How to copy image of C drive to D drive and booting from the D?
I had a 2nd matching hard drive installed by Dell when I purchased the Optiplex GX620 with XP Pro. The XP OS is as fully updated as it could be. lol
That D drive has been slightly used, but my C drive is failing after roughly 6 years of use. I already replaced that Dell with a Win 8 touch screen laptop. The Dell unit has been extensively cleaned of viruses and malware, and will never be used again on the Internet or WiFi. It will be my off-line computer for confidential stuff. I'll just use USB for backing it up, and also use a spare printer with it.
While my C drive is still able, I think I need to copy a full image of it to the D drive and then have the choice of booting from C or D at start up. I really don't want to put my hands inside the computer to swap or re designate the drives.
I heard that I could take an image of C:\ and restore it as C:\ to the 2nd HDD (I've already backed it up).
It seems like that would be my first step, but I need advice to tell me how to do that, how to alternately boot between the two, and maybe alternative suggestions. Or, if my software works properly on the current D drive then I won't need to go back to C ever again.
Thanks
That D drive has been slightly used, but my C drive is failing after roughly 6 years of use. I already replaced that Dell with a Win 8 touch screen laptop. The Dell unit has been extensively cleaned of viruses and malware, and will never be used again on the Internet or WiFi. It will be my off-line computer for confidential stuff. I'll just use USB for backing it up, and also use a spare printer with it.
While my C drive is still able, I think I need to copy a full image of it to the D drive and then have the choice of booting from C or D at start up. I really don't want to put my hands inside the computer to swap or re designate the drives.
I heard that I could take an image of C:\ and restore it as C:\ to the 2nd HDD (I've already backed it up).
It seems like that would be my first step, but I need advice to tell me how to do that, how to alternately boot between the two, and maybe alternative suggestions. Or, if my software works properly on the current D drive then I won't need to go back to C ever again.
Thanks
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Dave Baldwin
Note that everything on D: will be deleted in the process and you will have to connect it as C: when you are done.
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all the above do not let him choose the drive to boot from...
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but his question clearly was " but I need advice to tell me how to do that, how to alternately boot between the two,"
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ASKER
Thank you everyone.
Now I need time to digest everything that's been said and first take a (nondestructive) look at some of the alternatives suggested.
Now I need time to digest everything that's been said and first take a (nondestructive) look at some of the alternatives suggested.
dual booting is an accepted option for all windows installs - nothing strange about it
i suggest Bootit-BM, because he does not install anew system besides the old one, just using the image - and that's what it's made for
i suggest Bootit-BM, because he does not install anew system besides the old one, just using the image - and that's what it's made for
I'm under the impression that 'dual-booting' is done from the C: drive boot file. So I would be concerned that if the C: drive fails it becomes a 'no-boot' system.
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ASKER
Thanks everyone.
I've made my decision, and have awarded those responses that were most helpful and understandable at my technical level.
I got a wide spectrum of suggestions and the good interaction between experts, which makes EE a great site for me. I needed more time to digest everything and decide my course of action. Remember, I've already backed-up all the important data and files.
Given that I have limited technical skills, anything I do also presents the reasonable possibility of a significant risk that would cause hours, if not days of tinkering to get things right. I have two important projects that are already behind, because I still don't have my overall on-line/off-line configuration settled for supporting them in the way that makes me comfortable.
I've done this type of cloning and boot changes a couple times about 10 years ago, and know how a half-day effort can expand into a couple of days. I'm also 71, so it is more important to me that even a wasted couple of hours are hours I'll never get back for my own enjoyment -- mainly the retirement projects that I mentioned. My decision, after considering what you have said, my technical skills, the risks and the importance of my time, is to simply purchase a low-end Win 8 laptop as my off-line computer -- new hardware, warranty, current OS (the same as my on-line config.), and prolonged MS updates/support. I'll periodically (only turn on the Internet to) check into the MS site for any important updates, If I cannot re-install my the MS Office 2003 version, I'll just have to bite the bullet and buy the matching 2013 version (which I hate) that is running on my on-line config.
WS
I've made my decision, and have awarded those responses that were most helpful and understandable at my technical level.
I got a wide spectrum of suggestions and the good interaction between experts, which makes EE a great site for me. I needed more time to digest everything and decide my course of action. Remember, I've already backed-up all the important data and files.
Given that I have limited technical skills, anything I do also presents the reasonable possibility of a significant risk that would cause hours, if not days of tinkering to get things right. I have two important projects that are already behind, because I still don't have my overall on-line/off-line configuration settled for supporting them in the way that makes me comfortable.
I've done this type of cloning and boot changes a couple times about 10 years ago, and know how a half-day effort can expand into a couple of days. I'm also 71, so it is more important to me that even a wasted couple of hours are hours I'll never get back for my own enjoyment -- mainly the retirement projects that I mentioned. My decision, after considering what you have said, my technical skills, the risks and the importance of my time, is to simply purchase a low-end Win 8 laptop as my off-line computer -- new hardware, warranty, current OS (the same as my on-line config.), and prolonged MS updates/support. I'll periodically (only turn on the Internet to) check into the MS site for any important updates, If I cannot re-install my the MS Office 2003 version, I'll just have to bite the bullet and buy the matching 2013 version (which I hate) that is running on my on-line config.
WS