Good program to clone hard drive?

[PeR930]

Hi,
I'm about to get my gf a new hard drive to replace her old 500gb. What's a good and preferably free program that can simply clone the old drive into the new drive? It's the primary system drive with windows on it if that matters. I did google around but I'd like some experienced recommendations so I dont screw up the hdd. Thanks

[JimmyStephans]

Macrium Reflect.

Free and paid editions. I use free to that exact purpose often.

http://download.com/

[JimmyStephans]

Also, most new drives that come in a retail box include decent software for that purpose.

Bulk drives (bubblewrap, no box) usually do not include software but it can be download at drive makers website.

[PeR930]

Thanks for the tips guys! I'll check out macrium. Not sure what HDD I'm going to get yet so I guess I'll see if it comes with the software when I get it.

[Paz]

I've always used Nprton Ghost because it used to be bundled free with motherboards etc.. They've had a 30 day trial version... should be long enough
http://us.norton.com/downloads-trial-norton-ghost

[Tom.K]

I still use norton ghost from 2001 which is working in DOS environment only

but is cloning like crazy

[hotbodybattles]

I used a program called rdrive... it was fantastic till the version i had stopped working.. no idea why. But it was able to do a full backup image that could be restored on a hard drive without skipping a beat while in windows.. of the same drive your running on. A lot of programs cant claim that.

I wish it still worked.. probably need to buy the new version.. but here's the link
drive-image dot com