I'm running Vista Ultimate and I'd like to clone my entire "C" HDD
just in case there is a HDD failure or a Vista crash.

I know there are some programs like Norton Ghost, but I learn that there
are some activation related issues when cloning hard drives with Vista
installed?

I'll appreciate any help regarding this matter, after going to clean install
Vista for
the fourth time I'd like to have a duplicate of my "C" HDD with Vista and
all
my programs installed.

What is the best way to achieve this?

Thanks in advance! And...... HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Terence.

Since you are using Vista Ultimate, why don't you use the built in program
that comes with Ultimate?
That would be Full Backup, it will image your system.

"Terence Oliver" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> I'm running Vista Ultimate and I'd like to clone my entire "C" HDD
> just in case there is a HDD failure or a Vista crash.
>
> I know there are some programs like Norton Ghost, but I learn that there
> are some activation related issues when cloning hard drives with Vista
> installed?
>
> I'll appreciate any help regarding this matter, after going to clean
> install Vista for
> the fourth time I'd like to have a duplicate of my "C" HDD with Vista and
> all
> my programs installed.
>
> What is the best way to achieve this?
>
> Thanks in advance! And...... HAPPY NEW YEAR!
>
> Terence.

If you clone the hard drive and the destination partition is different you
may have to run the Vista install disk in repair mode to fix the Vista Boot
Manager data store, so you can boot the cloned system. This is not as big a
deal as it seems.

If you change enough hardware then versions of Windows and Office since XP
will require reactivation. This is not a big deal either. If you
intentionally clone hard drives to get around licensing restrictions that is
considered piracy. The kind of cloning you are talking about would not be
piracy.

I use Norton Ghost for this purpose and it works well. I have the 2003
version, which I believe is the last one to run in a DOS environment. It
has the ability to clone a hard disk or partition to an image file with
compression This can be restored to a working disk later. In fact I did so
yesterday. You can also use it to enlarge or shrink partitions. Just make
an image file, and copy it to a different sized partition. This method is
not as slick as some of the other methods available.

Earle

"Terence Oliver" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> I'm running Vista Ultimate and I'd like to clone my entire "C" HDD
> just in case there is a HDD failure or a Vista crash.
>
> I know there are some programs like Norton Ghost, but I learn that there
> are some activation related issues when cloning hard drives with Vista
> installed?
>
> I'll appreciate any help regarding this matter, after going to clean
> install Vista for
> the fourth time I'd like to have a duplicate of my "C" HDD with Vista and
> all
> my programs installed.
>
> What is the best way to achieve this?
>
> Thanks in advance! And...... HAPPY NEW YEAR!
>
> Terence.

Click Start. Click System and Maintenance. Click Backup and Restore Center.
Click Backup Computer. Select your external hard disk formatted as NTFS. You
can also backup to multiple DVD's but an external HD is the way to go. Vista
will make a complete copy of everything on your system. You can restore from
that disk.

Tyro


"Terence Oliver" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> I'm running Vista Ultimate and I'd like to clone my entire "C" HDD
> just in case there is a HDD failure or a Vista crash.
>
> I know there are some programs like Norton Ghost, but I learn that there
> are some activation related issues when cloning hard drives with Vista
> installed?
>
> I'll appreciate any help regarding this matter, after going to clean
> install Vista for
> the fourth time I'd like to have a duplicate of my "C" HDD with Vista and
> all
> my programs installed.
>
> What is the best way to achieve this?
>
> Thanks in advance! And...... HAPPY NEW YEAR!
>
> Terence.

"Terence Oliver" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> I'm running Vista Ultimate and I'd like to clone my entire "C" HDD
> just in case there is a HDD failure or a Vista crash.
>
> I know there are some programs like Norton Ghost, but I learn that there
> are some activation related issues when cloning hard drives with Vista
> installed?
>
> I'll appreciate any help regarding this matter, after going to clean
> install Vista for
> the fourth time I'd like to have a duplicate of my "C" HDD with Vista and
> all
> my programs installed.
>
> What is the best way to achieve this?
>
> Thanks in advance! And...... HAPPY NEW YEAR!
>
> Terence.

look at Casper
http://www.fssdev.com/

The O/P wants to know about cloning a disk. You are talking about a backup.
they are 2 entirely different animals.

--

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience


"Tyro" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:CYW6l.10198$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Click Start. Click System and Maintenance. Click Backup and Restore
> Center. Click Backup Computer. Select your external hard disk formatted as
> NTFS. You can also backup to multiple DVD's but an external HD is the way
> to go. Vista will make a complete copy of everything on your system. You
> can restore from that disk.
>
> Tyro
>
>
> "Terence Oliver" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> I'm running Vista Ultimate and I'd like to clone my entire "C" HDD
>> just in case there is a HDD failure or a Vista crash.
>>
>> I know there are some programs like Norton Ghost, but I learn that there
>> are some activation related issues when cloning hard drives with Vista
>> installed?
>>
>> I'll appreciate any help regarding this matter, after going to clean
>> install Vista for
>> the fourth time I'd like to have a duplicate of my "C" HDD with Vista and
>> all
>> my programs installed.
>>
>> What is the best way to achieve this?
>>
>> Thanks in advance! And...... HAPPY NEW YEAR!
>>
>> Terence.
>

You need an imaging application to clone a disk. One of the best is
TrueImage HOME from www.acronis.com.

You can make an exact copy of your hard drive and then disconnect the target
drive for removal and storage in a remote location. If the original drive
goes south just swap the drives and you are back in operation within a few
minutes.

--

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience


"Terence Oliver" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> I'm running Vista Ultimate and I'd like to clone my entire "C" HDD
> just in case there is a HDD failure or a Vista crash.
>
> I know there are some programs like Norton Ghost, but I learn that there
> are some activation related issues when cloning hard drives with Vista
> installed?
>
> I'll appreciate any help regarding this matter, after going to clean
> install Vista for
> the fourth time I'd like to have a duplicate of my "C" HDD with Vista and
> all
> my programs installed.
>
> What is the best way to achieve this?
>
> Thanks in advance! And...... HAPPY NEW YEAR!
>
> Terence.

If you've got a Seagate drive you could download the Seagate Disk Wizard
utility to clone the drive. It's based on Acronis software. I very recently
used it to transfer my Vista install into a new partition after adding a
second harddrive. Found nothing to complain about for a free utility.
Apparently the current MaxBlast software for Maxtor drives (now owned by
Seagate) is very similar in function but I haven't tried it to confirm. If
it is, that would be another option for you.

"Terence Oliver" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> I'm running Vista Ultimate and I'd like to clone my entire "C" HDD
> just in case there is a HDD failure or a Vista crash.
>
> I know there are some programs like Norton Ghost, but I learn that there
> are some activation related issues when cloning hard drives with Vista
> installed?
>
> I'll appreciate any help regarding this matter, after going to clean
> install Vista for
> the fourth time I'd like to have a duplicate of my "C" HDD with Vista and
> all
> my programs installed.
>
> What is the best way to achieve this?
>
> Thanks in advance! And...... HAPPY NEW YEAR!
>
> Terence.

I use Acronis True Image 2009 and haven't had any problems. As I am
re-installing to the same drive rather than a new drive I use the 'image'
option (cloning is used to move the operating system from an old drive to a
brand new one). I image my drive back every month or so (due to testing beta
software etc). I certainly haven't had any activation issues. For that
matter even if you did have an activation problem when cloning to a new
drive a simple 'free' phone call to the Microsoft activation line will solve
the problem.

--

--
John Barnett MVP
Windows XP Associate Expert
Windows Desktop Experience

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org
Web: http://www.silversurfer-guide.com

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..


"Terence Oliver" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> I'm running Vista Ultimate and I'd like to clone my entire "C" HDD
> just in case there is a HDD failure or a Vista crash.
>
> I know there are some programs like Norton Ghost, but I learn that there
> are some activation related issues when cloning hard drives with Vista
> installed?
>
> I'll appreciate any help regarding this matter, after going to clean
> install Vista for
> the fourth time I'd like to have a duplicate of my "C" HDD with Vista and
> all
> my programs installed.
>
> What is the best way to achieve this?
>
> Thanks in advance! And...... HAPPY NEW YEAR!
>
> Terence.

Richie, I have beta tested many versions of Casper and have always asked for
the inclusion of an 'imaging' option as well as cloning. I've also found
Casper extremely useful but for the fact it will not image the drive, only
clone it. Maybe if I keep making the point about imaging to Casper they will
eventually take it onboard. It would certainly improve the product.

--

--
John Barnett MVP
Windows XP Associate Expert
Windows Desktop Experience

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org
Web: http://www.silversurfer-guide.com

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..


"Richie Hardwick" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Wed, 31 Dec 2008 19:24:15 -0800, "Terence Oliver"
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>>I'm running Vista Ultimate and I'd like to clone my entire "C" HDD
>>just in case there is a HDD failure or a Vista crash.
>>
>>I know there are some programs like Norton Ghost, but I learn that there
>>are some activation related issues when cloning hard drives with Vista
>>installed?
>
> You say "clone"... do you MEAN that? A clone is an exact copy that is
> also bootable... you can use it immediately if the working disk fails
> for any reason.
>
> An IMAGE is a compressed version of your working disc that can be used
> to restore that disk in the case of a system crash that renders it
> unusable or a complete disc failure and you want to put everything
> back together on a new disk.
>
> In either case, you can do what you want by using Acronis True Image
> which has been mentioned here already. It is reasonably priced at the
> Acronis site, but it can be purchased for less at www.newegg.com
>
> Casper has also been mentioned: it's a fine program (I use it daily,
> in addition to using ATI) but it is limited to being used ONLY for
> cloning... and that makes it a lot less useful in the long run for the
> average user and I can't recommend it.
>
> Richie Hardwick