Using Windows Image Backup

[Winston2001]

Hi,
Untill now, my Windows 7 has been installed on an IDE Hard drive. Now I would like to move the installation to another , SATA drive. Can I use the Windows Image Backup I have for this purpose? I didn't have a new HDD so this is what I did: I downloaded a software from Easus and created a partition on an existing SATA drive. That's where I want Win 7 to go.
But the new drive is smaller than the original IDE drive, but still big enough to hold Win7. It also has a new drive letter. Provided these conditions, can I use the backup files to install Windows 7 on this partition? Thanks.

 

[mjf]

Basically no.
Windows imaging stores and restores the MBR automatically. Part of the MBR is the partition table so Windows will want a disk able to accommodate the partition structure of the disk the image was made from.

Macrium Reflect free is a better imaging tool for what you want to do. But here the partition you are imaging to must be at least a large as the imaged partition irrespective of the amount of data that was imaged.
You can shrink the partition of the source to meet this constraint and make a new Macrium image.
Alternatively paid imaging software often has the ability to reimage to a smaller partition.

I'm not sure if the new Easeus free imaging software offers this ability. Check it out.

 

[karlsnooks]

Winston,

Is the backup a System Image Backup?

Post a picture of your disk management. Please read the following carefully and drag the field separators so that all info can be read.

Oh yes, basically the answer to your question is yes. I've done it.

HOW TO POST A SNAPSHOT OF DISK MANAGEMENT DISPLAY

Run disk management:
WIN | type DISKMGMT.MSC | ENTER
WIN is the key with the wavy flag.

Maximize the output of Disk Management:
ALT-Spacebar key combo (this pops up a menu) followed by X key (selects Maximize) |
Drag the field separators (such as between Status and Capacity) to show entire field. This is very important, otherwise, needed info is not visible.

Make a snapshot:
WIN | type SNIPPING | ENTER | New
Drag the cursor around the area you want to snip.
File | Save as | select save location and name | Save

Post the snapshot:
· Click on the paperclip icon in that row of icons at the top of the message box.
· BROWSE button. There are 5 choices.
· Navigate to the folder containing the snapshot.
· Click on the snapshot.
· OPEN
· UPLOAD button which is adjacent to the 5th BROWSE button.
· Close the MANAGE ATTACHMENTS window.
· Position the cursor at the spot in the message where you want the
snapshot to appear.
· Click on the PaperClip again.
· Click on the file which you want to insert
· Attach code will be inserted into your message.

 

[mjf]

Oh yes, basically the answer to your question is yes. I've done it.

.

How do you figure that based on the info the OP has provided.
I look forward to your solution.

 

[Winston2001]

Here is the snapshot:

 

[Winston2001]

I want Windows 7 to go to L.

 

[mjf]

where is windows now

 

[karlsnooks]

that's one of my questions also: where is windows now?

My other question is: where is the "old" windows?

Your disk management doesn't show a system drive, boot drive, etc.

I'm including a snapshot of my diskmgmt.

 

[Winston2001]

The C at the top.. It is shown there as system. That's my XP. (I forgot to mention: it's a dual boot system).
As for the Windows 7 drive, it is disconnected.If you want, I can connect it again and upload another snapshot.

 

[karlsnooks]

Definitely need a snapshot of the windows drive.