hard drive failing - should I image?

[syswiz85]

Hi,

My laptop's hard drive is failing as it's coming up with a few bad sectors. I have loads of applications configured and setup on my laptop and don't want to go through the pain of installing windows from fresh.

Is it advisable to clone my hard drive, install a new hard drive, then restoring the clone on the new drive? Not sure what the best practice is for handling failing drives. If so which cloning software would you recommend?

Thanks in advance

 

[Porthos]

"My laptop's hard drive is failing as it's coming up with a few bad sectors. I have loads of applications configured and setup on my laptop and don't want to go through the pain of installing windows from fresh."



From your intro.
"I work in the UK as an helpdesk technician. This site is by far the best technician community and resources".

https://www.technibble.com/forums/threads/hey.61904/

But this is a place for computer business owners and professionals.

From the forum rules when you signed up...

No End Users
These forums are for either current computer technicians, or soon to be computer technicians. We do not provide computer help to any non-technicians.

I suggest that you take your machine to a qualified technician.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

We often do at least 1 a day...and very high success rate. We use the Acronis that comes with new hard drives, to clone.

 

[wavey]

Yes, clone it ASAP.
I used Clonezilla for a long time but I'm getting better results with Macrium.

 

[Computer Bloke]

Is it advisable to clone my hard drive, install a new hard drive, then restoring the clone on the new drive? Not sure what the best practice is for handling failing drives. If so which cloning software would you recommend?

Start by reading https://www.technibble.com/forums/resources/how-to-triage-a-hard-drive.17/.

If you don't have a copy of Acronis then EaseUS Disk Copy is an excellent alternative - and free for personal use.

But let's turn the question around - when a client comes to you with the same problem, how do you handle it?

 

[nlinecomputers]

But let's turn the question around - when a client comes to you with the same problem, how do you handle it?

He doesn't. This is an end user.

This is a private forum for computer IT professionals and IT business owners. This is not a forum to help you repair your computer. Please visit a proper self help forum like tomshardware.com or bleepingcomputer.com