Creating a image of HDD

[systemcrash]

Im having a little bit of trouble with a old Toshiba Laptop. I am trying to make a image of the Hdd onto a separate external Hdd, Normally quite simple, but when im running the program the external Hdd wont show up to create the image.
I have entered the bios and it only lets my rearange the boot order of CD-Rom/Lan/Hdd/Fdd There isnt a option for external Hdd. But it does allow me to boot off the external Hdd if i go into boot options at load up.

Anyone here know how to resolve this?

I know there are imaging programs i can use while the user is logged in, but i havnt compared them to the ones you use from a recovery disc, Are the results the same or is it better to use it from disc to make sure you can properly access all the files?

JUST TO BE CLEAR: Im changing the Operating System so i need to make a recoverable image of the Operating system so it doesnt require re-activation as the laptop didnt come with a xp cd, and when i went to make the CD i used virtualbox and i input the registration key and it said invalid, So i dont want to lose a working operating system in case the key dont work if i install XP Again.

[wdhpr]

Ok this maybe something you already tried.

I assume you can boot into winxp normally. Have you ever tried going into the control panal and check for new hardware while you external hardrive is plugged in?

I have true image (not free) installed on my computer and It allows me to make a image of my system to DVD's (which would take 100's on my system) However you say her system is 10 GB. Does her CD-Rom burn DVD's? I haven't used any of the free Image software so don't know if they allow this.

One last thing. Sometimes computers will have a partition that contains the Restore files that the user will have to use to burn their own Restore CD's. Worth a look

Wdhpr

[systemcrash]

The External Hdd Runs fine when the computer is logged in, i can access it fine and store things normally, A recovery Partition is what im trying to create, the laptop is old and doesnt have one the 10Gb is the full size of the drive. The laptop does burn to disc bit I dont have any discs, i know there not expensive but i may as well use the drive since i got it.

What im finding strange is i can access the external drive normally when logged in but it dont register at boot up unless i try to boot from the external HDD in the boot options.

[wdhpr]

What im finding strange is i can access the external drive normally when logged in.

Your saying you can access your external hardrive when logged in. Do you mean logged into Windows XP from the laptop?

If you have a running winxp and have access to your external drive you should be able to use one of the free imaging programs to make an exact image of her system and store it on your external drive.

A recovery Partition is what im trying to create

I would think if you want to make a separate partition on the 10GB hardrive it wouldn't leave much room for another operating system. For that matter you could make a second partition and still install linux as a dual boot machine.

but it dont register at boot up unless i try to boot from the external HDD in the boot options

Does this mean you can successfully boot to Windows with this method? If so can you install imaging software?

[systemcrash]

I have a solution But i want to check that it will work from people that have more experience. I had another recovery disc and i booted into mini XP and i was able to view and use the external HDD it had a program Snapshot that can create a image of the drive and copy it to my external Hdd. But i dont know if it would just copy the files to restore them like a backup or if it would make a image i can restore the entire Os with. Does anyone know what program is best to use? I also have DriveImage XMl but the same thing, does this backup and restore files or would it completely restore the OS

[garth]

Originally Posted by systemcrash

I had another recovery disc and i booted into mini XP....

What is mini XP?

[wdhpr]

Originally Posted by systemcrash

I have a solution But i want to check that it will work from people that have more experience. I had another recovery disc and i booted into mini XP and i was able to view and use the external HDD it had a program Snapshot that can create a image of the drive and copy it to my external Hdd. But i dont know if it would just copy the files to restore them like a backup or if it would make a image i can restore the entire Os with. Does anyone know what program is best to use? I also have DriveImage XMl but the same thing, does this backup and restore files or would it completely restore the OS

I looked up Snapshot. What I found is Drive Snapshot Is this what you are referring to?

From the webpage:

Complete Restore of a disk in case of Disaster
If a disk is restored to its original state, it will be exactly the same as at the time of Backup - byte for byte.
Restoring a system partition will require DOS; other drives can be restored using Windows

I have not used this software So you may want to wait for others to reply.
But it appears this software should do the job.

[garth]

Originally Posted by garth

What is mini XP?

Never mind i Googled it.

[systemcrash]

Yeah its driver Snapshot, quess i should have been clearer, But im looking for users comments, I know that gizmo has recommended programs to use that take into account usability and so on but im looking for peoples comments if they had particular problems using certain imaging programs or restoring problems.

For instance i used Macrium reflect a while ago it made the image and when checked it it was fine. But when i went to use it it wouldn't work on 3 separate occasions.