ddrescue help needed.

[Packrat1947]

I’m trying to clone a Sony Win 7 hard drive to another drive. I tried the Alura-tek hardware cloning device that is very reliable. I use this all the time on customer's machines. I tried booting that HD and it resulted in a blinking cursor.

So, after the Aluratec failed, I used ddrescue, and this went well. However, it still would not boot the laptop. It had the same blinking cursor.

[ sudo ddrescue –v /dev/sdb /dev/sda --force ].

Both of the techniques use the bit-by-bit method. Can anyone tell me why these clones fail to boot? What are they missing?

The factory HD boots fine, but is highly infected. Before I turn Combofix loose on it, I would like to have a bootable clone.

Thanks for any help.

Packrat1947

[PCX]

Is the original hard drive bootable? If it is not, then the clone will not be.

Nevermind, I reread your post. The whole point of a clone is that it will be an exact copy of the original. If the original hard drive will not boot due to software issues, then neither will the cloned hard drive.

[coffee]

Run, dont walk here:

http://clonezilla.org/downloads.php

Grab the clonezilla bootable iso and stick both drives in a system. Then boot the cd and clone one to the other. Not hard. Their website also has alot of help and examples.

clonezilla is part of my arsonal

[Packrat1947]

The original drive still boots perfectly. I'm using Acronis 2012 to created a sector-by-sector image. Then I'll try painting this onto another drive.

I used the Alura-tek twice with the same negative results - on different drives.

This Acronis file is going to take quite a few hours to make. I'll know more tomorrow.

I'll try clonezilla if this fails again.

Thanks for the ideas. There seems to be something unusual about this Win 7 drive. Ddrescue has always worked for me in the past. Perhaps it is skipping HPA and DCO areas.

I guess bit-for-bit or sector-by-sector really does not really mean "everything".

Packrat1947

[PCX]

Originally Posted by Packrat1947

The original drive still boots perfectly. I'm using Acronis 2012 to created a sector-by-sector image. Then I'll try painting this onto another drive.

I used the Alura-tek twice with the same negative results - on different drives.

This Acronis file is going to take quite a few hours to make. I'll know more tomorrow.

I'll try clonezilla if this fails again.

Thanks for the ideas. There seems to be something unusual about this Win 7 drive. Ddrescue has always worked for me in the past. Perhaps it is skipping HPA and DCO areas.

I guess bit-for-bit or sector-by-sector really does not really mean "everything".

Packrat1947

Ok, I guess I was confused by what you were saying. In any case, bit for bit pretty much means everything. The only other thing I can think of is that maybe you are cloning a regular hard drive onto an advanced format hard drive. I know this gave me issues in the past, but only with updates, not booting. Can you tell me what hard drive you are using? Is the hard drive that you are cloning to new or has it at least been tested (like in the last day) with an extended smart test? If it is failing, that this would make complete sense.

[Packrat1947]

I used one new terrabyte drive. One new 500 gig drive. And one well used 320 shop drive. None of my cloning efforts reveal any issues.

If the Acronis doesn't work, and Clonezilla fails, I'll try WinHex or other real forensic tools.

This is just a matter of principle to me.

Packrat1947

[PCX]

Originally Posted by Packrat1947

I used one new terrabyte drive. One new 500 gig drive. And one well used 320 shop drive. None of my cloning efforts reveal any issues.

If the Acronis doesn't work, and Clonezilla fails, I'll try WinHex or other real forensic tools.

This is just a matter of principle to me.

Packrat1947

So each of these hard drives had the same results? It is still possible (since you have not actually specified the hard drive models of the original or cloned) that the 1tb and 500gb hard drives could be advanced format and the 320 could be failing. I honestly have not ever had this issue before, so I am only guessing. Please list the models of each the original and new hard drives.

[Packrat1947]

Here is what worked to created a good bootable drive. I used Acronis 2012 bootable disc to create a sector-by-sector image. This I painted onto another 320 gig drive (used). This booted as it should. Just why I don't have a clue.

Packrat1947