ghosting programs

[screwballl]

What is out there that works well *FOR FREE* that will allow me to duplicate or ghost one hard drive to another? I can do CD ISO (prefered) or whatever is needed.
My brothers PC has a slowly dying hard drive (random clicks of death that lock up the PC for 5-30 seconds) and I would like to just duplicate the hard drive with XP and all before it completely dies.
I am not wanting to spend much or any money as this is a 800MHz P3 so trying to get off as cheap as possible.
One of the main reasons is that he is in MT (I am in FL) and can't find the original XP disc and I can't find the original key in the registry to reinstall it from disc with his key. That and I don't want to use my key when he has his own legal version...

[garetjax]

Originally Posted by screwballl

What is out there that works well *FOR FREE* that will allow me to duplicate or ghost one hard drive to another? I can do CD ISO (prefered) or whatever is needed.
My brothers PC has a slowly dying hard drive (random clicks of death that lock up the PC for 5-30 seconds) and I would like to just duplicate the hard drive with XP and all before it completely dies.
I am not wanting to spend much or any money as this is a 800MHz P3 so trying to get off as cheap as possible.
One of the main reasons is that he is in MT (I am in FL) and can't find the original XP disc and I can't find the original key in the registry to reinstall it from disc with his key. That and I don't want to use my key when he has his own legal version...

I swear by Norton Ghost. I have been using this backup utility for over 5 years now without a hitch. The backup program is very robust, with plenty of options to play with such as encrypting your backup files, incremental backups, verifying file integrity after backup, as well as copying one drive to another, as you had requested. Symantec is offering a free, 15-day trial for Norton Ghost 10. However, please keep in mind that I am using Norton Ghost 9, so I cannot vouch for the newest version of Ghost. That being said, I would still seriously consider trying the program nonetheless. In either case, I have provided links to sites that are offering the free trials of Norton Ghost 9 and 10 for you.

Norton Ghost 9 trial.
Norton Ghost 10 trial.

By the way, what part of MT is your brother from? I spent some time in western Montana, in the Bitterroots during my teen years; I have yet to find better fishing elsewhere. =)

[stinger608]

Originally Posted by garetjax

By the way, what part of MT is your brother from? I spent some time in western Montana, in the Bitterroots during my teen years; I have yet to find better fishing elsewhere. =)

Where at Garet??? I spent many years in the Kalispell area.

[pc_guy]

I would try a free utility from the HDD manufacturer of the disk you're planning on copying the data to.
They are not the best solution, but all of them have a clone function that will move everything to the new drive.
I have used MaxBlast in the past with Maxtor drives.

[screwballl]

thx all I will look into that. I did not realize Norton had a free trial version of Ghost...

My bro has been in a small town just outside of Billings for the past year, before that he was living with my parents in western SD (he just turned 18 in Oct '06)

[garetjax]

Originally Posted by stinger608

Where at Garet??? I spent many years in the Kalispell area.

I used to live 30 minutes south of Missoula, just outside of Hamilton.

[screwballl]

I was getting ready to look for programs and BANG, one result showed Acronis TrueImage... then I remembered I signed up and got 7.0 for free directly from them.....

so dropped the old hd and new hd in my main box, fired up TI and too many bad sectors on the old drive for it to work (DOH)

So I just said screw it and installed the newer one to the PC where it will be used and reinstalling windows now

[stinger608]

Originally Posted by screwballl

I was getting ready to look for programs and BANG, one result showed Acronis TrueImage... then I remembered I signed up and got 7.0 for free directly from them.....

so dropped the old hd and new hd in my main box, fired up TI and too many bad sectors on the old drive for it to work (DOH)

So I just said screw it and installed the newer one to the PC where it will be used and reinstalling windows now

Oh man, TrueImage is an awesome program!!! I think that Captain Crunch has put a couple of links and a user guide in on this great software, and I have to tell ya, that when you need a back up recovered, it works perfect!!!!!

[screwballl]

Originally Posted by stinger608

Oh man, TrueImage is an awesome program!!! I think that Captain Crunch has put a couple of links and a user guide in on this great software, and I have to tell ya, that when you need a back up recovered, it works perfect!!!!!

my problem was creating it!

[Banditman]

Originally Posted by screwballl

One of the main reasons is that he is in MT (I am in FL) and can't find the original XP disc and I can't find the original key in the registry to reinstall it from disc with his key. That and I don't want to use my key when he has his own legal version...

Hey bud, I know this is a little late. But for future reference, there are a number of apps on the web for revealing the XP cd key from registry. Here is one for starters..

Magical Jelly Bean Software - Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder v1.5