Partition Magic v Norton Ghost Copy to copy XP

[Dave Neve]

Hi

I want to install a second HD and copy a partition with XP, my programs and
documents to the new HD so that I can reformat the old one which has 4
partitions.

After formatting, I want to copy the partition straight back, all without a
hitch and before lunch time (fat chance)

I don't really understand the difference between Partition Magic and Norton
Ghost.

What is the difference between them and which one is more suitable for this
job?

Thanks

 

[R. McCarty]

Ghost is primarily an Imaging product for making backups
of existing partitions and drives. Partition Magic is more of
a Drive preparation and modifications program. For your
specific situation, Partition Magic is the better choice. It will
create/modify/copy partitions and has some extra benefits
as far as resizing and changing partitions. Symantec (Ghost)
has recently bought PowerQuest, so it is likely that Partition
Magic will soon be re-branded under the Symantec name.

 

[Willit]

Try this: The Demo may work for free, it won't re-size the
drive partition though.

Buy a second Hard drive $69.00 these days and a good
copy/backup program to make a clone. XP-Casper is one.

http://www.fssdev.com/products/ $ 39.00 make the clone
and then un-plug the power to the drive if you want.

Want to test drive a Demo for 30 days. It has some
features disabled.

http://downloads-zdnet.com.com/3000-2248-10161152.html?
tag=lst-1-8

 

[jch]

Symantec bought PowerQuest! I guess I hadn't heard that under the rock
where I live. That's too bad. I mean I like the quality of the PowerQuest
products (Drive Image and Partition Magic are the two I own). I have never
cared for Symantec.

 

[Jeff Malka]

When PM copies a bootable partition, is the new partition bootable?

In the case asked about here, would this double copy of the partition (to
and back) result in a bootable XP system?

Thanks.

 

[Sunny]

There are instructional videos for Partition Magic here :
http://www.powerquest.com/support/primus/id3918.cfm

 

[rory]

Thanks, Sunny!
Those videos were very educational. What a great marketing tool.

 

[Alex Nichol]

When PM copies a bootable partition, is the new partition bootable?

In the case asked about here, would this double copy of the partition (to
and back) result in a bootable XP system?

You would need to tell PM to make it the 'Active partition'. And if the
disk had never been used you would have to take steps to write 'Master
Boot Record' code in the very first sector of the drive - outside the
partition. that can be done conveniently from a Win98 startup floppy,
if you have one (command
FDISK /MBR )
or less so from a boot of the XP CD to immediate Repair mode and use
Fixmbr

Or you can do any of it with the tool I prefer myself, BootIT NG, from
http://www.BootitNG.com ($35 shareware - 30 day full functional trial)
though it is less intuitive. The trick is not to install it from its
bootable disk, but Cancel, entering Maintenance and click Partition
work. Copy is then a matter of highlighting a partition, click Copy;
select the other drive; click Paste. And the MBR matters, including
setting active, from the View MBR button