cloning basics

My intention is to clone newly installed operating system from local disk F to local disk C:. As C: seems to have multiple problems.
My first ? is should I format the destination?? Maybe i should elaborate, if I understand correctly this can be done within the same physical HD.
Next ? is, will both systems be bootable when completed ??
Wanted to make a iso, but thought that the Easus To Do Backup would do it. Did not see that option.

 

I normally clone from my Boot Drive C: onto some other drive. Not F: onto C:.

I would rearrange my cabling, and turn your F: Drive into my Boot Drive C:, and work from there. I suppose it could be done backwards - but uh - which drive holds the Program Files for the Cloning Software? BETTER NOT BE C:!

I'd simply rearrange cabling, (and maybe disconnect all other hard-drives to prevent any chance of confusion or mistakes), do the cloning, then re-arrange cabling again.

 

Not what I was looking for. Trying to use some of the software tools is trial and error. I have been fortunate, but I also do my research. Have not ever made an iso of a fresh install for backup. Maybe Macrium Reflect ???

How about a iso creator with option to write to USB instead of (burn to DVD)

 

You can't make an iso of a fresh install, isos are for optical disks, not hard disks. But yes, you could certainly create an image of your Windows install using Macrium Reflect or any of several competing products, and it's an excellent habit to get into. Images can be stored on DVDs, external drives, or even partitions of your system drive, though that last isn't recommended.

 

I've just re-read your original post. DO NOT clone a Windows installation from one connected disk to another as all Hell will break loose when you reboot unless you physically disconnect either the donor drive or the receiving drive. You are playing with fire here, as you have been doing previously to end up with Windows on drive F, not C, and all this without a disk image to fall back on when things go belly up.

I strongly advise you to post a screenshot of your disk management window and get some advice before doing anything else at all.

 

Yes, hence my original response to the Cloning Basics topic... but that yielded

and now Earthling's making me think this isn't a Cloning Request for an Imaging Basics topic.

But that question about "format target drive" tripped me as well. I don't format a target drive during Cloning Operations (using Macrium Free, or any of the drive-maker supplied Adonis OEM products) because wiping out that target drive will be Step 1 of the Clone Operation.

But Imaging and Cloning are two separate processes, both yielding backups of a drive.

 

I have seen reference to creating iso's and putting them on a USB stick.It only makes sense to me because this is how I install Linux. (from USB) Is there not software that will do this ? Size is much smaller when stored as an iso. I would just want to create an iso image of a new install of my xp so I can just reinstall if or when it gets corrupted. In the near future I will move to linux, ubuntu or something. But will always want to have xp for stuff that won't work on Linux. Reinstalling xp is a painstaking process anymore (from scratch). However it is not just the fact that it is windows but xp is capable of doing things that newer windows os's wont do.

 

Admirable goal - just use Easeus Todo or Macrium Reflect to create an image file and store the image file somewhere safe. Whichever program you decide to use you must also create its bootable rescue cd so that you will be able to restore your image if required. I repeat, it's just an image - nothing at all to do with isos.

 

Also remember that, when talking about an installable Linux-Windows OS on USB, they're talking about a raw, clean installation, and those USBs are limited in size (often to a 4Gb model).

There may be confusion about Before and After Installation, perhaps - what you sound like you want is a Backup Image AFTER Installation, but you may be thinking of those "Install Linux-Windows from USB" which are BEFORE Installation versions of the OS only.

As Earthling notes, it sounds like you want 'only' an After Installation Image File, which can be saved to a USB, depending on the size of the Image File and the capacity of the USB. You'll be able to buy a USB that should maintain this.

(But I'd be loathe to trust one USB to hold my only critical Image Backup. I wouldn't even use the same brand to have two backups.)

If I wanted a Backup Image of my Boot Drive, then yes, storing it on F: and maybe another hard-drive would give me quicker access to the RESTORE-REBUILD process, by the way. And I'd trust 2 hard drives far more than 2 USBs, but then again, another mix-and-match would give optimal assurance.

THE RESTORE PROCESS...

This is where Cloning and Imaging vary the most. If I'd Cloned my boot drive onto a target drive (thus, wiping out my Target Drive, and after Cloning, disconnecting it and/or removing it), then I could replace my dead C: Drive with that Clone drive. Peal open the case, remove the old C: Drive, insert the new Clone Version, re-connect the cable, let BIOS Setup 'see' the new hard-drive (hopefully an identical drive) and that's all I'd need to do. Maybe 10-15 minutes, depending how deep I'd buried the Clone in some Parts closet.

The Image Restore will take a running computer. If my boot drive is dead, then I've got to get a new drive in there and make it ready for restoring the Image file from its backup location onto this new working drive. This might be a longer process.

If my C: Drive wasn't 'dead' but corrupted, then I could use it and let the Image Restore process wipe it out - a much quicker operation.