XCOPY's capabilities

[William B. Lurie]

Many moons ago, before settling on Drive Image and GHOST
to make complete backup clones of my Master Operating
System, I tried XCOPY and couldn't successfully produce a
bootable cloned system on a Slave hard drive. I got good
advice here. (Thank you, Richard).

I don't want to start that research over again to answer
one of my colleagues who has asked me why I don't just
use XCOPY, with its many switches. May I have a few
answers to that question? Great details not required,
and thank you.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Many moons ago, before settling on Drive Image and GHOST
to make complete backup clones of my Master Operating
System, I tried XCOPY and couldn't successfully produce a
bootable cloned system on a Slave hard drive. I got good
advice here. (Thank you, Richard).

I don't want to start that research over again to answer
one of my colleagues who has asked me why I don't just
use XCOPY, with its many switches. May I have a few
answers to that question? Great details not required,
and thank you.

Using it how?
- From within Windows itself - while the OS is running?
- Booting from a BartPE (or similar CD)?

Either way you will end up with a non-bootable system - but with a little
extra effort - the second one might become a bootable system. (xcopy is not
going to give you the boot sector, etc.)

Seems like a lot of work for nothing, though. Imaging programs exist that
make exact 100% images of the system and otrher drives/partitions that can
be applied later and boot fine.

 

[DL]

Personally I find a dedicated Image app simpler
You did say 'no details'

 

[William B. Lurie]

Using it how?
- From within Windows itself - while the OS is running?
- Booting from a BartPE (or similar CD)?

Either way you will end up with a non-bootable system - but with a little
extra effort - the second one might become a bootable system. (xcopy is not
going to give you the boot sector, etc.)

Seems like a lot of work for nothing, though. Imaging programs exist that
make exact 100% images of the system and other drives/partitions that can
be applied later and boot fine.

Thank you....my sentiments exactly, but I wanted more expert
corroboration.

 

[William B. Lurie]

Right you are, DL, and thank you. But Irwin's
response included just the right amount of detail.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Many moons ago, before settling on Drive Image and GHOST
to make complete backup clones of my Master Operating
System, I tried XCOPY and couldn't successfully produce a
bootable cloned system on a Slave hard drive. I got good
advice here. (Thank you, Richard).

I don't want to start that research over again to answer
one of my colleagues who has asked me why I don't just
use XCOPY, with its many switches. May I have a few
answers to that question? Great details not required,
and thank you.

Personally I find a dedicated Image app simpler
You did say 'no details'

Right you are, DL, and thank you. But Irwin's
response included just the right amount of detail.

Not seeing Irwin's response here - could you repeat it?