8 replies to this topic

[LilSnoop40]

question, i just got a new laptop. i need to make a clone or image of my c: from my desktop to run on my laptop so i can get things off there as needed.

Please help

Thanks

[lars77]

If you have VMWare Workstation, something like this?
http://kb.vmware.com...ernalId=1018406

You might also be able to mount an empty .vmdk file & then clone a physical partition into it, not sure on the exact steps to do that. (just Google around for it)

But realistically, isn't it going to be easier to just copy what you need from the desktop to the laptop? That's how this is done most of the time.

[n_K]

Yep I recommend the VMWare converter (it's a standalone download) as it adds in all the necessary drivers and whatnot for you.

[johnporter29]

Or there is this one too:
http://technet.micro...ernals/ee656415

[+BudMan]

Why would you think you need a VM image of your desktop to get things off of it? Seems a bit overkill if all your talking about is some files and say your bookmarks of website, etc..

What exactly is it you need off your desktop? Cloning to a VM seems an odd path to move data between machines.

[johnporter29]

BudMan, on 12 August 2012 - 15:30, said:

Why would you think you need a VM image of your desktop to get things off of it? Seems a bit overkill if all your talking about is some files and say your bookmarks of website, etc..

What exactly is it you need off your desktop? Cloning to a VM seems an odd path to move data between machines.

Seems an ideal way to preserve the drive in case you forget something without having to save the physical drive - he could wipe the drive and sell the desktop knowing he had a back up of the original drive just in case.

[lars77]

johnporter29, on 12 August 2012 - 15:39, said:

Seems an ideal way to preserve the drive in case you forget something without having to save the physical drive - he could wipe the drive and sell the desktop knowing he had a back up of the original drive just in case.

Even in that situation, your best bet is to backup all your data to another drive (or laptop in this case). That way you wouldn't waste so much hard drive space, there isn't any plausible reason for needing to back up your temp files, cache folders, .exe files, & all that other stuff.

I mean, if you really wanted you could also create an image of the drive (which still backs up all the crap you don't need, but at least you know you backed up *everything*). Even a drive image is better than doing virtualization. Gotta agree with Budman, virtualizing is way overkill in this scenario, but maybe the OP has some other reason for needing it?

[spikey_richie]

johnporter29, on 12 August 2012 - 15:23, said:

Or there is this one too:
http://technet.micro...ernals/ee656415

+1 for Disk2VHD, works a treat.

[+BudMan]

If there was some software installed on the desktop that only runs on that OS, and his laptop is running a different OS that software doesn't work on - then sure VM might good option.

But if all he needs to to xfer some data its overkill. Be easier to just connect his disk to his laptop via usb, or even easier just network and grab his files and such.