Disk Cloning Utility Softwares

SIW2 said:

when you say "drive" I presume you mean disk.

the active partition that contains the boot critical files is the system partition.

Not sure what you are asking.

If, for unknown reasons you want to make a different partition the system partition, then mark it active ( primary partition only ) and create the boot critical files on it using bcdboot command.

It should be understood that multiple os systems can be installed on a given physical disk, and any one of them can selectively boot by setting the partition active. Note the disk style, in this case, is MBR not GPT.
My question is if the ability to boot from any system partition is with the clone disk as is with the source disk.

and any one of them can selectively boot by setting the partition active

the mbr code will hand control to the pbr code on the active partition.

the pbr looks for bootmgr on the active partition

bootmgr looks for the bcd store on the active partition.

just marking a partition active won't work unless the boot critical files are also on the active partition.

SIW2 said:

the mbr code will hand control to the pbr code on the active partition.

the pbr looks for bootmgr on the active partition

bootmgr looks for the bcd store on the active partition.

just marking a partition active won't work unless the boot critical files are also on the active partition.

If the system is not installed correctly, it certainly won't boot.
Please note that all oses installed on the source disk boot fine. I wanted to make a clone of this disk but failed. The vendor of the software I used says that the utility will not allow making disk clone if more than one os is installed on the disk, or the resultant clone needs manual fixes, which I ended up doing.
One of the posters in this thread indicated that Macrium Reflection will do what I want to do, assuming, without such additional manual process.
Therefore, before I get the Macrium, I would like to know if anyone did what I am trying to do.

churin said:

If the system is not installed correctly, it certainly won't boot.
Please note that all oses installed on the source disk boot fine. I wanted to make a clone of this disk but failed. The vendor of the software I used says that the utility will not allow making disk clone if more than one os is installed on the disk, or the resultant clone needs manual fixes, which I ended up doing.
One of the posters in this thread indicated that Macrium Reflection will do what I want to do, assuming, without such additional manual process.
Therefore, before I get the Macrium, I would like to know if anyone did what I am trying to do.

I don't know if macrium will figure out there are multiple os and make the necessary changes automatically.

hsehestedt said:

As the name implies, the destination disk will be a clone of the original. In other words, all partitions, OSes, etc. will be transferred over.

I totally agree, so the clone should work just like the original. Does Macrium do this?

Yes, it does.

TIP: Macrium has both a cloning and a disk imaging capability. I have seen a number of people suggest that disk imaging (the entire disk, not just an individual partition or two) seems to be more reliable.

I have to admit that I have never used cloning in Macrium Reflect. I always just create a complete disk image and restore that to the new drive. It accomplishes the same thing. That has always worked for me and never let me down

hsehestedt said:

Yes, it does.

TIP: Macrium has both a cloning and a disk imaging capability. I have seen a number of people suggest that disk imaging (the entire disk, not just an individual partition or two) seems to be more reliable.

I have to admit that I have never used cloning in Macrium Reflect. I always just create a complete disk image and restore that to the new drive. It accomplishes the same thing. That has always worked for me and never let me down

May ask the following about your disk:
1. How many partitions are on the disk?
2. Is there more than one OS system?
3. Is it MBR or GPT style disk?

1 - 4 Partitions
2 - Yes, Windows 11 (Primary OS), and Windows 10 (Installed to a VHDX and performing native boot of the VHDX)
3 - GPT

I have never done imaging the whole disk and restoring it. There are backups of each system partition thus no need for the whole disk image. The reason, why I am interested in cloning the disk, is that I can get the clone disk in one step, and no need to find storage space to store the image in the interim.
I will try the utility I have to do as you do.

- - - Updated - - -

hsehestedt:
My problem has been resolved. Thank you very much for your help.

Thanks for the update. Glad it all worked out.

Just out of curiosity, may I ask what cloning software you used? It's just so that I can make a mental note that you had a good outcome with the software that you used. Also, it may help others who visit this thread.