Cloning my laptop hdd with aomei

[davemo]

Have downloaded the free version of aomei that allows disk cloning,I have a hdd given to me as the laptop screen had failed I have bought a sata docking station that allows usb connection. I also have 2 external hard drives that connect via usb.
When using the cloning software I can select my hdd but when I go to the next stage none of my usb devices are showing to select as the destination. I have read the help files which seem to suggest that a usb device can be used but I get the feeling that a usb device has to be prepared before use but the help files do not say how?
Can any one help?

 

[webworkings]

You can't fully clone the system with the free version... look here... https://www.aomeitech.com/ab/standard.html Go down to the comparison chart. It says that is not an option.

 

[k1114]

That's for cloning just windows without other software and files. There is no such thing as cloning and selecting a whole partition or disk and it not fully cloning it.

What size are all the hdds? Are the usb initialized?

 

[USAFRet]

Have downloaded the free version of aomei that allows disk cloning,I have a hdd given to me as the laptop screen had failed I have bought a sata docking station that allows usb connection. I also have 2 external hard drives that connect via usb.
When using the cloning software I can select my hdd but when I go to the next stage none of my usb devices are showing to select as the destination. I have read the help files which seem to suggest that a usb device can be used but I get the feeling that a usb device has to be prepared before use but the help files do not say how?
Can any one help?

What are you actually trying to do?
Clone the current drive in the laptop to a new drive that you obtained?
Or something else?

What are the drive sizes, types, and how much space is consumed on the current drive?

 

[davemo]

You can't fully clone the system with the free version... look here... https://www.aomeitech.com/ab/standard.html Go down to the comparison chart. It says that is not an option.

 

[davemo]

Used your link and under disk clone there is a tick in the column so I don’t really understand your reply.

 

[davemo]

From one of the replies asking if the usbs have been initialised I do not know what this means but I have been keeping back up files on the 2 external drives and have accessed the sata drive to rescue files for the donor of the sata drive . All the usb drives are substantially larger than the disk I am trying to clone.

 

[davemo]

USAFRet asked what was I trying to do, I have a Sony laptop running on vista I have taken care of the laptop and can see no reason to change it but support for vista has ended and many new programmes will not run on it.I was hoping to update the OS to win 10 but wished to be able to reinstall vista if things did not work out.I am a bit resentful that my OS did not get the free upgrade so have seen that win10 will run without a license and have created a bootable usb flash drive with the win 10 image files on it downloaded from Microsoft.Having said that I may have a license as the satadrive had win8 on it and after running a programme called produkey it found a license that was titled Win 10.in essence I am trying to get win10 on my laptop whilst having a fallback to vista all on the cheap.

 

[USAFRet]

OK.

Don't create a "clone" on the USB drive. Instead create an "Image" of Vista. The entire drive encapsulated in a single file.
This will allow a fallback position, to go back to Vista if needed.

I much prefer Macrium Reflect, but I guess your AOMEI would work.

As for Win 10?
Completely unknown if you have a valid path to a Win 10 upgrade from your system.

 

[davemo]

Tried downloading the free version of macrium reflect but the instal file did not arrive ,there was a download log that you could inspect which said where the file was downloaded to but it’s not there.I contacted macrium and from their reply the free download would appear to be free only as an update to previously paid for releases as they said to input my product key.

 

[USAFRet]

Macrium Reflect Free, here:
https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree

 

[davemo]

Macrium Reflect Free, here:
https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree

 

[davemo]

Tried your link,it was the same page as I have already used, as I say the downloader did not supply the instal programme ? Do you think it’s because I’m on vista?

 

[USAFRet]

Tried your link,it was the same page as I have already used, as I say the downloader did not supply the instal programme ? Do you think it’s because I’m on vista?

The Free version does support Vista, and does do actual cloning or imaging.

The file you should be downloading is ReflectDLHF.exe.

 

[davemo]

OK.

Don't create a "clone" on the USB drive. Instead create an "Image" of Vista. The entire drive encapsulated in a single file.
This will allow a fallback position, to go back to Vista if needed.

I much prefer Macrium Reflect, but I guess your AOMEI would work.

As for Win 10?
Completely unknown if you have a valid path to a Win 10 upgrade from your system.

 

[davemo]

Had another try at macrium and this time got the instal file but get an error message when I try to run it.I have a feeling my Macafee security is the problem so will try again.
Had a look at aomei it has the choice of “system image” or “disc image” the sata 0 shows two partitions one with the name recovery and the other the C: system image by the size of it just images C: whereas disc image does both partitions.Which would you recommend?
By the way thanks for your help much appreciated

 

[USAFRet]

Had another try at macrium and this time got the instal file but get an error message when I try to run it.I have a feeling my Macafee security is the problem so will try again.
Had a look at aomei it has the choice of “system image” or “disc image” the sata 0 shows two partitions one with the name recovery and the other the C: system image by the size of it just images C: whereas disc image does both partitions.Which would you recommend?
By the way thanks for your help much appreciated

I'm not familiar with the AOMEI application, but basically, you select ALL partitions on that drive and make an image of that on your selected target drive.

 

[davemo]

Had another try at macrium and this time got the instal file but get an error message when I try to run it.I have a feeling my Macafee security is the problem so will try again.
Had a look at aomei it has the choice of “system image” or “disc image” the sata 0 shows two partitions one with the name recovery and the other the C: system image by the size of it just images C: whereas disc image does both partitions.Which would you recommend?
By the way thanks for your help much appreciated

I'm not familiar with the AOMEI application, but basically, you select ALL partitions on that drive and make an image of that on your selected target drive.

 

[davemo]

Thanks,will give it whirl

 

[davemo]

Thanks for all your help,gave me a few ideas, I have created a dual boot so I can see if Win 10 works whilst keeping Vista .It does work ok even without a key just looking for what the limitations might be.

 

[USAFRet]

Thanks for all your help,gave me a few ideas, I have created a dual boot so I can see if Win 10 works whilst keeping Vista .It does work ok even without a key just looking for what the limitations might be.

Limitation of an unactivated Win 10 are:

No customization of the desktop or taskbar
A randomly appearing nag text at bottom right. This overlays everything, incl games.

That's it.

I have a test install Win 10 Pro to check exactly this. Installed Dec 8 2016. 490 days.
Runs exactly as it did on Day 1.