Is there HDD clonning Hard/Soft-w that ignores empty sectors

[Matiw]

I would like to buy an "HDD Clonning" Hardware/Software tool that ignores empty sectors and only "clones" rather copies the data. I want this tool in order to avoid days, weeks or even monthes cloning a sluggish failing hard disks.

Thanks for any info.

[hdd_sand]

PC3k, Atola and DDI will do Data only cloning. I prefer Atola, maps data very quick, PC3K take forever to map the data.
MHO

[lcoughey]

PC3k, Atola and DDI will do Data only cloning. I prefer Atola, maps data very quick, PC3K take forever to map the data.
MHO

PC3K takes about 15-20 seconds to select used sectors by map. DDI takes about the same. Can't speak for Atola.

[digitalferret]

cloning a sluggish failing hard disks

Hi Matiw,

maybe give the Deepspar imager a look, particularly the feature of recovering by file rather than having to
image an entire disk and wait as the process struggles with bad sectors in areas you don't need recovering, ie slack space, system files etc

S.Moulton gave a demo at a conference that made it onto Youtube. It's a few yrs old (DDI-3) but the technique sill holds
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIjT_8Bdzl8

Otherwise just check the Deepspar literature. (now DDI-4)
http://www.deepspar.com/blog/Techniques ... aging.html
scroll down to Imaging by File.

be careful of terminology tho. there are devices out there that will claim to "clone" drives but will not deal with instability, weak heads or bad sectors. They may clone the drive in its entirety or clone just the OS and filesystem, and skip blank areas.
Problems will arise though if the bad sectors are in areas that are part of the filesystem you are trying to clone, or there is head instability.
Just my opinion but if you aren't so bothered about forensics, firmware or repair the Deepspar Imager is likely to be the best in terms of economy and effectiveness for the task you described.

K