Clone, not just copy, a data drive on my PC

Janning

New Member
Messages
21
I am running Windows 2012 Server Release 2. The Operating system is on Drive C.
My D drive, is pure data...in fact, it is used basically as a network drive,
to back up a Windows 8.1 PC on my network. It has NO operating system on it,
It just happens to exist on my Windows 2012 box.
Its a 1 Terabyte drive and only has less than one meg free space. I have a new
2 Terabyte drive. I would like to clone the existing 1 TB to the 2 TB drive.
I would prefer a "clone" as opposed to a "copy", I feel more comfortable, just
swapping the drives doing the clone.
Two months ago, I used Paragon to do this exact same thing on my windows 8.1 box,
Cloned a data drive to a bigger drive, after done, I just swapped and good to go.
My question...is there anything native to windows ..specifically Win 2012 server
I can used that will 'clone'...not just copy my existing drive to the new drive?
I do have the correct paragon, for 2012...but, would rather go more simple if I can.
I believe Robocopy can do this, keeping in mind I do want a true clone,
What are these steps?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 pro 64 bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    MSI
A true clone copies data and disk structure like mbr etc any cloning software will do this and most will give the option to expand partition as it clones. Robcopy which is built in will copy all files folders etc you simple run from a Cmd prompt and use the / mirror option to in effect clone you would have to create partition and format first to us it
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win 8 pro
A true clone copies data and disk structure like mbr etc any cloning software will do this and most will give the option to expand partition as it clones. Robcopy which is built in will copy all files folders etc you simple run from a Cmd prompt and use the / mirror option to in effect clone you would have to create partition and format first to us it

Being I am going from a 1 TB to a 2 TB drive...maybe I should stick to using PARAGON...it handles all of this. Theoretically, the way I set it up?...I should be able to just use XCOPY, and be fine. However, you know how that goes, over the years, there could be that one thing, I installed that is crossing and passing back n forth from C to D, that the clone would take care of. Its more "better safe than sorry".

I admit I have not put much research into it, but, the little I have done (ok, very little) I'm not seeing how Robocopy would handle it, if it did need something cloned.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 pro 64 bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    MSI
Robocopy is designed by Ms specifically to do this and was designed for server's it can do it very fast and with easy you can now get a GUI for it to make it simpler
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win 8 pro
Robocopy is designed by Ms specifically to do this and was designed for server's it can do it very fast and with easy you can now get a GUI for it to make it simpler

so? where can I see some example of what parameters I would need? I ha e the GUI, it's pretty straight forward, but no so much on what parameters I would need to do a clone
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 pro 64 bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    MSI
Couldn't be simpler type from CMD prompt robocopy d:\ e:\ /Mir to mirror d to e robocopy /? Gives list of cmds


I can see how "robocopy d:\ e:\ /Mir" would do a vanilla copy/clone
But? is a simple /MIR going to cover, the below possibilities ?
/Z :: copy files in restartable mode.
/B :: copy files in Backup mode.
/ZB :: use restartable mode; if access denied use Backup mode.
/J :: copy using unbuffered I/O (recommended for large files).
/A+:[RASHCNET] :: add the given Attributes to copied files.
It almost seems as though I need something like the below?
(D: being existing 1TB drive and E: being the new empty 2 TB drive)
robocopy D: E: /MIR /MT:64 /Z /B /J /LOG:c:robocopy.txt /TEE
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 pro 64 bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    MSI
Its bomb proof so you dont really need anything else itwill report t the end any fails setting time out may be handy or it can try all day if it fails some details Simple File Synchronization Using Robocopy | Mark S. Rasmussen

This is confusing...from what I gather...you are saying, just use "robocopy d:\ e:\ /Mir"....it will cover all my bases?
Reading the /?...leads me to believe it will need additional switches. ie "/MT:64 /Z /B /J /LOG:c:robocopy.txt /TEE"...with ZBJ needed and the others more "nice to have".
The article, he says he "ended up using - /MIR /FFT /Z /XA:H /W:5", leading me to believe I may have to try this a few different ways, starting over ?

During the time it took me to type this, Paragon, whipped out the clone for me....is it any good...I don't know yet, it says all is "ok"
With paragon, I did not have to assign a drive letter...so I can't read it yet.
----------------------
I want to start over and try Robocopy...but, fist want to be very clear on the steps, let me know if you agree please?
I assume with ROBOCOPY, I will first have to go into disk management and assign a drive letter (in this case "E" to the 2 TB drive), then won't hurt to do a format (especially to clean off what paragon did). At this point I will have an empty formatted drive E, that is 2 Terabytes.
Command prompt, and then.....to be clear.....just simply use "robocopy d:\ e:\ /Mir" ??

Next, turn off the PC...Take out the 1 TB, put in the 2 TB. (which will be drive E)...Then go into disk manager and assign the 2 TB to "D"...and all done? The PC will not even know the difference with exception of now, it will have plenty of space??
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 pro 64 bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    MSI
I have used just / mir for years /Z ensures robocopy can resume the transfer of a large file in mid-file instead of restarting. /W:5 reduces the wait time between failures to 5 seconds instead of the 30 second default. are handy but normally not needed
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win 8 pro
I have used just / mir for years /Z ensures robocopy can resume the transfer of a large file in mid-file instead of restarting. /W:5 reduces the wait time between failures to 5 seconds instead of the 30 second default. are handy but normally not needed

Ok...sorry to be a pain...but, that did not answer my question...can you confirm the below? There are some very crucial steps here, that, if wrong, or need more info...will make or break this.
----------
I want to start over and try Robocopy...but, fist want to be very clear on the steps, let me know if you agree please?
I assume with ROBOCOPY, I will first have to go into disk management and assign a drive letter (in this case "E" to the 2 TB drive), then won't hurt to do a format (especially to clean off what paragon did). At this point I will have an empty formatted drive E, that is 2 Terabytes.
Command prompt, and then.....to be clear.....just simply use " ??
(could change this to be "robocopy d:\ e:\ /Mir/Z/W:5"


Next, turn off the PC...Take out the 1 TB, put in the 2 TB. (which will be drive E)...Then go into disk manager and assign the 2 TB to "D"...and all done? The PC will not even know the difference with exception of now, it will have plenty of space??
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 pro 64 bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    MSI
Robocopy is a great utility for copying files and directories.
I agree with member samuria that the term clone usually refers to the duplication of a system drive (MBR, reserved partition, Windows partition, etc.)
I generally don't use the extra flags you were considering, such as /Z and /W:5.
However, consider using the "/DCOPY:T" flag, which copies directory time stamps.
File time stamps are preserved by default, but the directory (that is, folder) time stamps aren't preserved unless you specify the /dcopy:T flag. For me, that's one reason I like Robocopy vs. some other methods.

As you said, the Robocopy GUI does nothing to help you decide which settings to specify.
Personally, I use a programming project I found on the interweb which presents a very nice interface and describes a particular flag you select. Your selections are put into a text area which forms the command line. Once it's complete, you run the command. This program is handy if you plan on doing more copies using Robocopy.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
Back
Top