If I remember correctly, when I purchased my WD Velociraptor 1 TB drive, it came with cloning software. I know I didn't buy any software when I moved my Windows 8.1 installation from a 500 GB drive to the Velociraptor.

Most retail drives include the software, a bare bones drive will not - not to worry though, you can download the software directly from WDC.

Acronis True Image WD Edition Software

Yup, that's what I used. Although it's been a couple of years, as I remember it was pretty easy and worked great.

Hi. Just saw this and sent it to my daughter. Not sure what she plans on doing with my PC/HD as of yet.
Thanks,

That should work.

One thing to keep in mind if you are going to do a new install is that many PCs of the last few years do not include an install disk, but instead have a restore partition. This is usually a hidden, inaccessible partition that contains all of the install files. It is activated by pressing a certain key (depending on the PC) on startup that will make the PC boot from the restore partition to start the installation. At the very least this partition will need to be imaged or cloned before you can do a new install.

Since this is a Cyberpower PC, Terri has found her Windows 8 CD. But, if she is able to clone it, there shouldn't be any need for it. Hopefully not, because that's a LOT of updates... just did one of those last weekend for someone.

Hopefully last question on this. I never heard back from Cyberpower about the additional disk for graphics card, etc, am I going to need them? If so, I'm in real trouble

No, you can probably download everything you will need. But again, if you clone the old drive, you won't need them anyway.

Ok, not sure when my daughter will be available to help me with the Cyberpower but have a question or two. Can you or Inland tell me which of the Acronis true image WD software I need to download? Also, that PC hasn't been booted up in many days so what are the chances that I could boot it up and download the software without a major problem of the HD croaking. I am not sure why I'm asking this because I realize you don't know the answer to that but guess I'm just tired of waiting and not being able to use my other PC.

I just looked back at the link and wonder if there is a way to do this other than manually. If I can do it automatically would that be easier? Now for the clincher question, I am to clone my old HD to disk, or will it be saved on the software and I then transfer it to the new HD?
Ok Boomers, do not roll thoses eyes, I can see you! Remember, I'm a novice!

The English one from the link Inland provided.


Chances are it won't croak immediately.
But you shouldn't put off replacing it.


It is automatic. You set it up, then leave it until it's finished.


In the simplest setup, the data goes directly from the old hard drive to the new one.

http://wdc.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3682/~/how-to-manually-clone-a-disk-with-acronis-true-image-wd-edition-software

Thanks so much Jenny100. This is the link I was referring to. (meanwhile I'm going to boot up the Cyberpower) to see what this is going to entail.

And remember, you must first mount and connect the new drive in the PC.

Drac............HELP! I've copied and installed on old HD the Acronis software and now don't know what to do!

Oh gee, I clicked on the backup and recovery on the acronis software and it shows No backups found on your computer". Looks like I'm in deep trouble.
It's showing tools and utilities /and backup and recovery tabs.

There is nothing you can do until you mount and connect that new hard drive. Please follow the instructions I sent you. If you haven't RUN the backup, of course you won't have a backup. When you RUN it, you must specify an origin disk and a destination disk.

Drac. I'm a wreck, and I don't think I can do this. Are you saying I should not have run the software on the old drive?

I d/loaded (saved)and installed it on the old drive. Those instructions were Greek to me and I wasn't sure which to d/load. I am on the link that Inland sent on GB.

I only see one version to download at
http://support.wdc.com/product/downloaddetail.asp?swid=119
and that seems to be version 16.

So you'd look at the instructions for version 16 at
http://wdc.custhelp.com/app/answers/deta...tware#acronis16

Of course you won't be able to do anything until you put the new hard drive in the computer and have it all connected up. Both hard drives must be in the computer in order to clone from one drive to the other one.

Thanks Jenny100. The link I looked at had version 14 and 16. I did not realize that they both had to be in the computer, I thought I just connected them with a USB. I shut the PC down, so looks like I'm done, at least for today.
When I was trying to do this before, I had such a problem with my ISP tech, couldn't get to the internet. That tech tried for at least an hour to fix it, so he messed up my other pc that I had been using. This has been going on for days. They swapped out my router and VOIP box and didn't set it up for my Cyberpower. I've been looking for another server but we are basically in limbo...............this just added to my stress.
Thank you!

There may be some systems that will clone correctly through USB, but since you want the new drive to be the new Windows drive, there's not really much adventage to trying to do it through USB. You're going to want the new drive inside the computer anyway.


If he really messed it up, does the computer have a restore point you could go back to? It sounds like they were blaming your computer when the problem was on their end.

As I keep saying, you must mount and connect the new drive - connecting with a USB will not work here. The instructions I sent you several days ago gave step-by-step instructions along with screenshots to show you how to proceed each step of the way.

What you purchased is a bare drive - you couldn't connect with a USB cable if you wanted to... it has to be mounted in the computer, connected to the motherboard and then connected to the power supply.

Thank you so much Drac. You did send a link as did Inland, but you know, some people are too darned stupid to understand what they've read. Thank you so much for the reminder!

I can be daunting if you've never done it, but it's a fairly simple process. Maybe a video would help a bit -

How to copy or clone your hard drive using acronis

Jenny100. Thank you for clarifying that I need to use version 16, you're the only person that gave me that heads-up. I appreciate it.

I don't think it's that kind of mess up. The other day they replaced the router and set it up for wireless and security. After that it got messed up because of the VOIP. I called on cell phone to get it fixed and they messed up both the pc and the phone, so then I had neither. Then it worked again, it's an on off situation for these people. Apparently the VOIP they offer is not reliable. Then today I booted up the Cyberpower and it wouldn't connect to the internet. Called and he had a real problem figuring out what was wrong, then he messed up the phone, and other pc. It's a long story and I was livid. Between Directv's mess up's and Consolidated Communication's, the stress is getting to be too much for me. I'm just about ready to move off the grid and have nothing to worry about electrical. LOL

Needless to say I know nothing about the pc except how to turn it off and on and piddle, that's what I do!

Inland, daunting is not the word! Thank you so much for the video, first example was pretty cut and dry. Now since dummy d/loaded from the original link you posted I am guessing I need to go back into my Cyberpower and uninstall that download, since it's useless on there, correct?
If you think of anything else you want to tell me please do so or any videos that you think might help please send. I am not going to tackle anything tonight, I've got a headache and teary eyes. Crazy me, I get that way when I realize I'm vacuous.
Thank you again, I truly appreciate you looking up that video and sending it to me.

Inland and Draclvr,

Does Terri824 need to create the Acronis Bootable Media in order to clone the hard drive?
Or does the current version of Acronis allow you to clone from the hard drive you're booted to?

From here (seems to be info for an older version)
https://kb.acronis.com/content/44741

Instructions are here
https://kb.acronis.com/content/48338

Creating the Acronis Bootable Media is something she could do now, even before putting the new hard drive in the computer. All she needs is the writable CD or DVD for the media.