Windows 7: Both "System reserved" and "C" partition cloned to external HDD: boot?

Yes, built in Windows 7 will save and restore an image. But it lacks the flexibility of others like Macrium, Acronis, Paragon. In your case it might want more partitions saved than you chose there, and if it reimages them will want to put them in the same offset (position).

It is frequently required to run Startup Repair on a newly imaged or cloned HD, making sure Windows 7 or it's 100mb boot partition (preferred if you have it) are marked Active first. Partition - Mark as Active (Method Two)

SIW2 and Gregrocker, you both say that Windows' "System Image" lacks flexibility ... but does it do its job (enabling exact restore)?

Or is the very first sentence in How to Do a System Image Recovery in Windows 7
misleading?

In short, can user clone disk with built-in "Create system image" tool or not? (I'm confused.)



If the buillt-in tool really isn't meant for this, then I'll try your other advice.
(1) pry open the case of the external HDD ...
(2) ... then run the Startup Repair.

Just forget the external HD except to store an image. Trying to boot Windows 7 on an external HD is going nowhere without eSATA. No need to pry it open and risk ruining it.

You're right ... and I have no need to boot (ie. verify) the System Image ... I do trust Microsoft's programmers. But, does the System-Image-restore allow user to resume at the exact state (from when the System Image was created)? (Or are there, say, drivers to be re-installed? I just need to be sure.)

yes it's exactly the same!! Accept the pagefile and hibernation file are not backupped (and probably more useless files). also (as far I can remember) it doesn't backup restore points as well. But drivers, users, settings... you don't loose anything!

But... it tries to restore in exact same location. If the original partition(s) changed, so changed in size, start location, or deleted .... the whole disk will be cleaned and then the system image restore starts and recreates the partitions on exact place and size as they were at time of backup.

As stated I believe if you were to choose those two partitions shown in your screenshot that Windows 7 backup imaging would reimage them to the exact same spot on HD. You'd need Macrium or one of the others to be able to choose more flexibly where you want the backup image placed.

Of course you can always use free Partition Wizard bootable CD to Resize, dragging both partitions to the left side of HD, then resizing C to desired size. However this lack of flexibility causes many to choose another freeware, or even a premium app like Acronis.

Thank you both, that settles it ... finally reassured. I'll just manually backup personal files ... and then have faith in Microsoft to do its job.

Extremely helpful community you are. Thumbs up.

Registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\BackupRestore has info about what to NOT backup and what to NOT restore

Just took a look ... neatly and clearly written out what wouldn't be included.

< some swear words >, I can't create a "System Image"!

First tried with built-in tool, now with Macrium ... I get this error:

And I have already tried these suggestions from Macrium themselves.

Ahh, I'll just stick with the EaseUS partition clone I started this thread with. Again, really appreciate all the help you've given ... great site.