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

Yes, built in Win7 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 Win7 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

This will show you how to restore your Windows 7 hard disk back to exactly how it was when you created a system image backup.

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 WIn7 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.)

As stated I believe if you were to choose those two partitions shown in your screenshot that Win7 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.

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