Cloning Windows installation (while in use) to new drive, without leaving Windows

Is it possible to just copy and paste, or do I actually need to clone it at a lower level?

I've tried DriveImage XML, but it complains about the fact the source drive is in use.

Dombou

Posted 2010-08-20T10:04:53.087

Reputation: 366

Answers

What OS? Windows 7's built-in image backup will make a full system image while your computer is running, which you can then restore to a new hard disk by booting off of the installation disk and choosing "repair", then choosing to restore from an image.

nhinkle

Posted 2010-08-20T10:04:53.087

Reputation: 35 057

I used Acronis and it worked perfectly.

Josip Medved

Posted 2010-08-20T10:04:53.087

Reputation: 8 582

I have tried this, but my source drive (C:\) is greyed out. – Dombou – 2010-08-20T10:22:13.923

Not sure what is wrong, I have used Acronis to clone drives in use for years. – Moab – 2010-08-20T15:55:26.947

I use Casper to do this all the time. http://www.fssdev.com/products/casper/

I was under the impression Acronis should work fine though...I dunno. Is the C: drive larger than all the other drives maybe?

– Shinrai – 2010-08-20T17:45:54.150