How to clone Windows XP/bootcamp partition to external FW drive??

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Level 2

344 points

How to clone Windows XP/bootcamp partition to external FW drive??

Once I have upgraded to Leopard, what is a simple way to clone my Bootcamp/Windows XP partition to an external FW hard drive? I'm used to using Carbon Copy Cloner for the Mac OS. My purpose is to simply have a complete backup/clone of all my Windows stuff in the event that my hard drive fails and I need to restore the Windows part. I have a separate external hard drive that I can use just for the Windows portion. I'm confused about the differences and advantages/disadvantages between programs like Winclone, Norton Ghost, & HDClone, since my experience with Windows is very limited. Specific questions include:
1. How do I need to prepare the external drive for the clone?
2. What program to use to clone?
3. Anything else a Windows no-nothing should know!
Thank you!

G5 Dual 2.0, 2GB RAM & iMac Intel 2.0/2, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Dec 9, 2007 7:53 PM

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Answer 1

Fortuny

Level 7

21,461 points

Dec 9, 2007 11:49 PM in response to bobio

Hi,

depending on what File System you use there are two ways to backup.

If you use FAT32, see here for procedure: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=717201&start=0&tstart=0

If you use NTFS, you can use WinClone http://www.twocanoes.com/winclone/

The FAT32 procedure needs an external HD to work, whereas WinClone will simply make an Image File on your OSX partition (or where you tell it to make).

Regards

Stefan

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Answer 2

bobio Author

Level 2

344 points

Dec 10, 2007 9:10 AM in response to Fortuny

Hi, Stefan -

Thank you. I use NTFS. Do I understand the procedure to do the backup correctly:

1. Clone my Mac OS 10.5 drive using Carbon Copy Cloner as usual to an external Mac-formatted drive
2. Then use Winclone, and it will create the NTFS/bootcamp partition on my Mac clone, plus clone everything to this parition?
3. When I'm done I'll then have a bootable clone of my entire hard drive, both the Mac and the Windows XP partitions?

This seems too easy 🙂. Am I missing something? Thank you again.

Bob

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Answer 3

Fortuny

Level 7

21,461 points

Dec 10, 2007 11:06 PM in response to bobio

Hi Bob,

yes, that's all you have to do.
Although I would first do the WinClone image to the internal OSX partition and then use CCC to clone that partition to the external HD.

But I think that's only how I would do it, cause in the end it comes to the same output.

Have Fun

Stefan

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Answer 4

bobio Author

Level 2

344 points

Dec 10, 2007 11:28 PM in response to Fortuny

Stefan,

Thank you again for being so helpful. You will see from my next question that I still remain slightly in the dark 🙂. If I do as you suggest (Although I would first do the WinClone image to the internal OSX partition and then use CCC to clone that partition to the external HD), before cloning, then would I not have two boot camp/windows partitions on my main hard drive? I think this would give me my original partition created by bootcamp, and a second identical partition on the same drive created by winclone. I apologize for the many questions, but I want to try to understand what I'm doing. Danke shon!

Bob

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Answer 5

Fortuny

Level 7

21,461 points

Dec 10, 2007 11:45 PM in response to bobio

Hi Bob,

no need for apologizing. We are all here to learn 😉

There is a misunderstanding in how WinClone works.
The backup it makes is not a 'physical' partition but is merely a file that contains a full image of your BootCamp Windows.
This file can be saved to any of your OSX partitions but will remain a file until you use WinClone again to restore your BootCamp Windows from it.

So you don't get a second 'physical' Windows partition when using WinClone.

Stefan

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Answer 6

bobio Author

Level 2

344 points

Dec 11, 2007 9:50 AM in response to Fortuny

Stefan,

Thank you. The fog has lifted and I finally get it. I approach the Windows side like I do steep descents on a mountain bike - with fear and avoidance when possible. Thanks again.

Bob

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Answer 7

Fortuny

Level 7

21,461 points

Dec 11, 2007 10:52 PM in response to bobio

Hi Bob,

just like my approach was when I got my first Mac ever last year after 20+ years of MS-DOS and Windows 😉
But if I ever learned one thing from using Windows PCs, then it is 'save early, save often' .
A lot of the 'fear and avoidance' can be overcome when always having an uptodate backup of all things valuable.

It might be interesting for you that there is 'a new kid in town' :
Paragon has released its NTFS for OSX http://www.paragon-software.com/home/ntfs-mac/ which I have to try out yet, but it seems that with it one might be able to use any kind of backup application in OSX to also backup the NTFS partition.
Might be making life easier with it.

Have Fun

Stefan

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Answer 8

bobio Author

Level 2

344 points

Dec 12, 2007 11:53 AM in response to Fortuny

Thanks, Stefan.

I used Winclone as you suggested and it worked great. On the Mac side I have been diligent in cloning and back up since I bought my first 500 MB (MB, not GB!) hard drive in the 80's to use with my Apple IIe as a ProDOS drive. I think it was a Chinook and set me back almost $500. I now maintain several backups/clones, to include one off-site in a safety deposit box. Until you helped with the Windows side, however, I simply did not know how to do it. Plus, I do not have much on the Windows partition, but do not want to have to deal with the hassle of recreating it if a problem with my drive. Thanks again.

Bob

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Answer 9

Fortuny

Level 7

21,461 points

Dec 12, 2007 11:05 PM in response to bobio

Hi Bob,

You're welcome anytime.
Good news to start the day 🙂

Glad to hear that I could be of help.

Have Fun

Stefan

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