouse doesn't work) via the keyboard it will not pass that page. There was seven files on the disc and one ready to be written - desktop.ini

jim