How can I copy a HD into a smaller one?

[Mr.X]

I want to copy my 250GB hard drive into a 120GB. Only 45GB are full so I would expect it to be possible. Is it?

[billdavis]

copy and paste?

[[XC] itznfb]

^^ thats what i was going to say... i guess unless you're trying to import an image to smaller HDD maybe?

[Mr.X]

Copy and paste huh? Will this copy the whole operating system as well?

[[XC] itznfb]

no it won't. that's what i thought you meant. you will have to create an image. and restore the image to the drive.

[Soulburner]

If you want to copy everything including the OS, look into Norton Ghost. This would be something you want to save to restore later if needed?

[Mr.X]

Is there any way of doing this without buying new software? I just want to copy my hard drive on a Raptor (when I get one of course), and use my large drive for storage.

[nn_step]

Format and install windows on the raptor. Then just transfer the files that you want to keep. Sadly current FREE Partition tools do not support moving to a smaller volume. however some cheap commerical versions do

[niexa77]

Sadly current FREE Partition tools do not support moving to a smaller volume. however some cheap commerical versions do


interested in these cheap commercial versions...

(on PC:1) have a 4 internal sata drives in raid0 array controlled by sil3114(DFI Lanparty UT RDX200 CF-DR): 56.7gb of data(windows install, programs and files) which i cant to image for transport to a different drive...(or sil3114 controlled array)

and (on PC:2) have 2 x sata drives controlled by sil3114 JBOD(msi k8n neo4 platinum pcb v1.0): 4 partitions, 2 x 5gb non raid (windows install on first drive, second drive's 5gb partition empty) and 2 x 73gb windows controlled raid which all my program files and other files/programs installed on...
will want to put the data from drives in pc:2 on the 4 drives in pc:1(they will be moved to pc:2 first.. but not before all data on them backed up to ANOTHER drive using program you refer to above)
the 4 drives will be setup in raid5 controlled by sil3114

also, one drive will be added to the 2 from pc:2 then the 3 will make a raid5 array in pc:1: then the 62.7gb from the drives in pc:1 (which is safely backed up onto one of the ide's) will be put on the new raid5 array in pc:1

all this while retaining the perfect working order of my windows installs...

is this posible using these softwares? got a link handy? tried the tech support at symantec, but it was poor at best. might or might not get a response from them...

i know it seems like alot of trouble to avoid re-installing... but pc:1 is my girlfriends and she has a :banana: load of software from uni that takes too long to install and setup, not to mention all the data and backups along the way... (the 4 drives in her's are my raptors... no idea why they in there, but trying to remedy the situation... :D

EDIT: sorry for long O/T thread in thread, will move if nesicarry wanted to catch nn_step's attention and anyone offering assistance in this thread...