Cloning a system disk

[SpuffMonkey]

We've got a dicky system disk in one of our servers (2003 DC with Exchange) and IBM have sent a replacement. Any good ideas on how to clone off the old disk onto the new? On other servers - I've used Ghost 8 and its worked fine - but this one comes up with Directory Services error at boot up when I've cloned and wants to reboot in DSRM mode - alas we don't seem to have the password to login to DSRM mode. I've used ntdsutil to reset the password - but it didn't seem to make a difference.

 

Anybody got any better ways of doing this - we've spent a lot of long evenings and a considerable bit of half term trying to do this.

 

Cheers

[bossman]

Acronis server version should really do the trick as it will replicate all disk setups i.e. all raid system setups. let me know how u get on if you decide to go down this root OK.

 

 

Read this link: http://www.howtofixcomputers.com/bb/ftopic105768.html

This is the Place: http://www.acronis.com/

 

Plus this might help with the dsrm problem: http://www.zdnetasia.com/techguide/windows/0,39044904,39359882,00.htm

[CyberNerd]

G4U will create a perfect bit for bit image and is excellent for cloning and is free.

G4U can also be used to replicate disks to remote ftp servers (no compression IIRC).

 

http://www.feyrer.de/g4u/

[Dos_Box]

Don't you have a second DC? A nice clean install and promotion often works better than replicating all of your problems back again.

[mac_shinobi]

not sure how relevant this is since the server obviously uses RAID ( 5 ) Im assuming.

 

But terabyteunlimited do some good tools

 

http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/

 

Let me know what you think

[kingswood]

I'd go with Dos_Box on this one. If you can't then Acronis- and today I saw Symantec Livestate...might be worth looking it at for future reference.

[SpuffMonkey]

not sure how relevant this is since the server obviously uses RAID ( 5 ) Im assuming.

 

But terabyteunlimited do some good tools

 

http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/

 

Let me know what you think

 

Alas - no it doesn't use RAID5