I realize that when most people clone a hard disk, they are making an exact copy of everything to another hard disk. But In my case, I want to make an exact copy to an Image file. My reason is, I don't have an extra empty hard drive laying around to make a complete back up of this nature. In the past I used Nortons Ghost but the last time I used it, it was a complete flop.
How-To Geek Forums / Windows 7
How Do you Clone your Hard Disk to an Image file.
(7 posts)
History:
I haven't backed up a hard disk / operating system in a long time. The Last time was back in 2003. When I first started backing up stuff, I used pkzip in dos. I was able expand a compression over multiple diskettes. All I had to do is unzip them to the hard drive and then use the sys command to put on the dos system files, reboot the machine and I was done. The first time I heard of Norton's Ghost I was in electronics class. Someone had Imaged Windows 98 to a CD. We used that to put Windows 98 on some computers. When I made my first Windows Me computer I decided to use to Norton's Ghost to Image to some CDs. On my very first try I was able to expand it onto some CDs, and Bring it back! But in 2006 I decided to try this with a Windows XP system. I had a Bart PE boot disc with some tools. If I remember right it was Windows 2003 with Norton's Ghost. I set it to Maximum Compression / Expand Image over Multiple CDs. The oddest thing happened. It burned a little narrow line into a CD, and then ask for another Disc. This went on for about a hundred discs and it took all day to do it. By the time I got done, I have nothing. It was then and there I decided never to use Norton's Ghost again.
OK, You answered before I asked the question. If you use the program in my link above, Your image will be appr. 30GBs. Read the tutorial carefully and also download the WinPE iso from the link that is posted in the tutorial. Also view the video by Kado (link included too) so that you understand the recovery process.
