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Transfer Windows 8 installation to a new drive
Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2018 6:53 am
by Jerry3904
I keep a Windows 8 laptop (Dell XPS 13) primarily for business use when necessary. I would now like to dual boot with MX, so have bought a new SSD with twice the capacity. I have web-searched the topic, and tried various supposedly easy proprietary apps to create a bootable Windows image, but without success.
I am wondering now if I could use perhaps use dd to transfer everything to a big USB drive, swap out the SSDs, and copy it back in. Would that work? Alternatives?
Thanks for any help.
Re: Transfer Windows 8 installation to a new drive
Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2018 7:01 am
by fehlix
clonezilla
EDIT: Go through the pcitures here ,
https://www.thomas-krenn.com/de/wiki/Kl ... Clonezilla
you don't need to read the text in German, (I'm sure you can ;=)
Re: Transfer Windows 8 installation to a new drive
Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2018 9:56 am
by c4os
Jerry3904 wrote: Sun Sep 16, 2018 6:53 am
I keep a Windows 8 laptop (Dell XPS 13) primarily for business use when necessary. I would now like to dual boot with MX, so have bought a new SSD with twice the capacity. I have web-searched the topic, and tried various supposedly easy proprietary apps to create a bootable Windows image, but without success.
I am wondering now if I could use perhaps use
dd to transfer everything to a big USB drive, swap out the SSDs, and copy it back in. Would that work? Alternatives?
Thanks for any help.
Hi Jerry,
first I have to say I'm a little bit envious to your XPS 13!
Second, yes this should work.
My experience was from a small to a bigger device is possible. So you can copy your small disk with dd direct to your big disk with an usb adapter.
Or you can make a backup from you small disk to an usb drive. Swap to the big disk and recover the backup.
But you have to boot a live linux like the best MXlinux and check your disks with sudo fdisk -l before!
Command for make a backup small disk --> usb drive:
Code: Select all
$ sudo dd if=/dev/sda bs=1M status=progress | gzip > YOUR_MOUNTED_USBDRIVE/backup_from_small_disk.img.gz
With the compression you will need only the disk space of the disk data, not the drive space.
Now you can swap your small disk with your big disk.
Command for make a recover usb drive --> big disk:
Code: Select all
$ gunzip -cd YOUR_MOUNTED_USBDRIVE/backup_from_small_disk.img.gz | sudo dd of=/dev/sda bs=1M status=progress
Command for direct disk copy small disk --> usb adapter --> big disk:
Code: Select all
$ sudo dd if=/dev/sda of=/dev/sdb bs=1M status=progress
You can try all options. You only need to be sure NOT writing on your small disk!
Re: Transfer Windows 8 installation to a new drive
Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2018 10:28 am
by dreamer
I have had good luck with MiniTool Partition Wizard (free version).
Check this tutorial and also read the comments below it.
https://www.partitionwizard.com/help/mi ... sd-hd.html
Good luck!
Re: Transfer Windows 8 installation to a new drive
Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2018 10:38 am
by dolphin_oracle
when moving these windows, you'll have the best luck if you can clone the entire drive. I had trouble recently moving just partitions.
even then, you may have issues when booting windows if the machine has changed too much...
Re: Transfer Windows 8 installation to a new drive
Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2018 11:17 am
by Adrian
Use clonezilla, and like D_O mentioned use the full drive copy, don't copy only the partition. I think if you sign in to Windows with a MS account it should save the license ti your account (depending on the license type I think) so that might help you reactivate if you need.
Re: Transfer Windows 8 installation to a new drive
Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2018 3:50 pm
by fehlix
This Disk-to-Disk-Clone HowTo on Clonzilla web-site should work too:
Disk_to_disk_clone
Leave the target size as the source size, and expand later with Gparted.
Re: Transfer Windows 8 installation to a new drive
Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2018 3:56 pm
by chrispop99
I researched this recently, and it seemed common wisdom advised this as the best method:
https://www.easeus.com/partition-manager/epm-free.html
I didn't clone the install in the end so can't speak of its efficacy.
Chris
Re: Transfer Windows 8 installation to a new drive
Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2018 4:05 pm
by Adrian
Also, if you want to try, I think I have around an Acronis True Image license that I got when I bought an SSD... let me know if you want it (it might be for an older version though).
Re: Transfer Windows 8 installation to a new drive
Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2018 4:16 pm
by fehlix
IIRC, you have to install it first and you have to enter you email adress to download.
Which brought me back to a Linux based version ;=)
Re: Transfer Windows 8 installation to a new drive
Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2018 4:19 pm
by chrispop99
fehlix wrote: Sun Sep 16, 2018 4:16 pm
IIRC, you have to install it first and you have to enter you email adress to download.
Which brought me back to a Linux based version ;=)
Well indeed, but that's what throw-away email is for!
I spent quite a while looking for the best way of doing this, and it stood out head and shoulders over other methods.
Chris
Re: Transfer Windows 8 installation to a new drive
Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2018 4:31 pm
by fehlix
Adrian wrote: Sun Sep 16, 2018 4:05 pm
Also, if you want to try, I think I have around an Acronis True Image license that I got when I bought an SSD... let me know if you want it (it might be for an older version though).
You have to be cautious. Have you read the license agreement? Even if you got something for free, you might not have explicitl permission to offer or to give it away for free. And certainly we shall not offer such if uncertain here in the forum
Re: Transfer Windows 8 installation to a new drive
Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2018 6:47 pm
by Adrian
fehlix wrote: Sun Sep 16, 2018 4:31 pm
Adrian wrote: Sun Sep 16, 2018 4:05 pm
Also, if you want to try, I think I have around an Acronis True Image license that I got when I bought an SSD... let me know if you want it (it might be for an older version though).
You have to be cautious. Have you read the license agreement? Even if you got something for free, you might not have explicitl permission to offer or to give it away for free. And certainly we shall not offer such if uncertain here in the forum
I haven't used the license, I'm pretty sure it's good for one use and they don't care who exactly uses that license. But yeah, whatever, free programs are preferred, that's why I haven't use it, I used Clonezilla for my needs.
Re: Transfer Windows 8 installation to a new drive
Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2018 6:55 pm
by fehlix
Adrian wrote: Sun Sep 16, 2018 6:47 pm
fehlix wrote: Sun Sep 16, 2018 4:31 pm
Adrian wrote: Sun Sep 16, 2018 4:05 pm
Also, if you want to try, I think I have around an Acronis True Image license that I got when I bought an SSD... let me know if you want it (it might be for an older version though).
You have to be cautious. Have you read the license agreement? Even if you got something for free, you might not have explicitl permission to offer or to give it away for free. And certainly we shall not offer such if uncertain here in the forum
I haven't used the license, I'm pretty sure it's good for one use and they don't care who exactly uses that license. But yeah, whatever, free programs are preferred, that's why I haven't use it, I used Clonezilla for my needs.
I know it's probably not an issue... but you never know in what mood some guys are, readin this forum. That's rather also for other reading this, not to offer to share softeware, which is not intended as such...
Re: Transfer Windows 8 installation to a new drive
Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2018 7:57 pm
by sunrat
I migrated a Windows install to a new Samsung SSD recently for a friend. Samsung's Data Migration Software worked perfectly. I recommend it for a Samsung SSD but not sure if it would work otherwise.
Re: Transfer Windows 8 installation to a new drive
Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2018 3:45 am
by m_pav
Before you do anything, kill all the unnecessary restore points to regain oodles of space before you start. The Windows 8 defaults to an exceedingly large percentage of available space for system restore points, I've seen values like 40%, installed size 24GB with Office and plugins, then restore points using a whopping 40GB more.
Using Linux, you can also safely delete from the windows partition hiberfil.sys, pagefile.sys and there's one more I can't recall because it's not always present before cloning. Commercial tools like Acronis and Ghost do not copy these files when making a disk image or cloning a drive because they are dynamic and Windows recreates them on the next startup anyway. This step will save you oodles of time when using smart cloning tool like clonezilla.
Personally, I use the Imaging/cloning toolset included with the Parted Magic Live disk image because it bundles I think 5 utilities into a single tool that examines the contents and uses the best option from the 5 to use. I can't give names of these because I'm in my once in a while night on Windows to do some work stuff after hours and don't have access to my arsenal of tools on ext4 drives.
Re: Transfer Windows 8 installation to a new drive
Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2018 4:46 am
by fehlix
m_pav wrote: Wed Sep 19, 2018 3:45 am
Personally, I use the Imaging/cloning toolset included with the Parted Magic Live disk image because it bundles I think 5 utilities into a single tool that examines the contents and uses the best option from the 5 to use. ...
IIRC, PartedMagic integrates clonezilla (at least) into it's offering for cloning, besides lot's of other very usefull tools.
Very good toolset-box live linux distro, highly recommended!
This reminds me to remember, why not just run clonezilla from our latest MX17.1_September-ISO
And perhaps we might think about adding latest clonezilla under Popular Apps within MX Package installer
Re: Transfer Windows 8 installation to a new drive
Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2018 6:01 am
by Jerry3904
And perhaps we might think about adding latest clonezilla under Popular Apps within MX Package installer
I like that--can you add it to the Dev thread about MX-18 brainstorming so we remember?
Re: Transfer Windows 8 installation to a new drive
Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2018 6:08 am
by fehlix
Jerry3904 wrote: Wed Sep 19, 2018 6:01 am
And perhaps we might think about adding latest clonezilla under Popular Apps within MX Package installer
I like that--can you add it to the Dev thread about MX-18 brainstorming so we remember?
I'll do with pleasure.
Re: Transfer Windows 8 installation to a new drive
Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2018 6:37 am
by baldyeti
I have a question wrt clonezilla.
I have used it in the past to transfer WinXP(or Win7) to bigger disks, and it worked perfectly, even fixing the (NT) bootloader.
Does that still work with WIn8/10 and possibly UEFI/GPT instead of BIOS/MBR partitioning, or does one need extra step(s) to get a working bootloader ?
Re: Transfer Windows 8 installation to a new drive
Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2018 8:51 am
by dreamer
Make sure Windows 8 is properly shut down before you try to clone it. Disable Fast Start (it's a hibernation mode) in Power Management settings (choose-what-these-buttons-do-dialog) in Control Panel.
Re: Transfer Windows 8 installation to a new drive
Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2018 9:19 am
by sunrat
fehlix wrote: Wed Sep 19, 2018 4:46 amIIRC, PartedMagic integrates clonezilla (at least) into it's offering for cloning, besides lot's of other very usefull tools.
Very good toolset-box live linux distro, highly recommended!
It is good but it costs ~50 bucks. Not worth it if you just want to use Clonezilla occasionally.
This reminds me to remember, why not just run clonezilla from our latest MX17.1_September-ISO
And perhaps we might think about adding latest clonezilla under Popular Apps within MX Package installer
Clonezilla would be a valuable default addition to MX. MX automounts USB drives though so that has to be worked around as Clonezilla works with unmounted drives.
baldyeti wrote: Wed Sep 19, 2018 6:37 am
I have used it in the past to transfer WinXP(or Win7) to bigger disks, and it worked perfectly, even fixing the (NT) bootloader.
Does that still work with WIn8/10 and possibly UEFI/GPT instead of BIOS/MBR partitioning, or does one need extra step(s) to get a working bootloader ?
The boot loader is included if you do a full disk clone.
Re: Transfer Windows 8 installation to a new drive
Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2018 10:04 am
by Adrian
I do think you need to start the computer in UEFI mode though, otherwise there might be issues if you start it in legacy BIOS and you try to copy a UEFI/GPT Windows partition
Re: Transfer Windows 8 installation to a new drive
Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2018 1:00 pm
by fehlix
Adrian wrote: Wed Sep 19, 2018 10:04 am
I do think you need to start the computer in UEFI mode though, otherwise there might be issues if you start it in legacy BIOS and you try to copy a UEFI/GPT Windows partition
Nope, clonezilla will clone any drive, regardless what boot-method was used to run clonezilla.
The drive needs to be unmounted anyway or can even be an external USB/eSATA plugged in drive.
Re: Transfer Windows 8 installation to a new drive
Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2018 7:50 pm
by handy
I have copied a Win7 install, that was on a 1TB drive, to a 320GiB drive (both spinners), using Clonezilla. It was a while ago. I would have had to clone the individual partitions (likely shrink the largest one first of all) to be able to go from a larger drive to a smaller one with Clonezilla.
I remember that I had to download a "Win7 64bit Repair Disk" from MS, & run it so that I could boot into Windows. It was a tad nerve racking the first time I did the whole process with Windows, as I have no faith in MS products. But it worked! & I was very pleased with myself at the time.
I've since cloned Win7 to a larger drive using Clonezilla - doing it whole drive to whole drive. I made sure that the system was tidy beforehand, though I've never bothered about deleting the Restore Points. It worked without a hitch. It doesn't take very long if you have your data (primarily Steam Games in my case) on a different drive. I limit Win7 on my Clevo, to 50GiB & it runs fine for my purposes.
I've also, more recently, had to cast a Win7 Clonezilla backup image back on to the same drive that it was taken from (SSD). Again, it worked without a hitch.
I've used Clonezilla on Macintosh machines, to put larger drives in (whole disk to disk) & to make backup images. Never a problem.
I love Clonezilla, it has been a very good friend to me for over a decade now...
Re: Transfer Windows 8 installation to a new drive
Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2018 4:22 am
by m_pav
sunrat wrote: Wed Sep 19, 2018 9:19 am
It is good but it costs ~50 bucks. Not worth it if you just want to use Clonezilla occasionally.
No it doesn't, $11 to download the most recent version, $49 to get a years worth of access.
Re: Transfer Windows 8 installation to a new drive
Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2018 4:55 am
by chrispop99
m_pav wrote: Thu Sep 20, 2018 4:22 am
sunrat wrote: Wed Sep 19, 2018 9:19 am
It is good but it costs ~50 bucks. Not worth it if you just want to use Clonezilla occasionally.
No it doesn't, $11 to download the most recent version, $49 to get a years worth of access.
Worth every cent of that too, in my opinion.
It's a single-person project, and was free for years, but the developer and his wife both got made redundant at separate times, so charging for his efforts seemed reasonable.
He's a really nice guy; an earlier version had a tiny bug, which I reported to him, and he immediately refunded me although that wasn't the reason for my communication.
Chris