- Messages
- 236
- Location
- Coryton Cardiff
You have two choices...
Either use Paragon on a 30 day free licence.
or
Macrium reflect "clone" to a slave drive.
Shrink with minitool if you need to shrink that is
Then macrium reflect "Clone drive" back...
This is interesting. Can Paragon do the same? Specifically, I'm interesting in imaging the entire factory disk (GPT disk including all partitions from the factory) onto a smaller drive I have lying around. Certainly, the amount of data on the factory disk is much smaller than the backup disk, but physically, it is indeed larger. And, would the backup include all the partition information so that all partitions are put back with their exact original sizes?
If the above is not possible, what about this scenario (if I may be so bold): Let's say I backup the disk from the factory, wipe the EFI/W8 recovery/system partitions, and clean install W8 onto that unallocated space. The W8 install creates new hidden EFI (and other) and system partitions on the drive. If wanted to restore the factory system image back, would I first need to wipe system and hidden partitions and restore the image?
Essentially, what has me confused are the hidden partitions. Specifically, how does a restore handle pre-existing EFI hidden partitions - are they simply overwritten from the recovery and re-sized if needed? And if the hidden partitions don't exist, such as on unallocated space, does the recovery create them from the backed up image so that the machine boots?
Apparently the Paragon software will do all that could possibly be required. But, I used the Macrium/Minitool method which worked for me. I suggest you do some reading on the Paragon site before purchasing...
My Computer
System One
-
- OS
- Win8 pro
- Computer type
- PC/Desktop
- System Manufacturer/Model
- Computer 1 of 4
- Motherboard
- ASUS M4A78LT-M LE
- Memory
- 4GB Kit (2x2GB)
- Monitor(s) Displays
- Samsung 18"
- Screen Resolution
- 1080p
- PSU
- Cheapo
- Internet Speed
- 30mb
- Other Info
- Computer 2 :~ Dell Inspiron - 1x 350gb & 1x 250gb - 6GB Memory - Win 7 | Computer 3 :~ Samsung 355v5C Notebook - 6Gb Mem - Win8 2Core| Computer 4:~ Samsung 355v5C Notebook - 6Gb Mem - Win8 4Core