Copy drive partition to USB hard drive

[daveiosys]

I split my primary C: drive into 2 partitions.
How can I copy my partition with my XP Pro on it to a external USB hard
drive?
Is special software needed?

--
daveiosys

[Rod Speed]

daveiosys <daveiosy...@computerbanter.com> wrote:

> I split my primary C: drive into 2 partitions.
> How can I copy my partition with my XP Pro on it to a external USB hard drive?

Do you want to just copy it, or do you want to be able to boot it there ?

> Is special software needed?

Depends on what you call special. Any imager can do the first. Nothing can do the second.

[Man-wai Chang ToDie (33.6k)]

You could use Linux LiveCD to boot up the PC
and use the command "dd" to copy a partition
to a file. Just don't mix up the input (if)
and output (of).

--
@~@ Might, Courage, Vision, SINCERITY.
/ v \ Simplicity is Beauty! May the Force and Farce be with you!
/( _ )\ (Xubuntu 7.10) Linux 2.6.25.2
^ ^ 17:51:01 up 15 min 1 user load average: 1.06 1.18 0.95
綜 援 (CSSA):
http://www.swd.gov.hk/tc/index/site_pubsvc/page_socsecu/sub_addressesa/

[daveiosys]

Man-wai Chang ToDie (33.6k);809279 Wrote:
> daveiosys wrote:-

> I split my primary C: drive into 2 partitions.
> How can I copy my partition with my XP Pro on it to a external USB
> hard
> drive?

> Is special software needed?-

>
> You could use Linux LiveCD to boot up the PC
> and use the command "dd" to copy a partition
> to a file. Just don't mix up the input (if)
> and output (of).
>
> --
> @~@ Might, Courage, Vision, SINCERITY.
> / v \ Simplicity is Beauty! May the Force and Farce be with you!
> /( _ )\ (Xubuntu 7.10) Linux 2.6.25.2
> ^ ^ 17:51:01 up 15 min 1 user load average: 1.06 1.18 0.95

> 作 刊 (CSSA):
> http://tinyurl.com/4gqaxg

My intent is only to copy my XP partition so that when I install Vista
on other partition on same drive if something goes wrong with Vista
install I will not end up losing everything and that I can copy it then
from USB hard drive back to original XP partition.

--
daveiosys

[Anna]

> daveiosys wrote:-
> I split my primary C: drive into 2 partitions.
> How can I copy my partition with my XP Pro on it to a external USB
> hard drive?
> Is special software needed?-
>

> My intent is only to copy my XP partition so that when I install Vista
> on other partition on same drive if something goes wrong with Vista
> install I will not end up losing everything and that I can copy it then
> from USB hard drive back to original XP partition.
> --
> daveiosys

daveiosys...
Why not consider a disk-imaging or disk-cloning program such as Acronis True
Image or (our favorite) Casper 4 (there are others)? Your objective is
easily accomplished with those types of programs and they can be used in the
future for routine comprehensive backups of your system.
Anna

[Rod Speed]

daveiosys <daveiosy...@computerbanter.com> wrote:
> Man-wai Chang ToDie (33.6k);809279 Wrote:
>> daveiosys wrote:-
>> I split my primary C: drive into 2 partitions.
>> How can I copy my partition with my XP Pro on it to a external USB
>> hard
>> drive?
>> Is special software needed?-
>>
>> You could use Linux LiveCD to boot up the PC
>> and use the command "dd" to copy a partition
>> to a file. Just don't mix up the input (if)
>> and output (of).

> My intent is only to copy my XP partition so that when I install Vista

> on other partition on same drive if something goes wrong with Vista
> install I will not end up losing everything and that I can copy it
> then from USB hard drive back to original XP partition.

Any decent imager can do that, or you can use a linux live CD as he suggested. The
second one is more risky tho, doing it backwards to what you intend and losing the lot.