and then format the partition while I carry out an operation - can I then copy back from the external to the original location. I need to get my Vista installation off of my internal hard drive for an hour or so and I wonder if copying the Vista partition to the external and then back again (so everything works as it did before I started) is a feasible option. Is there any technical reason why this would not work. Note that once the Vista partition has been copied to the external, it will just sit there until I am ready to copy it back to the original location. I realize I cannot use the Vista while it is on the external
2007-06-01 02:33:34 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Computers & Internet ➔ Other - Computers
You can not make a complete "copy" of a hard drive while it is in operation. You must make an image of it. To do this you will need a program like Norton Ghost, or Drive Copy, etc.
2007-06-01 02:40:30 · answer #1 · answered by Ron M 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know much about Windows Vista but I wouldn't trust the copy function to temporarily store a partition. The best suggestion I can make is to use a backup and restore. I would also be a little concerned about your MBR on your primary boot disk and how things will work once you put the restore back. It really depends on what you are trying to accomplish with the partition once you remove the Vista OS. If you install something else you will be changing your MBR so you won't be successful in just restoring the partition. Good luck.
2007-06-01 09:45:47 · answer #2 · answered by David 19 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's possible..sort of. You can't copy the partition if you are using it. You could do it if you are running dual boot, but you would have to modify the boot files once you bring the partition with Vista back down again.
If you have a spare drive, you can just slave the Vista drive and install a OS on your spare drive for the master.
Or you can purchase Symantec Ghost which will backup all your data/OS to a media of your choosing. I use Ghost which I like a lot. I created a single base image which I can restore in minutes if my current system gets convoluted or corrupted.
2007-06-01 09:44:29 · answer #3 · answered by mtmartis 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋