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Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : Cloning a HDD
| Author | Message | ||||
| larny Guru  Joined: 31/10/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 348 |
I used the free copy of the Macrium software to successively clone a HDD 2 or 3 years ago. However, I tried again yesterday and when it was finished, I changed the SATA cables to make the cloned HDD the C drive. But when I attempted to Boot, it said "BOOTMGR is missing". So, I asked the Macrium help "How do I fix this?" but they said that the free version is not now supported. So, does anyone know how to fix this? Or have a copy of Macrium (or other free cloning S/W) that they can send me? Any assistance will be appreciated. |
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| gadgetjack Senior Member  Joined: 15/07/2016 Location: United StatesPosts: 173 |
https://www.easeus.com/backup-utility/free-disk-cloning-software.html |
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phil99 Guru Joined: 11/02/2018 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2811 |
In Windows there is a command line tool, DISKPART (in \Windows\System) that I think can mark the partition on the disk as "Active" then load the MBR (master boot record). I haven't used it in many years and forget the details so you will need to look it up. eg https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/diskpart Another option is make a Puppy Linux boot CD or USB drive and boot from that. You may need to reboot to get into the BIOS / UEFI to set USB or CD first in the boot order. Then run gparted to do the same thing. It has a GUI so is a bit easier to use, showing the changes you have requested, but doesn't alter the disk until you tell it to, so you can back out if not sure. Edited 2025-11-08 10:52 by phil99 |
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disco4now Guru Joined: 18/12/2014 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1042 |
Macrium Free I think this one is with limitations. F4 H7FotSF4xGT |
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| EDNEDN Senior Member Joined: 18/02/2023 Location: United StatesPosts: 248 |
Just a thought for everybody to consider.... I hardly ever use Linux even though it is much superior to Windows. But I do use Linux when I need to clone or backup large file systems. It gives me low level, raw access to the device and the file system. When I want to preserve and duplicate a volume ( ie. Disk Drive) I use Linux. About the only thing that is important is the volume I'm going to copy it to (and take offline as a backup) is that it is the same size, or bigger than the volume I'm trying to preserve. I just do a dd if=/dev/sd???? of=/dev/sd??? bs=64M conv=sync,noerror As long as the destination volume is as big or bigger than the original, it just doesn't matter. You have a snapshot in time that can be mounted later if you need it. There is no need for the extra complexity of backup tools or whatever. I'm sure the tools provide all kinds of nice and good to have features. But if you want a brute force way to get a snap shot in time of an important volume... The above dd command does it. And it doesn't matter if the volume you are trying to preserve is a Windows volume. You plug it in and it works. |
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| JohnS Guru Joined: 18/11/2011 Location: United KingdomPosts: 4126 |
True. For anyone new(ish) to Linux: be careful to get the drive names correct, especially in the right order! It won't warn you even if you get them wrong. Ask here or any suitable site if in doubt :) John |
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