Backup and restore dual-boot XP/Vista

Discussion in 'Acronis True Image Product Line' started by hawthorn, Sep 8, 2007.

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  1. hawthorn

    hawthorn Registered Member

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    I have a dual-boot XP Pro/Vista Ultimate system with a third shared data partition. I have been using ATI 10 to back up the partitions individually, but browsing briefly thru this forum it seems that I've been wasting my time (and risking my data) 'cos I didn't back up the whole disk as one.

    Why is ATI 10 marketed for Vista if it doesn't work properly?

    Anyway, I wanted to resize my XP partition (extending it) taking the space from the data partition.

    I was going to delete and reformat with PM, and then restore the individual partitions - as I now know this won't work - is there any way I can do this?
     
  2. MudCrab

    MudCrab Imaging Specialist

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    When you installed Vista, was the partition you installed to created by XP, PM, DD or some other non-Vista install program? If so, then a restore of the Vista partition (to its original place) will probably work okay without needing a repair.

    Are you using Vista's boot loader to dual-boot XP and Vista?

    Is the Vista partition first on the disk or second?
    [VISTA NTFS ??GB][XP NTFS ??GB][DATA ??GB] or
    [XP NTFS ??GB][VISTA NTFS ??GB][DATA ??GB]

    If Vista is the first partition, then you should be able to leave the Vista partition alone and just restore the other two partitions with resize to get them where you want.

    If you move the Vista partition (or change the starting sector), you'll have to boot from the Vista DVD and do a repair to fix it (or use a BCD file editor). This does not cause data loss, it just updates the BCD file to point to the correct partition/sector.

    Do you have a standard (or Microsoft OEM) Vista DVD?
     
  3. hawthorn

    hawthorn Registered Member

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    I think I used PM to set up the partitions originally.

    XP is first 12GB, then Vista 30GB, then data 107GB.

    I have Vista DVD.

    Considering using gparted to move/shrink data partition, then move Vista, then increase XP partition.

    Then run repair with Vista DVD.
     
  4. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    hawthorn,

    I'll be interested in your result. I think it will work.

    I disagree with this approach. I only image OS partitions and they restore OK. I have no interest in imaging the whole disk. No interest at all.
     
  5. hawthorn

    hawthorn Registered Member

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    Worked perfectly.
     
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