How do I replace my Hard drive after backing up my document

[hpuser07]

Recently my 1TB Hard drive is showing 16% of life left so I need to clone the hard drive into another one, I have about 300GB used of the hard drive so replacing it with a 750 GB should not be a problem, what would be the software that I need to use to clone the drive with its partionos, all I care about is the recovery partion so that I can re install my windows 7 fresh again and re install the other software after later.

Or is there another method?

Thanks,

[TheOldMan]

With the cheap 1TB drives, why bother with a 750GB.  If either of the hard drives is a WD or Seagate, they provide cloning software(which is Acronis based) on their support websites.  Otherwise get Acronis.  If you insist on using a 750GB to clone the 1TB drive to, Acronis can do that also.  I prefer to clone using the environment that the cloning software uses rather Windows but it will run inside Windows if you want.

BTW: Are you aware of the possible work using the Recovery Parition will impose VS cloning a working system?

[hpuser07]

Thank you for your response. The 750GB hard drive is just something I have at home and I will by another one later. The question is will acronics let me clone a 1TB to 750GB because as I learned they eather want the same size or biger to clone to. And also as I mentioned all I am conserned about is the recovery partion I want to install everything back to factory setting.

and I am sorry but I didnot understand what you ment by the last sentence the VS part of it.

Thanks,

[TheOldMan · Accepted solution]

I have used the WD version of Acronis and I think it can clone to a smaller disk than the original.  I have only done it using the disk that you can make to boot to the cloning environment's OS.  Acronis and WD version can make the boot disk.  Then use that to boot up instead of Windows, with both disks connected, it will clone the original to the blank.

This statement  "Are you aware of the possible work using the Recovery Parition will impose VS cloning a working system?"

If you only use the Recovery Partition to reinstall everything back to factory, then none of the updates for anything will be there or any of the additional software that was added.  One of the most difficult will be all of the Windows 7 updates.  If you clone the disk with all of the files, it will be a direct copy of everything - as is - just like it is.  Assuming that to be a good thing.  If there is a bunch of "stuff" that you wish to get rid of, then by all means use the Recovery Partition.  You can get an update rollup for allot of Windows 7 updates by looking here

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/3125574/convenience-rollup-update-for-windows-7-sp1-and-win...

That is assuming your Windows 7 has SP1 with it.  If it does not, then look for the SP! first

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/15090/windows-7-install-service-pack-1-sp1