Copy boot drive to a bootable external drive to fresh install

ataribravo · 23 Jun 2021

This is my first post, so first, hello and second, I hope I'm in the correct section.

What I want to do is do a fresh install on my boot drive (Samsung 970 EVO Plus). Before I format and install I want to make a bootable backup onto an external drive so I can dual-boot until I have the new drive setup the way I want it.

Can this be done? What method/software is best to do it? And if there is already a good post detailing this, just point me in the right direction.

If you need additional information please don't hesitate to ask!

Current Windows 10 version is 20H2 Build 19042.1052 but I will be purchasing a new copy for the fresh install so it will be different.

Thanks!!
Jeff

Berton · 23 Jun 2021

DON'T bother to purchase Win10, go to https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/soft...load/windows10 and download the MCT file, double-click it to run then in the choices get what you want, probably create for a different computer, x64/64-bit then get either the .iso file used to create the Bootable DVD or the Bootable USB Drive of at least 8GB. An issue may exist with the x64 version being a bit over 4GB so will need to use a DVD+R/DL disc if your ODD/Optical Disc Drive can handle it, usually marked on the face of the tray. The USB Drive will be wiped and formatted in its process.

During the new/clean install it will prompt for a key, just check that you don't have one then when it finishes go to the activation. Once Win10 has been installed it usually is no problem in the activation when changing the system drive as desired, other hardware changes such as the motherboard may be an issue.

As others have noted in various sections of this Forum, don't have any other drive connected so as to avoid problems, get Windows working first then reconnect as desired.

ataribravo · 23 Jun 2021

Thanks Berton! That will solve the new install issue nicely. But still not sure how to mirror my current boot drive to an external so I can boot off of it if things go sideways. Advice?

Thanks,
Jeff

Samuria · 23 Jun 2021

Its not just c drive depending on you setup you will need other paritions or it will be useless without boot partitions. Moat people use Macrium Software | Reflect Free Edition and create a disk image as that can backup all paritions.

As win11 is out anytime now I would wait for that and then install that

ataribravo · 23 Jun 2021

Thanks Samuria,

I guess backup was the wrong word to use. I meant a full mirrored copy that is bootable to an external drive just for temp use until I get current boot drive formatted and Windows reinstalled. I will look into the software you suggested.

I'm so out of the loop I didn't even know that Windows 11 was coming so quickly. A little nervous that we could have another Vista on our hands. Hopefully not.

All the best,
Jeff

Berton · 23 Jun 2021

An option for cloning I have used with success is a drive dock that does a byte for byte copy of a Source drive to a Destination drive. I remove the Source drive from the computer after running chkdsk to assure there's no problem with the file structure before doing it. I have used same size for Source and Destination and smaller size to a larger size which usually leaves unallocated space which I create a partition on and format for additional space. Nice part I like is the drive dock does it, can't be connected to any computer during the process.

ataribravo · 23 Jun 2021

I like the drive dock idea, but my boot drive is an m.2 SSD so I think I'm out of luck...

NavyLCDR · 23 Jun 2021

I don't know if a currently installed Windows 10 will work properly after copying to an external drive. But, what I would do is manually create a system partition on the external drive (100 mb). Then use a program such as MiniTool Partition Wizard Free to copy the Windows OS partition from the internal SSD to the external drive. Then use the bcdboot command to write the boot files to the system partition on the external drive.

ataribravo · 23 Jun 2021

Navy,
I just might give that a try, thanks!

Jeff