Hey there, I have a Sata Hard drive that for some reason stopped booting on a computer with Windows XP Pro on it. I just tried to make it a second drive on a different computer on Sata1 port but the Win7 Computer sticks at a colored loading icon until I unplug the data cable, yes with it still running and it then finishes the boot, the bios does see it. So that might be one problem you could help with. So I have a old Winxp Home computer, yep 3 different computers, and I used one of those things you connect the hard drive to and then to the computer using USB, and it sees it and I can browse through it and all of that. I was hoping to connect it using SATA to copy stuff at better speeds and maybe reliability. but it freezes so to speak. Either way, What is the most reliable method to copy and paste or whatever, If we can't figure out why it freezes, I will have to use the USB, So, Browse and copy and paste normally using WIN7, or use one of the programs here, if so which is the one of choice ? which one is easy to learn ? etc. Any help much appreciated of course. Did I leave something out ? Thank you. Oh, P.S. the hard drives are both Seagates and the little jumpers are there not jumped and the drive says (Factory use only) So I figured/hoped they are set to auto detect.
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Nobody ? Maybe gave too many details ? I don't need to clone, although that might be just another idea. My computer is a bit old and slow, So I think I will do a few Hundred MB at a time. but who knows, maybe there is a File issue like NTLDR or whatever keeping it from booting. and maybe also from being accessible as a secondary HDD ? I don't know. But since I can see it and access it using the USB thing I mentioned, Figured I would copy and paste, or use something like Free Commander or what ever is suggested. throw in all ideas and suggestions. cloning included, or one Idea or solution.
I use FreeFileSync (FFS) for backing up files between different drives. It's very good, a bit of learning curve for the advanced stuff but getting the basics is straightforward enough. The installer version is completely free. However, you can get FFS as a portable, Donation Edition, but you have to donate for that, that said it's not very expensive. The following provides inf on FFS:
About FFS: https://freefilesync.org/
Download: https://freefilesync.org/download.php
Donation Edition: https://freefilesync.org/faq.php#donation-edition
Should also mention that FFS has its own forum and the folks there are pretty helpful. Zenju, the developer of FFS, is very active on the forum (like John Haller is here) so you might get excellent help from the world's #1 expert on the program.
I do some backing up using USB connections to portable mini-HDDs and, as you say it's SLOW. However, with FFS once you have set it up and told what to copy, from where, and how (you can save your settings for future use) then a click of mouse starts the back up and you can go make a coffee or something. No need to manually copy and paste. Other advantage of FFS is that when doing the backups you can set it to only backup new and changed files -- means you don't have to 'manually' work out what files you want to backup, everything gets automated. Great software, nowadays my backup routines are done with a couple of mouse clicks, no sweat.
What FFS won't do is cure flaky drives, if that is what you have.
Hope this helps.
Use Portable Apps on both Flash Drive and HDD/SSD.
Also use a Linux live CD such as Puppy Linux, I have used that. There is a program in the menu to facilitate this, but I can't recall what it's called.
Link here: http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=62439