Re: Images versus disk Clones

"Daave" <dcwashNOSPAM@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:u3fWVc%23uHHA.4764@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Rock wrote:
A disk clone is a simple concept. It's an exact reproduction of the
drive (though some programs like Casper allow for cloning an
individual partition on a drive). Just substitute it for the
original drive and use it.

When I think of clone (which I've never done), I think of something that
is identical. Does the best way to make a clone involve using the same
make and model of the hard drive? What happens if the size of the drive
is different?



There is no such thing as an identical hard drive. All hard drives have
minute unusable areas on their platters. These are mapped out in low level
formatting at the factory. As a consequence, the actual usable area on a
hard drive will be different, byte for byte, than another of same make and
model. Cloning software makes allowances for that on a minute scale.

Generally, cloning software will clone a small hard drive to a large hard
drive. May have the option of making use of the larger storage area in a
target drive by making all the partitions larger before the cloning begins
the procedure. Can't clone the contents of a larger hard drive a smaller
one if the larger hard drive is used to capacity with partition(s). This is
one button operation.

Partition copying software can copy a partition or partitions from one hard
drive to the other. If enough empty space is within that partition, it can
be shrunk to allow for a smaller capacity hard drive. This takes more user
interaction, and may take more time as well.

Generally, cloning software is a one time operation for cloning the contents
of one hard drive to the other. Most people don't do that very often.

Partitioning software is similar. But, may be used more often as it has
assets of shrinking and expanding individual partitions as well. As well as
creating, deleting, and moving partitions. Some offer a hide capability
(hide the file system contents from the OS) of partitions. More flexible.

Dave


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