Exact copy

[robrpb]

My friend has a Lenovo desktop computer with a 250 GB SATA hard drive. Lenovo is replacing the hard drive because of problems with the computer not seeing the hard drive. I reseated the cables and it seemed to correct the problem for now. Is there a way to copy the data from the old drive to the new drive before returning the old drive to Lenovo without special software? Is it better to start fresh and copy everything new? The computer is not old. He purchased it November 2006. Thanks.

[pam123]

There are two ways.
Does the replacement drive come with cloning software or are you just getting the bare drive?
If it's the latter there are 2 ways that will save data but not programs, those you'll have to reinstall.
1. Put the new drive in the computer, partition, format and install Windows on it.
Copy the data from the old drive to it before you send the drive back.
SATA drives/connectors make this relatively painless since all you need do is switch the cable connection at the motherboard, you don't have to move the damaged drive.
If you want to move the position of the new drive later that's OK.
2. If you have an external enclosure that can handle SATA drives put the old drive in it and copy the data back to the new drive that way ( This will only work if the drive can tolerate being moved, depending on what's going wrong with it it might not.).

If your friend has any downloaded programs that require registration keys, or passwords, internet and email settings, etc. make sure he's got copies or has then written down.

[robrpb]

I don't believe the drive will be coming with cloniong software. So, is the only way you can do an exact copy is with cloning software? We don't have an external enclosure, so that is not an option.

[glc]

Yep - but you can download the software free from some hard drive manufacturers - the setup software has a drive copy function.

WD Data Lifeguard Tools
Seagate Disk Wizard
Maxtor Maxblast

You are probably out of luck if you receive a Hitachi/IBM or Samsung drive though.

Acronis True Image isn't that expensive and it can also be used for backups if you buy an external drive. Drive Image XML is free and supposedly can do clones. So can Symantec Ghost.