I need to copy a 320GB drive today - it has a lot of small, small files. The drive I am currently copying is in a USB enclosure. The data needs to be moved to another drive - I don't care about the type of enclosure or if I need to change the first enclosure (or move them internal).

Cost is no object, but I need to be able to do it today with something I can run out and buy today - what are your suggestions? Even if it includes buying a certain type of computer. Thanks

Well go buy a 500gb external drive, hook it up to your PC and then just copy the drive to the 500gb drive.

Any way you are going to do it will take some time, 320gb's of data is going to take some time.

To me that is the easiest way, buy an external HD that is the same size, preferrably bigger, and then just copy the files to the new drive.

Other options are to just buy in enclosure, remove the 320gb from the PC and then hook it up to the pc you have and copy it that way.

If your PC is on a network, you could always copy it across the network to a network drive some where.

Copying the files is the easy part, waiting till it finishes will be the hard part. As you are looking at a bit of time for this to happen, no matter how you choose to do it.

I don't want to be ungrateful, but that was not helpful.

eSATA, hook them both up as internal? Those are actual suggestions.

The facts are that there are 600,000 files on a 320GB drive and 800,000 files on a 70GB drive I need to copy. I need to do it in about 10-12 hours and I am looking for actual solutions.

Well, not to sound mean, pull your head out of your butt and actually read what I said.

You have a PC, go out and buy an external Hard drive that connects either thru USB or Firewire connections, whichever you have, most likely USB.

Bring HD home, unpack, keep packing incase the HD is bad, then turn off PC, hook up USB/Firewire EXTERNAL drive to your PC, turn on PC.

When windows recognizes the drive, format the drive. After formatting is complete COPY your files from your 320gb INTERNAL drive to the EXTERNAL USB/Firewire Drive.

Repeat for the other 70gb drive.

This is an actual SOLUTION, but if you have no clue what you are doing maybe you should PAY someone ELSE to do it for you.

scubageek gave a sound solution. If you cannot simply plug in a second drive and copy away, you should probably follow his advice and pay someone else to do it for you.

Scubageek - apparently you are not understanding what I am asking. I am looking for a technical answer using specific parts. Not "oh, just plug it and drag and drop". I know how to do that. I can buy things and move my hand. I am looking for someone who knows from experience.

For example, should I use two firewire enclosures? Should I use a single firewire card or two? Should I use e-sata for one or both? Should I hook them both up internally and what MOBO should I look for to do this the best way.

I have a very specific issue. A drive with 320GB and 600K files. A drive with 70GB and 800K files. This specific problem should allow for specific solutions.

Seriously - your solution was "Well go buy a 500gb external drive, hook it up to your PC and then just copy the drive to the 500gb drive." and "Its going to take time regardless" - If you think that is a solution then I hope you are not the type of person you would recommend I hire.

I was looking for someone who actually knows transfer rates for different solutions and propose the best solution. The reason I want to do it myself is that I am tired of dealing in our business with "consultants" who have no idea what the latest technology is, what the actual specs for solutions are, who do nothing but "go buy a 500gb external drive, hook it up to your PC and then just copy the drive to the 500gb drive" and then charge me a ton for the privilege.

Teach a man to fish...

Can't teach someone to fish who won't listen.

I clearly gave you options, a few to be exact.

You make it sound like you want to spend upwards of couple thousands of dollars for a hard drive mirror machine you clearly DON'T need and probably couldn't comprehend how to use.

What you clearly need is an extra drive of 400gb's or better. Why I said 500gb drive.

You don't need an expensive solution, you need patience and the understanding you clearly don't have a clue what me or a consultant truly does.

I have built/repaired PCs for over 15 years. Sometimes the KISS standard is the best option. In case you don't know what KISS stands for, it is Keep It Simple STUPID. Last part in caps for your benefit.

Now, you can go online and buy a hard drive copying machine, you won't get one at a local store unless you are in a big city, and once again that is upwards to 1k in cost.

Now why I say you don't need that is because you are here and you believe there is a more simple way of doing it rather than just buying an external drive and drag and dropping the files. There isn't, unless you are hooked up to a network, and then you best hope you are on a gig network if not, the External HD option would still be faster.

You do understand the paying the ton for the privilege is you are paying for someones TIME they have to spend copying your files for you.

Save that money by buying your own drive and copying the files yourself.

You don't need an eSata drive, you don't need 2 firewire enclosures, you just need to hook up an External HD to the PC and drag and drop.

It clearly is that simple.

Oh, btw, with 10-12 hours time to do it in, you clearly also have the time.

Scubageek - I am probably venting frustration at you that is not warranted. I have these drives with "professionals" at the moment and the 320GB has been copying for about 20 hours, the 70GB for about the same. Basically, this issue will arise in the near future and I can't rely on these people. So I need to understand how to do it better.

I do understand how these things work. But with this stuff minutes matter, hours matter. So if e-SATA saves me 2 hours or 30 minutes - it is worth the money. Take my word on that, it is true.

By the way, they sau they have been copying for that long - who knows.

How long should it take to copy 320GB/600K files from external USB to USB? What about 70GB/800K files?

Unless he spends more time arguing, then he will run out of time...

Let me get this straight: if the disk to be copied is in an enclosure, does that mean it can be taken out and hooked to the motherboard as an internal SATA disk (or IDE, whatever)? That would allow copying faster than through USB, but it takes time to set up. No guarantee it would actually save time.

Edit: e-SATA is faster than USB, yes. It should be the same speed as a regular internal SATA disk, as far as I know. If this is something you'll do a lot then an eSATA enclosure is worth buying IMO.

You don't mention the type of drives that are being copied from. Without that knowledge an interface discussion is pointless. A superfast interface won't make a junk drive faster especially if you have to go out and buy an interface adapter. Pardon me for being blunt, but the attitude should be left at the door when asking for free advice. Your drives should not take 20 hours to copy period. Grab a drive cloning application such as ghost or true image and hook your drives up to their native interface (IDE, SATA, whatever) and have at it.

Edit - thank you evam - that is what I was wondering. What kind of time should I expect if I go, say, USB to esata for these two drives?

This is very odd - I thought this would be the place to come.

I assumed I would get responses like:

The fastest solution will be to move the external IDE drive internal, using X motherboard which will allow the copy drive to be SATA. This should likely take X hours.

Or

two esata externals hooked to two different PCI esata cards is best.

etc.

Instead I am being berated.

Boliver, I thought about the ghost imaging, but honestly, it is a bit technical to use, and most people coming in here for a quick solution won't have the technical skill or won't take the time to properly the ghost software to use it correctly.

20 hours? You are being taken to the cleaners on that, unless there is some real issue with the drives. Like lots of bad blocks and such.

So you got two hard drives, outside the machine, how old are the hard drives? May give a clue as to what they are IDE/Sata/eSata...

Firewire external hard drives are fast, faster than USB, but you have to have the Firewire port to use it.

Sounds like what you need are some 500gb external Firewire Drives that you can move from PC to PC.

Or you can pay a professional a bit of money to setup a SAN, Storage Area Network, for you and your business. This is a network based solution, but if you aren't that big, honestly the money outlayed isn't worth it. Not with plug and play SANs for small business out there.

Your options are out there, without knowing the type of business you are in, and your current setup, giving you options to keep this from happening in the future is a bit tough.

Thanks scubageek - that was very helpful. Again - apologies all around for taking it out on you guys. This was very helpful - even if just to reaffirm I am getting screwed. No bad blocks. The drives being copied are 500GB Hitachi ATA/133 drives - maybe 6 months old.

The thing is , I need to do this again and again for production in a case (lawsuit). I am tired of paying crazy fees to copy raw data and want to set up in house. Copying these two drives will be like 5-10K, no kidding.

Do you do that sort of thing? Help set up a system for copying reproduction of huge drives with 100Ks of files? Shoot me a line winstonbike - at - hotmail.com

Berated isn't what is happening. Your ungrateful attitude is what is happening.

You are here asking for options, then complaining about those options that you are given.

There are a lot of things a Consultant has to know before they give you options and it is that time getting those requirements that cost you money.

You are here on a Tech website asking for FREE advice without us knowing the particulars of your situation, i.e type of busines, drives your network setup, your technical knowledge.

We are assuming you have little technical knowledge and are giving you the simpleist answers because 99% of the people that come here, that is what they want in the end.

Now, either work with us or don't. As for me, I am getting tired of showing you how to fish to watch you cast your line into the nearest tree thinking you are a Bass Pro.