[Rebecca]

Using latest version of free HDClone, I cloned my old 80 gig hard drive to a 500 gig USB drive using an HD boot disk. Replaced old drive with new 120 gig hard drive. Booted from HD clone disk. Ignored message that indicated the new drive was smaller than the old drive. Took around 6 hours to clone overnight. Cloning completed but new drive just gets to PBR ... Done and stops. Saw suggestions to not change partitions when cloning but don't have time to spend another 6 hours cloning as this is my business computer and I have been down for a day already. I need to get this new drive up and running fast. Can you help?? I am not a computer expert. Thanks!

[Alex]

If you did clone from the 80G to the 500G with automatic resize (and expand), there will be a problem, because HDClone does not offer to size down the partition again.
In your case, I'd use gparted (http://gparted.sourceforge.net/) to downsize the partition to again 80GB (on the 500G disk) and then HDClone can transfer the 80GB to the 120GB disk and expand it to 120G if desired. The resizing with gparted should take not long, as HDClone did only change some indexes for the resize, and only these steps have to be taken back.

[Rebecca]

OK, so since I can't boot my primary computer, do I need to attach the USB drive to another computer, use the gparted (I hope I can figure it out as I am not a tech person!) and then attach it back to my primary and run HD Clone again? Thanks, R

[Alex]

gparted, as hdclone, boots off a CD, so you don't really need another working computer installation (except for downloading). Then you can resize the disk, and later run HDClone again, yes!

[Rebecca]

Thanks, I downloaded the gparted iso file and will burn to a DVD and use it to boot. Is it pretty obvious how to resize the disk? I don't want to mess it up!

[Alex]

It's mostly selecting the desired disc, selecting from the Partition Menu "Resize/Move", adjusting the size and then clicking on "Move/Resize". The action will now be pending and now you can execute all pending actions (which will be only one), and you're done.

[Rebecca]

I am no the resize/move screen for the larger HD. I changed the number in the New Size box to 800000. I have zero in the fist box (Free Space Preceeding) and the number in the third bax (Free Space Following ) is 395868. Does this sound correct? Thanks so much! I will tell it to resize if you tell me this sounds right.

[Rebecca]

Thanks! So the first box (Free Space Preceeding) I have 0. In the New Size Box I have 80000. In the thirs box (Fee Space Following) it has 395986. Am I ready to hit resize?

[Alex]

Yes, it appears to be correct; as long as gparted accepts the resize value (and doesn't complain there's too much data), it will work.

[Rebecca]

Well, gparted gave me an error (no real error wording, just an error.) I saved the details file but not sure to where. It got down to fixing errors if any, and then something about filling the empty space and gave me the message. Tried running HD Clone again but it again says the target drive is too small and that it will take 7 hours to clone, so I assume the resizing did not take. Any other ideas?