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Cloning SERVER 2008 R2 SYSTEM TO A BACKUP 2TB DRIVE-Which app is best?

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questorfla:
I have had wonderful luck using even the Free copy of  Macrium  Reflect on almost anything, windows 7 all versions as well as windows 8 all versions.  I wont need to use it but once for a real Server OS but it has to be done prior to performing a Database upgrade.   I Must have a complete failsafe in case the upgrade  falls through.

Quick reading led me to believe that Easus Advanced server, even though the rice was pretty steep, might be best for the job.  I ave just spent over 5 hours of failed attempts to Clone this drive.  I considered that the empty clone being used might be the problem ought a new drive: Still no help.  It gets to 60% (I guess he visual; cues with EASUS are not so good, you have to guess at where you are.
If it gets to where the time left seems to go up and down while the time spent kept going forward, this was the only indication that something was not Right.
Tomorrow is do or die.  We are at Max capacityfor the DB and have to change formats or risk losing it all. 
I would appreciate anyone whohas used one of these programs with better than average results.  I have been lucky so far.  Five failed attempts and it still boots though not without a lot of struggling.
The EASUS To Do ADV Server at over $200 was a real disappointment.

These problems may be coming from cross linked files but there is no report of any kind generated telling you why it failed.  It just gets stuck in a loop and after almost 2 hours of running and the clock still ticking but the countdown gets to 40 minutes down to 35 back to 55.

Just asking for advice,  If I had a working copy that could be used to "Save the Day" I would be more comfortable with trying to run repair tools

I am not sure Macrium Reflect Freeversion will work on a Server but until i can get a refund for the EASEUS software I cant buy another high priced failure

Thanks for needed advice.

PS:  I ran the EASUS both as a a hot clone through Windows GUI and using the PE environment but both failed.

4wd:
I haven't specifically tried Aomei Backupper Server but I have used the standard free version on multiple PCs and it has worked without any problem for me.

You can download the trial version which gives you 30 days free to try it, it'll create a PE recovery image from the system it's running on, (Standard one does, so I'm guessing the Server version will).  Currently on sale at $139 (+$20 if you want lifetime updates).

IainB has a review of the free version here.

40hz:
I'd worry about those possible cross links more than anything right now. If the integrity of your file system is questionable, cloning it over to a new drive isn't going to fix things. In a worse case scenario you might be left with a DOA (i.e. STB) situation, or a system that's going to fail when you least expect it. You can't clone (or even get a usable backup) if your files are glitched. Sure they'll backup to a file. Often without warning on older backup systems. But more often than not, when you go to do a restore, it will fail because most databases check the integrity of the backup before they'll restore it. If you have a "bad" backup, it won't use the recovered file copy.

If at all possible, get the file system fixed first.

Stoic Joker:
^Agreed.

As an alternative to imaging, have you tried using the built-in Windows backup software to do a complete system backup? I've had great luck with it doing restores/recoveries to both original and alternate hardware. Also as mentioned above it will allow you to do a test restore of a few files (like the really critical ones...) to alternate location to verify it's integrity.

questorfla:
Thanks to all.  I agree on the problems with makign a "bad" clone but  working "bad" clone would at least give me some comfort-zone for THEN trying to make cluster repairs.  I have had this happen before on this same system when it ran RAID and it was even MORE trouble then.  One of the pauir was bad and not synced to the other but the one that was newer would not boot.
 :mad:
This system has been on the sheet to be upgraded/(REPLACED) now for over 6 months.  I guess now someone will finally OK it.

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