Multiboot back to single operating system

[Guest]

I have two XP Pro OS on one HDD and will keep only the first of them (without
loosing the data). Is it possible to backup just the C: partition, format the
entire disk and restore the C: partition using TrueImage or DriveImage?

At the time I have 3 partitions (Bootmanager?, XP1, XP2)

Thank you,
Frank

 

[Guest]

I have used TrueImage several times to do just what you propose (I am a
chronic tinkerer). Back up the operating system you wish to keep with
TrueImage (I do it to a Maxtor USB external hard drive). Use Administrative
Tools to dealocate the partitions you don't want to keep (Control Panel,
Administrative Tools, Computer Management, Storage, Disk Management (Local)).
Right-click on the partitions and delete them. When restoring with TrueImage,
you have the option of graphically expanding the partition you are restoring
to encompass the whole drive.

 

[Anna]

I have used TrueImage several times to do just what you propose (I am a
chronic tinkerer). Back up the operating system you wish to keep with
TrueImage (I do it to a Maxtor USB external hard drive). Use
Administrative
Tools to dealocate the partitions you don't want to keep (Control Panel,
Administrative Tools, Computer Management, Storage, Disk Management
(Local)).
Right-click on the partitions and delete them. When restoring with
TrueImage,
you have the option of graphically expanding the partition you are
restoring
to encompass the whole drive.

Earl:
Since you didn't include the prior posting(s) to which you're apparently
responding, I'm not conversant with this thread, but allow me to ask you a
question which seems to bear on the info you're providing and since you're
conversant with the Acronis True Image program.

I'm a long-time user of Symantec's Norton Ghost. My sole use of that disk
imaging program (or any disk imaging program) is to clone the contents of
one hard disk to another, either internally or to USB/Firewire external hard
drives. I prefer to undertake the cloning process using a Ghost bootable
floppy disk or a Ghost bootable CD rather than using the Windows GUI, which
of course one can use with that program as well as the Acronis program.

I just recently started to work with the ATI program (using a bootable ATI
CD) because of the many favorable reviews of that product I've come across.
So far I've been quite impressed with the program in terms of its cloning
speed. It's considerably faster than Ghost both in terms of cloning internal
drives as well as to a USB EHD, and that's an important consideration for
me.

However, there are two negatives that I've come across using that program.
1. The program will not allow you to create a single bootable floppy disk
which would allow one to perform the cloning operation. It's not a terribly
significant "negative" for me, since the program *does* allow the creation
of a bootable CD to perform the clone, but I would like the flexibility of
having a bootable floppy, and,

2. And this is the more important one. I have not found a way to clone
partitions using the ATI program. It seems I can clone only on a
disk-to-disk basis. For example, if I wanted to clone the contents of a
drive to a specific partition on a multi-partitioned destination drive
(internal or external), it seems the program does not have this capability
(which I have with the Ghost program). I've queried the developer about this
but so far haven't had a response.

Would appreciate your comments.
Anna

 

[Guest]

Earl:
Since you didn't include the prior posting(s) to which you're apparently
responding, I'm not conversant with this thread, but allow me to ask you a
question which seems to bear on the info you're providing and since you're
conversant with the Acronis True Image program.

I'm a long-time user of Symantec's Norton Ghost. My sole use of that disk
imaging program (or any disk imaging program) is to clone the contents of
one hard disk to another, either internally or to USB/Firewire external hard
drives. I prefer to undertake the cloning process using a Ghost bootable
floppy disk or a Ghost bootable CD rather than using the Windows GUI, which
of course one can use with that program as well as the Acronis program.

I just recently started to work with the ATI program (using a bootable ATI
CD) because of the many favorable reviews of that product I've come across.
So far I've been quite impressed with the program in terms of its cloning
speed. It's considerably faster than Ghost both in terms of cloning internal
drives as well as to a USB EHD, and that's an important consideration for
me.

However, there are two negatives that I've come across using that program.
1. The program will not allow you to create a single bootable floppy disk
which would allow one to perform the cloning operation. It's not a terribly
significant "negative" for me, since the program *does* allow the creation
of a bootable CD to perform the clone, but I would like the flexibility of
having a bootable floppy, and,

2. And this is the more important one. I have not found a way to clone
partitions using the ATI program. It seems I can clone only on a
disk-to-disk basis. For example, if I wanted to clone the contents of a
drive to a specific partition on a multi-partitioned destination drive
(internal or external), it seems the program does not have this capability
(which I have with the Ghost program). I've queried the developer about this
but so far haven't had a response.

Would appreciate your comments.
Anna

Anna:

I was responding to a gentleman who had two XP Pro op systems on one hard
drive. He wanted to know if he could use ATI to remove his second op system
and allow his first system full use of the whole drive.

If I have multiple partitions (with or without operating systems) on one
drive, ATI shows these partitions as choices to back up. Simply check the
disk (with included partitions) or partition you wish to copy and follow the
prompts. This partition or whole drive can then be restored to another drive
or partition using the bootable CD created when ATI was installed. I
apologize for possible improper use of terminology. I am self-taught and have
trashed many operating system installations (all on my computer, I don't mess
with my daughter's computer), thus the need for Acronis TrueImage to restore
what I have destroyed.

 

[Guest]

Perhaps this screen shot will help. It shows the selection of an entire disk
or just a partition to image. The drive F: partition on disk 2 has been
selected for backup.

ww2.netnitco.net/users/zens/acronis.jpg