The clone feature of MaxBlast will copy all the data from your old drive to the new one as is.

I have never cloned a multi-partition drive. If for example you cloned a single partitioned 80GB drive to a 500GB drive the extra 420GB would just become free space.

I have the feeling that on a dual partiton the first partition will be locked and all the free space will add on to the second.

Here again though you can use GParted beforehand to resize the present partitions or you can use GParted after the clone to resize the partitions.

Ok I try it out monday & let you know. I don't mind having to use different programs just as it works & that I don't have to remove the OSs from the old drive yet. I want to make sure that nothing goes wrong before I erase the old drive. I'll be using the 80 gb, once I have it free, for windows 7. I will block 7 from using the other drives & isolate it to only my 80. I won't put anything on it that I'm not afraid to lose.

You're best to clone as is then you (most likely) will have on the new drive:

Partition one: as is | Partition two: as was plus 170GB.

You can then use GParted to reduce the 170GB to say 85GB which will leave 85GB as Unallocated space.

You should then be able to add the Unallocated space to partition one and end up with two equal partitions.

You could also create a third partition with the unallocated space and use it for all your data from both XP and Vista.

Once you get the hang of GParted there is a lot you can do and it is pretty easy.

I'm not following you at all. Maybe I should explain the current and desired situation further: 80 gb drive--partition 1 30.2 gb for XP & programs only; partition 2 29.6 gb for vista and programs only; partition 3 14.6 gb that I was going to use for linux but that I'm not really using for anything. Personal files, etc on new 750 gb drive. 250 gb drive was old location of personal files & is now totally unallocated. I wish to put XP & Vista on the 250 with sizes of 70 gb each & the other ~99 gb I'm planning on putting 3 other OSs on to experiment with. 80 gb drive will be entirely separate from the others and will have 7 & own boot loader. I will only "boot into" that drive using my BIOS when I want to use 7.

#1 drive: 80GB:

Partition 1: 30.2GB | XP

Partition 2: 29.6GB | Vista

Partition 3: 14.6GB | empty


#2 drive: 750GB (this is the new maxtor/seagate)?

#3 drive: 250GB?


So you want to put #1 onto #3?

Clone #1 to #3?

If this is the case you need the software for drive #3.

Who made that drive?

No 2 is the new drive but it is a WD as is 1 & parition 3 isn't empty but is unimportant & can be emptied. Drive 2 is the Seagate & isn't new. It is the old location of personal files; drive 2 is the new location of personal files. I want to clone partitions 1 & 2 onto 2. Clear as mud?

You can clone drive to drive. You cannot choose parts of drives to clone.

So you can clone drive #1 to either other drive but you will lose all data on the destination drive.

If you want to clone WD #1 which now holds XP and Vista onto #2 the Seagate/Maxtor then drive #2 needs to be blank.

You can only clone to a blank drive. That is why the manufactures have the tools in their setup utilities.

If you want to get beyond this you will need Acronis or Norton @ $70. Or else reinstall the Operating Systems.


Are we getting clearer?

2 is blank; it isn't even partitioned. Let me get this straight: I use the seagate tools to clone. Is it the entire drive or just partitions 1 & 2? Do I have to create a same sized partition(s). I then want to have space left over with XP & Vista larger then they currently are. Do I use gpartd for that? I think I'd rather reinstall than pay $70 or reinstall if the clone is too complicated, involved, if I can't do what I want, or will take too much time. So can I do what I want & how?

The question is is it clearer for you?

If #2 is blank Seagate then you can use MaxBlast to clone any other hard drive to it.

The clone will copy the entire old hard drive just as it is to the Seagate drive.

A clone is an exact copy.

All additional space on the Seagate drive will be added to the last partition on the drive being cloned.

Partition 3 will take all the new space.


After this is done you can use GParted to resize any and all partitions however you want them.

Ok thats better. Do I first need to create a partition the size of my drive? I take it that the clone will create partitions 1, 2, 3 and a 4th of the unused space.

I'm going to bed. I'll work on it Monday. Thanks for your help.