Simply trying to clone a Win7 disk - Need help

Hi, first time posting.

In the last few years I've been using Vista, with
-500GB WD main drive
-500GB identical WD backup drive (for automated file backups)
-500GB external drive ( for automated staggered file backups and rotating weekly image archives using Acronis)

Its been working quite well.

Recently, I decided to migrate to Windows 7 Home Premium. It was going very well...until I decided to "improve" my backup strategy by cloning the main drive onto the back up drive. In that way, it would be everything I do now, plus. if the C drive crashed, I'd simply swap it with the clone, and buy a new back drive and I'd be back to normal ( whereas now, for that same sceneario, I'd have to play around with restroing the image archive files)..

Cloning is dead simple - I've done it many time before when installing a second drive.

But the last few days have been a nightmare, and each time I attempt to clone, it messes up my source boot drive, and I need to reinstall Win 7 all over again. See sequence appended below.

Hoping another set of eyes might steer me to a solution.

I'm getting to the point where I should forget about cloning to the backup drive altogether and just use my tried-and-true backup file/image based strategy.



My status quo is this:

• a working bootable Win 7 C drive ( installed with custom/format option)
• a working D backup drive, with a quasi-clone copy of the Win7 setup (but unsure if it would boot to Vista or Win 7
• there are still Vista remnants on the machine ( ie boot loader options show Vista as an option)
• still cant get an image program to work wihout clobbering my boot sequence

Ideas and next steps...
I am not familiar with Master Boot records, Boot.INI, etc, but I suspect my issue lies there, or perhaps in the default partitions on the drive.. See pic attached of the Startup and Recovery window ( the drop down option there are the ones I see when Win 7 boots up).

Questions:
1) If I format the Backup D drive ( from Windows) - on the assmption that might help - does that affect the list of operating systems I see on boot up ( WIndows Vista, Windows Longhorn)

2) What happens if I delete those drop down entires from Startup and Recovery - does it render the Backup Drive useless or will it still be there? Perhaps deleting those drop down entires PLUS formating the D drive will irradicate Vista, and allow cloing to work??

3) Will the above steps affect my C Drive ??? - famous last words !

4) Are there other diagnostics or tools I can uese to ensure the boot area is proper and fixable?

Thanks
__________________________________________________________

Ref:



Sequence of events to date are as follows:

1. Backed up user files to an external drive
2. Started with a bootable C and bootable D drive, both on Vista - both drives are identical WD drives. The drives used to be RAID configured are have not been for some time
3. I installed Win 7 on the C drive. On this first install , I did the Custom install, - but the one with fresh Windows and Program files but non-formatting so that it keeps user files
4. Installed the 100 or so Windows updates plus apps
5. With C and D working I then wanted to Clone C to D
6. I tried Acronis Ver 11, but did not properly recognize the exisitng drive names and letters
7. I tried EASEUS - looked good so I ran it, but it trashed the boot up ( showing no Win 7 option on the boot up only Vista.
8. I had to reisntall Win 7. - On this second install , I again did the Custom install,with fresh Windows and Program file but
   non-formatting so that it keeps user files. Again I installed the 100 or so WIndows updates plus app
9. With C and D working I then wanted to try again Clone C to D
10. This time I tired Acronis Ver 2009 (free from Western Digitial)
11. It did not complete the clone , and it screwed up my my boot up. Had to run system repair, and that got me going
12. With C and D working I then wanted to try again Clone C to D
13. This time I tried EASEUS again- It took 3 hours to complete !!!! - it compelted the cloining, but again messed up the bootup, This time I saw choices as Vista, Windwows Longhorn, and Win 7 recovered. I chose WIn 7 recovered and got back to normall bootup
14. Did a cold boot timing test - 2 and half minutes from power on to Google screen.
15. Given the lng boot time, the lingering rements of Vista, and a full copy of my Win 7 files on the the D drive (recall the cloning
    itself wored), I attempted another Win 7 install
16. On this THIRD install , I chose the custom/format option- C was indeed formated (user files and other folder not longer there).
17. C and D now working and I am at the status quo .. still Vista remants.

Startup And Recovery pic : https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-RryNhh0274A/TmaJCiC1XmI/AAAAAAAAD44/aXpMOM1y_cQ/advanced_system_setting_StartupandRecovery.jpg

You only have Windows 7, correct?

Since you have Acronis, I would not even mess with Cloning TBH, instead I would stick with regular imaging.
Cloning is basically making 2 bootable drives, rather than 1 bootable, and 1 for backup storage. Or moving to a new drive. (but the same can be accomplished just as fast or faster with a full disc image)

In fact, a Full Disc Image will be just as good. As it will image partiton structure, disc signature etc.
I find it to work just as well, and faster.


On the backup drive, I would completely clean it.
Then make a partition for backups, or use it as Acronis Secure Zone. Whichever method you prefer.

Make a Full Disc Image, and this can be your main HD clone.
Then for regular back ups, set up however you desire as a partiton backup... or even a full disk if you choose


Unless you need both drives to be bootable?


To get rid of the boot loader and other options, you may want to try 1 of 2 things.
1) Re-Install Clean.
If you have access to a Win7 disc, you can use your key for a clean installation. This is more work, but well worth it in the long run.
If going this route I would suggest using the cmd prompt and run a clean command on the drive. Then install Windows. Obviously make sure your persoanl DATA is backed up first.

2) Image just the main C partition.
Wipe the drive, and restore the C partition to it.
At this point you'll need to do a repair install possibly 2-3 times.
This will force it to remake the MBR.
The result will be a single partition with just Win7 on it.

Unless of course you need the Dell recovory partition for some reason. But if you've made the recovery DVDs, you shouldnt.


Others may have a better solution and/or advice to offer.