Can I do a drive copy including Windows a without causing problems

[Guest]

I want to do a complete copy of my hard drive, including Windows as a backup.
The drives are on the same computer. I want to do this in case of a disk
crash like I had last spring. Yes, I know I can re-install Windows but then I
would spend the next week re-installing patches and updates as I had to do
before. Will this cause me any grief license-wise. Thanks.
Ken

 

[Guest]

Use Windows' Help (Start -> Help Center), and search for Backup. They have
really nice tutorial on how to set-up your fully-automated (or not) backup.

Or you can run (Wind.Key + 'R') ntbackup.exe and play with the option
yourself.

ntbackup.exe allow you to do a full backup on a separated drive, useful !

 

[Bruce]

Use Windows' Help (Start -> Help Center), and search for Backup. They
have really nice tutorial on how to set-up your fully-automated (or
not) backup.

Or you can run (Wind.Key + 'R') ntbackup.exe and play with the option
yourself.

ntbackup.exe allow you to do a full backup on a separated drive,
useful !

Would this be similar to ghosting? That is, if the backup includes the OS
and all drivers, aps, data, etc. could the back up become the master boot
disk (connect to primary IDE), if needed?

Thanks,
Bruce

 

[Guest]

I take it that when you say, "ghosting", it is the same or similar to imaging
or mirroring. And my concern is that will I be able to boot from that drive
in the case of an emergency as I had last spring, where I had to reload
everything? The drive being copied to is my secondary IDE. Could I set that
drive up as a boot drive option or would I need to make it primary at the
time of that emergency? The drive I am copying to is a brand new WD drive and
I was considering using their utility, "Drive to drive copy," and I am
wondering if that is a wise choice, or are their better ways to do this?
Thanks
Ken