Best way to upgrade to Windows 7 from XP ... Is PartitionMagic still around? Last I heard, Norton purchased them. That brought them down a lot in my book.

Flav_cool · 07-24-2009, 10:54 AM

Alright. I just put Windows 7 on my sister's new laptop and I'm pretty impressed. I'd like to put it on my laptop (my main comp) but I don't want to lose my current set up.

However, I don't have an external hdd, and only one partition. If I DID have another hd, I would simply clone my whole current setup on it, and then continue to format and do a clean install. If I wanna go back, I could just return to the clone...

Since I can't do that, can you guys give me some ideas?

Could I do a dual boot and eventually if I find it's ok, get rid of the XP install? Can I do this without creating a second partition? If a second partition IS required, could I eventually get rid of it?

What programs will help me do this?

Thanks,

Flaviu

qhn · 07-24-2009, 01:02 PM

. Yes: you can dual boot and eventuall get rid of XP

. You need a second partition before installing W7, since W7 installation does not have a way at this moment to create one for itself.

. EaseUS is a free Windows tool that allows you to partition your disk.

cheers ...

Flav_cool · 07-24-2009, 01:34 PM

Cool thanks. Now let's say I want to wait until I get a second drive. I've been meaning to get a 320GB drive. So let's say I pop this fresh new drive into the laptop, removing the old one. Install windows 7, and don't like it or a program I need doesn't work.

Are there any partition cloning apps that will be able to read my old drive through a USB enclosure and write to the new 320GB internal drive? What about through a network?

qhn · 07-24-2009, 01:39 PM

I use Acronis True Image for the cloning to a larger drive, then pop it back onto the notebook. The trial period will do fine for you. But look around on the net, Acronis offers some older version for free. And it works.

cheers ...

Flav_cool · 07-24-2009, 01:54 PM

Wait, but what system do you do the actual cloning in?

Is there any way to clone my current drive onto or from another harddrive on my home network? Or do the 2 drives have to be strictly on the same machine? If so, is it possible with a second drive connected through USB?

qhn · 07-24-2009, 02:09 PM

I just installed Acronis to my XP, run it, and clone it to the larger drive via an external USB housing.

cheers ...

Flav_cool · 07-24-2009, 02:12 PM

Oh cool, so it works in XP, you don't have to boot with it... I see.

Any chance of saving the image across a network?

qhn · 07-24-2009, 02:17 PM

I am not sure, you have to check out the full/new version of Acronis and see.

http://www.acronis.com/

cheers ...

Flav_cool · 08-10-2009, 09:22 AM

Yes, Acronis TrueImage can do it! I cloned through the network to a hdd on my desktop.

Ryanz00m · 08-13-2009, 10:17 AM

Is PartitionMagic still around? Last I heard, Norton purchased them. That brought them down a lot in my book.

07-24-2009, 10:54 AM	#1
Flav_cool Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 851 Credits: 269	Best way to upgrade to Windows 7 from XP Alright. I just put Windows 7 on my sister's new laptop and I'm pretty impressed. I'd like to put it on my laptop (my main comp) but I don't want to lose my current set up. However, I don't have an external hdd, and only one partition. If I DID have another hd, I would simply clone my whole current setup on it, and then continue to format and do a clean install. If I wanna go back, I could just return to the clone... Since I can't do that, can you guys give me some ideas? Could I do a dual boot and eventually if I find it's ok, get rid of the XP install? Can I do this without creating a second partition? If a second partition IS required, could I eventually get rid of it? What programs will help me do this? Thanks, Flaviu __________________ Dell Inspiron 9300: P-M 1.7GHz @ 2.26GHz @ 0.716/1.324v \| 128MB ATi X300 @ 442.80/662.4 DDR [49.09%/44.31% OC] \| 3DMark05:2071 \| 2GB DDR2 \| 100GB 5400RPM \| NEC 8X DVD-RW \| 9-cell battery \| 17" Samsung K9922 WUXGA \| 3yr warranty Custom desktop: P4 3.0C \| 128MB ATi 9600Pro \| 1GB DDR \| 120GB 7200RPM SATA \| 16X Sony DVD-RW \| 17" Samsung SyncMaster 955DF

07-24-2009, 01:02 PM	#2
qhn ... am invisible Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 26,702 Reviews: 9 Benchmarks: 18 Credits: 74,866	. Yes: you can dual boot and eventuall get rid of XP . You need a second partition before installing W7, since W7 installation does not have a way at this moment to create one for itself. . EaseUS is a free Windows tool that allows you to partition your disk. cheers ... __________________ m6805@3700; SZ71WN/C ; Macbook 2ghz/4gig/250gb/superdrive; 7811FX are u Folding@Home? - Firefox Beta - MediaPortal "the" Media Centre/HTPC!

07-24-2009, 01:34 PM	#3
Flav_cool Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 851 Credits: 269	Cool thanks. Now let's say I want to wait until I get a second drive. I've been meaning to get a 320GB drive. So let's say I pop this fresh new drive into the laptop, removing the old one. Install windows 7, and don't like it or a program I need doesn't work. Are there any partition cloning apps that will be able to read my old drive through a USB enclosure and write to the new 320GB internal drive? What about through a network? __________________ Dell Inspiron 9300: P-M 1.7GHz @ 2.26GHz @ 0.716/1.324v \| 128MB ATi X300 @ 442.80/662.4 DDR [49.09%/44.31% OC] \| 3DMark05:2071 \| 2GB DDR2 \| 100GB 5400RPM \| NEC 8X DVD-RW \| 9-cell battery \| 17" Samsung K9922 WUXGA \| 3yr warranty Custom desktop: P4 3.0C \| 128MB ATi 9600Pro \| 1GB DDR \| 120GB 7200RPM SATA \| 16X Sony DVD-RW \| 17" Samsung SyncMaster 955DF

07-24-2009, 01:39 PM	#4
qhn ... am invisible Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 26,702 Reviews: 9 Benchmarks: 18 Credits: 74,866	I use Acronis True Image for the cloning to a larger drive, then pop it back onto the notebook. The trial period will do fine for you. But look around on the net, Acronis offers some older version for free. And it works. cheers ... __________________ m6805@3700; SZ71WN/C ; Macbook 2ghz/4gig/250gb/superdrive; 7811FX are u Folding@Home? - Firefox Beta - MediaPortal "the" Media Centre/HTPC!

07-24-2009, 01:54 PM	#5
Flav_cool Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 851 Credits: 269	Wait, but what system do you do the actual cloning in? Is there any way to clone my current drive onto or from another harddrive on my home network? Or do the 2 drives have to be strictly on the same machine? If so, is it possible with a second drive connected through USB? __________________ Dell Inspiron 9300: P-M 1.7GHz @ 2.26GHz @ 0.716/1.324v \| 128MB ATi X300 @ 442.80/662.4 DDR [49.09%/44.31% OC] \| 3DMark05:2071 \| 2GB DDR2 \| 100GB 5400RPM \| NEC 8X DVD-RW \| 9-cell battery \| 17" Samsung K9922 WUXGA \| 3yr warranty Custom desktop: P4 3.0C \| 128MB ATi 9600Pro \| 1GB DDR \| 120GB 7200RPM SATA \| 16X Sony DVD-RW \| 17" Samsung SyncMaster 955DF

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07-24-2009, 02:09 PM	#6
qhn ... am invisible Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 26,702 Reviews: 9 Benchmarks: 18 Credits: 74,866	I just installed Acronis to my XP, run it, and clone it to the larger drive via an external USB housing. cheers ... __________________ m6805@3700; SZ71WN/C ; Macbook 2ghz/4gig/250gb/superdrive; 7811FX are u Folding@Home? - Firefox Beta - MediaPortal "the" Media Centre/HTPC!

07-24-2009, 02:12 PM	#7
Flav_cool Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 851 Credits: 269	Oh cool, so it works in XP, you don't have to boot with it... I see. Any chance of saving the image across a network? __________________ Dell Inspiron 9300: P-M 1.7GHz @ 2.26GHz @ 0.716/1.324v \| 128MB ATi X300 @ 442.80/662.4 DDR [49.09%/44.31% OC] \| 3DMark05:2071 \| 2GB DDR2 \| 100GB 5400RPM \| NEC 8X DVD-RW \| 9-cell battery \| 17" Samsung K9922 WUXGA \| 3yr warranty Custom desktop: P4 3.0C \| 128MB ATi 9600Pro \| 1GB DDR \| 120GB 7200RPM SATA \| 16X Sony DVD-RW \| 17" Samsung SyncMaster 955DF

07-24-2009, 02:17 PM	#8
qhn ... am invisible Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 26,702 Reviews: 9 Benchmarks: 18 Credits: 74,866	I am not sure, you have to check out the full/new version of Acronis and see. http://www.acronis.com/ cheers ... __________________ m6805@3700; SZ71WN/C ; Macbook 2ghz/4gig/250gb/superdrive; 7811FX are u Folding@Home? - Firefox Beta - MediaPortal "the" Media Centre/HTPC!

08-10-2009, 09:22 AM	#9
Flav_cool Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 851 Credits: 269	Yes, Acronis TrueImage can do it! I cloned through the network to a hdd on my desktop. __________________ Dell Inspiron 9300: P-M 1.7GHz @ 2.26GHz @ 0.716/1.324v \| 128MB ATi X300 @ 442.80/662.4 DDR [49.09%/44.31% OC] \| 3DMark05:2071 \| 2GB DDR2 \| 100GB 5400RPM \| NEC 8X DVD-RW \| 9-cell battery \| 17" Samsung K9922 WUXGA \| 3yr warranty Custom desktop: P4 3.0C \| 128MB ATi 9600Pro \| 1GB DDR \| 120GB 7200RPM SATA \| 16X Sony DVD-RW \| 17" Samsung SyncMaster 955DF

08-13-2009, 10:17 AM	#10
Ryanz00m Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 26 Credits: 3,670	Is PartitionMagic still around? Last I heard, Norton purchased them. That brought them down a lot in my book. __________________ Sager 4750v 3400+ AMD64 60gb 7200rpm 1gb ram ATI 9700 Mobility

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