easiest way to replace hard drive?

[Konstantin Svist]

On 10/08/2009 10:47 AM, Daniel B. Thurman wrote:
> On 10/08/2009 10:31 AM, Konstantin Svist wrote:
>    
>> On 10/08/2009 09:48 AM, Dr. Michael J. Chudobiak wrote:
>>      
>>> Hi all,
>>>
>>> Is there an easy way to transfer a system from one drive (holding
>>> boot, swap, lvm partitions, in the default F11 layout) to a different
>>> hard drive, if the new drive is smaller?
>>>
>>> If the new drive is larger, dd could be used in a fairly
>>> straightforward way.
>>>
>>> However, I want to try replacing a 160 GB hard drive with an Intel 80
>>> GB solid-state drive, just for fun...
>>>
>>> I suspect a re-install might be easier.
>>>
>>> - Mike
>>>
>>>        
>> gparted (or qtparted) will do what you want. I don't remember if it
>> can resize the partitions as you copy them, but in the worst case you
>> can resize first then copy.
>>
>> or you can use cp -a to copy over all necessary files and run
>> grub-install to restore the grub boot loader if it's installed in MBR
>> (default)
>>
>>      
> There is a potential problem when using partition resizing - it can mess
> up the partition tables and render the drive unbootable - need to be
> careful here, as it "bit me in the a.."!
>
> FWIW,
> Dan
>
>    

Really?
I've never had gparted bite me in the ass like that. Happened a few 
times with PartitionMagic in the past, though.