Hard Drive Replacement

[murdockman]

Hi All
I need to replace my 1TB hard drive in my dell desktop it's not failed yet but has had a few problems lately I'm ok with the physical side but wanted to know is it best to use windows system image or a some sort of clone software to do this.
I'm going to upgrade to a 2tb drive at the same time I have a spare external drive I can use to store clone/image on or do I connect new drive internally and do a direct clone/system image.
I do have the original discs that came with the pc for windows 7 any help would be appreciated thanks

 

[USAFRet]

What sort of problems is it having? A clone operation may just move the existing problems to the new drive.

 

[Ubrales]

Before you do anything, make a complete system backup on to an external disk (you should be doing this on a regular basis anyway).

If you have the original full installation Windows disks (not the re-installation disk) it is best to re-install Windows on the new HDD. You will also have to re-install all your software.

The other option which works very well is cloning.

Cloning.

Backup before you do anything. Backup to an external drive.

For cloning (making an exact copy of the entire disk) you need to connect the hard disk to your present computer OR to a different computer and then use a cloning software. There are a few good free cloning software that you can download and run.

There is Acronis (free download from WD's website).

Clonezilla: http://clonezilla.org/

Apricorn (this is what I use): http://www.apricorn.com/products/software/ezgig.html
(Needs ‘Drivewire’ - $35) - http://www.apricorn.com/media/uploads/DriveWire_Manual_rev7_14.pdf

EaseUS: http://www.easeus.com/backup-software/ (I have used this) - look for the clone option.

After you clone the hard disk, use the newly cloned hard disk in place of the old hard disk.

Make a backup of the new setup.