System Disk Image/Clone

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  1. Posts : 1,481
    W10 22H2 19045.3031
       #11

    My main OS is of course on C: I have a clone of C: on my D: drive. Both are SATA SSD's. When I reboot and choose D: to boot from, it then becomes C: when it runs. The computer does not know any difference, it is identical. Of course, if D: data is not updated frequently, you begin when you last saved it. (same for images)
      My Computers


  2. Posts : 1,811
    W7 Ultimate SP1 (64 bit), LM 19.2 MATE (64 bit), W10 Home 1703 (64 bit), W10 Pro 1703 (64 bit) VM
       #12

    I had W7 "spit the dummy" because 2 drives had the same signature (UUID?) after imaging.
    "This disk is offline because it has a signature collision with another disk"

    Disk Management fixed the issue in W7.
    • Right Click on the disc label on the left side.
    • There is an option in the context menu (I can't recall the name and I can't look it up as I'm in LM17.1 at the moment)
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  3. Posts : 239
    Windows 10 Pro 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #13

    caperjack said:
    your copy of windows can only be used on only one computer at a time ,even if its the same computer ,its not going to allow you to duel boot the same OS with only one activation key
    As meebers commented, you can, as I have, 2 HDs with the same build of Windows 7 & key, using the bios to boot into which ever one is required; should 'C' fail, then I've got immediate access to another on 'D' which when booted, becomes 'C'.

    I never use multiple boot options; on one occasion, heaven knows how it happened, the OS on the 'C' drive required files from the 'D' to function so if 'D' was removed, then 'C' wouldn't boot.

    Wasn't aware that the context menu (pointed out by lehnerus2000) had an option to overcome signature collisions with another disk ; as mentioned, I resulted to Diskpart to change the ID.

    caperjack said:
    If you had another copy [with its on key ]of windows on the second hard drive you likely would not have gotten the error
    But then surely this wouldn't be a cloned copy of the OS, unless the key is changed at a subsequent stage.

    As I only want to run one OS at a time, then there's no problem in using the same key,
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  4. Posts : 11,247
    Windows / Linux : Arch Linux
       #14

    Hi there

    First - CLONING means exactly that - HDD is copied sector by sector to an IDENTICAL sized partition on a new HDD. The new HDD can be larger than the old one but the rest of the space will be "Unallocated". Otherwise everything (including errors, spaces, lost / broken chains etc) will be copied.

    second - Imaging creates a dataset of your HDD which can be used to recover your HDD or move the OS to another HDD (can be smaller too if the image fits on it). You then need to use a RESTORE program to recover the HDD. Imaging can sometimes during its processing re-arrange files etc acting as an invisible software defrag - can be good when imaging SSD's as you should NEVER defrag those. (Another topic though). so imaging and restoring is a TWO stage process. Cloning copies directly so the HDD can be used immediately.

    If you have a partition editor - after CLONING an HDD set the original one to HIDDEN if you want to keep it on the system. Use the BIOS to boot whichever HDD you want to boot. Note also you CAN change the HDD's GUI (GPT) but if you have any Linux stuff on the HDD as well you'll need to re-install the GRUB2 boot loader.

    Cheers
    jimbo
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  5. Posts : 757
    Host W8.0 x64 Guest W10 x86
       #15

    I mentioned this setup a few times because I wish I thought of it myself. :) A guy on another forum has a custom built with quick release HD racks/rails whatever is the proper term. Periodically, as in every few days, he creates a Macrium image of the main HD in the machine and restores it to an identical bare HD in a USB docking station.

    This backup is kept in a drawer. If he gets a HD fail he powers down, pulls the drive, inserts the one from the drawer and boots. A matter of a few minutes. All he has lost is modifications since the last image was restored to the bare drive. Pretty neat. :)
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 5,286
    Win 10 Pro x64
       #16

    MilesAhead said:
    I mentioned this setup a few times because I wish I thought of it myself. :) A guy on another forum has a custom built with quick release HD racks/rails whatever is the proper term. Periodically, as in every few days, he creates a Macrium image of the main HD in the machine and restores it to an identical bare HD in a USB docking station.

    This backup is kept in a drawer. If he gets a HD fail he powers down, pulls the drive, inserts the one from the drawer and boots. A matter of a few minutes. All he has lost is modifications since the last image was restored to the bare drive. Pretty neat. :)

    That is exactly what I do. I have a 2 removable SSD and 1 HDD trays outside the CPU case. I just insert clones and images and restore my system in less than 15mins.

    System Disk Image/Clone-hardrive_trays.jpg
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 1,481
    W10 22H2 19045.3031
       #17

    MilesAhead said:
    I mentioned this setup a few times because I wish I thought of it myself. :) A guy on another forum has a custom built with quick release HD racks/rails whatever is the proper term. Periodically, as in every few days, he creates a Macrium image of the main HD in the machine and restores it to an identical bare HD in a USB docking station.



    This backup is kept in a drawer. If he gets a HD fail he powers down, pulls the drive, inserts the one from the drawer and boots. A matter of a few minutes. All he has lost is modifications since the last image was restored to the bare drive. Pretty neat. :)
    I do the same, I have one HD slide in rack. Additional backup drives are used there because they seem to have a higher transfer rate than an external usb connection to a HD. I have a Linux drive in a cassette? that I can slide in there when I want to play with Linux. I just never did duel boot or VM yet, working that way though 2 SSD C:, D: and M: spinner.
    System Disk Image/Clone-config-1-.jpgSystem Disk Image/Clone-config-2-.jpg
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 757
    Host W8.0 x64 Guest W10 x86
       #18

    @meebers and @badrobot awesome setups. I can't wait to get a workbench and desktops again to do it right.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 5,702
    insider build 10586.3 win10 pro 64
       #19

    WightWalker said:
    As meebers commented, you can, as I have, 2 HDs with the same build of Windows 7 & key, using the bios to boot into which ever one is required; should 'C' fail, then I've got immediate access to another on 'D' which when booted, becomes 'C'.

    I never use multiple boot options; on one occasion, heaven knows how it happened, the OS on the 'C' drive required files from the 'D' to function so if 'D' was removed, then 'C' wouldn't boot.

    Wasn't aware that the context menu (pointed out by lehnerus2000) had an option to overcome signature collisions with another disk ; as mentioned, I resulted to Diskpart to change the ID.

    caperjack said:
    If you had another copy [with its on key ]of windows on the second hard drive you likely would not have gotten the error
    But then surely this wouldn't be a cloned copy of the OS, unless the key is changed at a subsequent stage.

    As I only want to run one OS at a time, then there's no problem in using the same key,
    thanks for the correction ,I guess my thought process and knowledge is way off .lol
      My Computer


 

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