Migrate Seagate7200.1 100GB to Hitachi 7K200 200GB Questions

[bradhs]

Hi Everyone,

I have a ThinkPad T61 7662-CTO running Windows VISTA Ultimate. I'm planning of migrating from a Seagate 7200.1 100GB to Hitachi 7K200 200GB. I want to image the Seagate to the Hitachi as seamless as possible. I will turn off the boot-up password as I know that has to be done before imaging.

A few questions:

1. I have BitLocker turned on. Do I need to just turn this off or do I need un-encrypt the whole drive before migrating? Because I am using BitLocker I have a separate partition used as the boot partition. I'm going to copy that over also, I'm not sure if the MBR will come over right. A little confused on this subject. Help

2. Do I have to do anything with the fingerprint/security software from ThinkPad?

3. If I am using Apricorn EZGIG II CD. I've been told to put the NEW drive in the laptop and the OLD hard drive in the ultrabay carrier. Is this the best way or does it really matter?

I'm basically doing this to gain more space and a little faster speed. I think, from what I have read so far, that the Hitachi is faster than the 7200.1 100GB that was included in my ThinkPad T61. Also, it should be just as quiet but a ton more space!

Also, refer to the following link: http://www.apricorn.com/faqs.php?id=1023&family=f
It contains information about cloning Thinkpad computers. Not sure if that is accurate or not, information here is usually more accurate than any other web site. Also, near the bottom of that web page they talk about VISTA compatibility, but I think that has to do with running the software inside VISTA and not booting from the CD.

Thank you,

Bradley

[acaurora]

I actually did this not too recently... I have a T60, but the process should be essentially the same.

1. I cannot answer this as I do not have BitLocker (I am not using Vista til SP1 >:O )
2. I dont believe that you need to change anything for the security... the TPM is a combination of hardware and software I believe and I dont think there should be any complications. However again I didn't bother to opt for the fingerprint reader so i cannot give you a definite answer.

3. This is the part where I actually can be of use

the process you described is actually backwards. You put the new HDD (the 7K200) in the enclosure, and boot off the EZ GIG II CD. Choose the option to go from the Internal HDD to the External (Clone)... there are several other options as well (how to resize partitions if the 2 HDDs aren't of the same szie, etc etc etc), and then you simply go.

once you're done you swap the HDDs such that the old HDD (the Seagate 7200.1) goes in the enclosure and the new HDD (7K200) goes in the T61. When I did it, it was all seamless and I didn't have any problems. booted up perfectly fine.

Oh, and as an added bonus, you no longer hear the marble dropping noise, if you heard that at all (common *characteristic* of the 7200.1s). And for me the Automatic Power Management feature was nice too... would actually spin down the HDD when my pre-set idle time was reached, while the 7200.1 never did.


If you ask me, I believe that the idle noise is *slightly* higher, but the seek time is near-indistinguishable. The nice thing about the Hitachi is that is is slightly more "configurable" in that you can adjust the AAM / APM settings, while the 7200.1 has them locked. As for speed it does seem a little bit faster, and the heat output remains about the same, if not less.

snipped

[bradhs]

Hi Acaurora,

I tried exactly what you said but it didnt work. I'm not disabling the security chip and will put the new drive in the T61 and the old drive on the USB adapter. Regarding BitLocker, it looks like you must unencrypt the drive so that EZ-GIG II can recognize it or you cannot resize it.

I'll post another message shortly after the second run completes. Any help would be appreciated if you feel I should be doing something different.

Thanks,
Bradley

[bradhs]

Another odd thing... It looks like EZGIG II sees the old drive as an "F" drive instead of "C" drive. Not sure if thats just because I booted from the EZ-GIG II CD or if it read it off the hard drive. Hope that doesnt cause any issues.

Will update everone shortly.

[acaurora]

I dont think that the drive letters should mean anything.

Yeah I'm not sure how to undo BitLocker :O