Clone OS, System Files, Program Files

Is there a way I could copy the Windows Files, System Files, Boot Directory Files, installed Program Files, Documents and Settings Folder and anything else that's needed to make 2 partitions look and work the same without cloning the entire drive? I have files on the C: drive that I don't want to duplicate and files on the D: drive that I don't want to erase.

I'm looking to put a different os on one partition as soon as I can. How can I make the same kind of backup on bootable cds?

If I have to I could transfer all the other files on the C: drive to cd first but I have 27GB of video files on the D: drive that I can't transfer or write over.

 

You might want to try Hobocopy. It will allow you to copy files even though windows is using them. It creates what is called a shadow copy of each folder or file and then begins the copy. A very useful tool for what it sounds like you are needing here.

 

Thanks for the suggestion readmweep, I started reading the blogs on HoboCopy. I have to read the info first but it looks promising.

 

Link to HoboCopy at http://www.pluralsight.com/wiki/default.aspx/Craig/HoboCopy.html

It is not available at Major Geeks. Enter Hobocopy into Google for lots more info, if you need it.

Bazza

 

Thanks bigbazza ,

Like I said I already started reading that info and you're right, there are a lot of pages to go through. It's very technical and command line oriented. I've been away from that since the old DOS days in the 1980's.

I recently returned to doing my own projects and just started using some command line functions and programs. It's a lot more complicated than it was back then.

It would be helpful if anyone understands it well enough to walk me through it, even if it's just a few small sections. That way I can learn to use it and continue on my own for the rest of the system.