268 Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2010Cloning method and advanced optionsThe Clone basic disk operation usually means that the information from the source disk istransferred to the target “As is”. So, if the destination disk is the same size and even if it is larger, it ispossible to transfer all the information there exactly as it is stored at the source.But with the wide range of available hardware it is normal that the target disk would differ in sizefrom the source. If the destination is larger, then it would be advisable to resize the source diskvolumes to avoid leaving unallocated space on the target disk by selecting the Proportionally resizevolumes option. The option to Clone basic disk “as is” remains, but the default method of cloningwill be carried out with proportional enlargement of all the source disk volumes so that nounallocated space remains on the target disk .If the destination is smaller, then the As is option of cloning will be unavailable and proportionalresizing of the source disk volumes will be mandatory. The program analyzes the target disk toestablish whether its size will be sufficient to hold all the data from the source disk without any loss.If such transfer with proportional resizing of the source disk volumes is possible, but without anydata loss , then the user will be allowed to proceed. If due to the size limitations safe transfer of allthe source disk data to the target disk is impossible even with the proportional resizing of thevolumes, then the Clone basic disk operation will be impossible and the user will not be able tocontinue.If you are about to clone a disk comprising of a system volume, pay attention to the Advancedoptions.By clicking Finish, you'll add the pending operation of the disk cloning.(To finish the added operation you will have to commit (p. 278) it. Exiting the program withoutcommitting the pending operations will effectively cancel them.)Using advanced optionsWhen cloning a disk comprising of a system volume, you need to retain an operating systembootability on the target disk volume. It means that the operating system must have the systemvolume information (e.g. volume letter) matched with the disk NT signature, which is kept in theMBR disk record. But two disks with the same NT signature cannot work properly under oneoperating system.If there are two disks having the same NT signature and comprising of a system volume on a machine, at thestartup the operating system runs from the first disk, discovers the same signature on the second one,automatically generates a new unique NT signature and assigns it to the second disk. As a result, all thevolumes on the second disk will lose their letters, all paths will be invalid on the disk, and programs won't findtheir files. The operating system on that disk will be unbootable.You have the following two alternatives to retain system bootability on the target disk volume:1. Copy NT signature – to provide the target disk with the source disk NT signature matched withthe Registry keys also copied on the target disk.2. Leave NT signature – to keep the old target disk signature and update the operating systemaccording to the signature.If you need to copy the NT signature:1. Select the Copy NT signature check box. You receive the warning: “If there is an operatingsystem on the hard disk, uninstall either the source or the target hard disk drive from yourmachine prior to starting the machine again. Otherwise, the OS will start from the first of the
