I just bought a new Seagate FreeAgent 300GB external drive (USB 2.0). I downloaded Seagate DiscWizard Vers. 10.0 (build 5,077) and am trying to do the following:
1. Use DiscWizard to clone my internal hard drive (Samsung 300GB) to my Seagate FreeAgent external drive.
2. In the event of internal hard drive failure, I will install a new internal hard drive.
3. Then I want to make my Seagate FreeAgent external drive the boot disc via system BIOS and then clone the Seagate FreeAgent external drive to the new internal hard drive (and then make the new internal hard drive the boot disc).
In summary, what I am trying to do is use my Seagate FreeAgent external drive as a bootable clone that serves as temporary bridge between my old (failed) internal hard drive and my new (empty) internal drive.
My questions are:
1. If I select Automatic clone mode (vs manual), will Seagate DiscWizard delete my existing (fully functioning) internal hard drive (obviously I want to avoid this).
2. If I select manual mode, user guide says that "as is" method of partition/data transfer is not recommended, as it leaves much unallocated space on the new disc. What does unallocated space mean/why is there a downside to this? Wouldn't an "as is" method be least risky for ensuring file/transfer integrity (vs proportional moving method or manually setting moving parameters myself?)
3. After Cloning Summary is presented and I click Proceed, the user guide says that (because I am cloning the internal drive that contains the operating system) I will be prompted for a reboot. If I allow the reboot, I assume that when it reboots that my preferences (previously selected in DiscWizard cloning setup) to keep all data on my old disc (internal HD) will be retained? I am nervous about deleting ot damaging my current, fully functional internal hard drive.
Thanks
