How do I completely clone an OEM version of Windows 7 to another hard drive?

VenomIreland

So I was thinking of getting another hard drive soon and running it with my
1TB Seagate in RAID 0, the question is, how can I clone my hard drive onto the two of them?

sector

If you are willing to pay, Lucan Computers in Lucan Village can do that.

marco_polo

I use Driveimage XML the odd time find it quite good (very ugly interface tho), used it to move a Win 7 boot drive from 250GB Seagate to a 500G Samsung drive with no problems whatsoever.

http://www.runtime.org/driveimage-xml.htm

EDIT: It doesn't appear able to write to a RAID array unfortunately

http://runtime2.org/driveimage_faq.htm#raid

Michael Doherty

Driveimage worked for me

Monotype

I've never tried cloning to a raid before.
I've previously used clonezilla (open source) myself. Basic interface on a live disc.
I'm guessing you probably won't have an easy job getting to work for raid.
"Software RAID/fake RAID is not supported by default. It's can be done manually only."

Acronis true image is a well rounded piece of software with other uses, if you're willing to part with $30. I've use this one too and it's very straightforward, although I'm not sure how well it likes raid as the manual isn't working for me.

You might run into problems if raid drivers weren't installed in the original copy.

Edit: Acronis works for copying to RAID 0 (with a little extra effort).
http://www.overclock.net/hard-drives-storage/718649-acronis-true-image-2010-raid-0-a.html

VenomIreland

Monotype wrote: »

I've never tried cloning to a raid before.
I've previously used clonezilla (open source) myself. Basic interface on a live disc.
I'm guessing you probably won't have an easy job getting to work for raid.
"Software RAID/fake RAID is not supported by default. It's can be done manually only."

Acronis true image is a well rounded piece of software with other uses, if you're willing to part with $30. I've use this one too and it's very straightforward, although I'm not sure how well it likes raid as the manual isn't working for me.

You might run into problems if raid drivers weren't installed in the original copy.

Edit: Acronis works for copying to RAID 0 (with a little extra effort).
http://www.overclock.net/hard-drives-storage/718649-acronis-true-image-2010-raid-0-a.html

Thanks, i guess I just need to figure out if the OEM edition will freak out at the sight of a hard drive change now, and to save up the money.

Solitaire

OEM versions only freak out when you change the mobo, at which point Vista and Win7 go into "Nuke Mode" and demand that you buy a shiny new OS to go with the shiny new mobo :mad:

VenomIreland

OR you can re-activate it over the phone:
http://www.kodyaz.com/articles/how-to-activate-windows-7-by-phone.aspx

have an excuse ready, like your MoBo got fried.


Anyway, I've decided against it, will save the money up for a shiny new 1055T, then put whatever's left over towards a file server.

Overheal

Yoiu may have decided against it but I shouldve made the same thread last night: I got the DOA hard disk back from newegg last night so I'll probably give this a shot.

VenomIreland

Glad to help

I may actually do RAID 0 in a future build, maybe, if SSD's haven't gotten cheaper and larger (in terms of storage capacity).