Restoring partition image

Discussion in 'Acronis True Image Product Line' started by aabm, Aug 23, 2007.

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  1. aabm

    aabm Registered Member

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    I have a dual boot system - Win 98Se on partition C: and Win Xp pro on partition D:. This hdd has three more data partitions - E:, F: and G:.
    I store images of C: and D: on my second hdd.
    Now, I want to repartition / reformat my first hdd. If I restore the C: and D: images after the repartitioning / reformatting work, will my system boot normally? I have little idea about what happens to the MBR during repartitioning / reformatting, hence the question.

    Regards and thanks in advance.
     
  2. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    aabm,

    As you are working on the same HD don't resize the Win 98 partition and probably not the Win XP partition. See "What's Wrong with the Microsoft Way?"

    http://www.goodells.net/multiboot/principles.htm

    Your safest approach is to leave these two partitions alone and resize the data partitions. Do you have partitioning software?
     
  3. jmk94903

    jmk94903 Registered Member

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    Do you intend to change the size of the C and D partitions? If not, you can just delete the data partitions and then recreate them in the sizes you want. If you do want to change the C and D partitions, see below.

    In Windows XP hard disk management, look at the locations of the C and D partitions. Are they the first two partitions on the drive with the data partitions following them?

    For the restored boot partitions, C and D, to boot, they have to be in the same order that they are now. You could delete them and recreate them in different sizes and then restore the image of C and D to their respective loacations, and the system will boot.
     
  4. aabm

    aabm Registered Member

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    I plan to use GParted for repartitioning / reformatting.
    The article you referred to is quite informative. Now I understand that the Win 98 original "boot sector" remains intact in the bootsect.dos file even after I resize the partition. Hence, resizing of C partition may cause problem for dualboot. Does this mean that the 'boot sector' record contains the partition size? If not, will the suggestion of "jmk94903" to recreate C and D in the same order as they are now help?

    My intention is to downsize C, increase D and resize other data partitions to create space for installation of linux. I also plan to install a bootloader, may be XOSL or GAG for booting.
     
  5. aabm

    aabm Registered Member

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    As explained in my previous post, I intend to change sizes of all partitions, add new linux partitions and may create another new partition to install XOSL to its dedicated partition.

    Yes they are and I definitely plan to keep them at the same position in the same order. I only want to delete them and recreate them in different sizes.

    Will you please refer to Brian K's post and let me know whether you still hold your opinion.
     
  6. GroverH

    GroverH Registered Member

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    Why not consider buying a new larger drive and make the partitions into whatever your preferences. Then convert your existing drive into a internal backup or usb external drive. This offers a lot of benefits.
     
  7. aabm

    aabm Registered Member

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    I already have a second drive.
    The idea behind imaging my current C and D and restoring the images to my new set up is to save me the trouble of reinstalling Win 98Se and Win Xp. Reinstalling the OSs is the least of my headache. I have a hundred of other programs - the task of reinstalling them is a nightmare.
     
  8. GroverH

    GroverH Registered Member

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    I am not advocating the re-installation of any programs. I am advocating the imaging of all your partitions and the restoring those partitions to the new drive adjusting the partition sizes as necessary.

    Partition restore with resizing:
    https://www.wilderssecurity.com/showpost.php?p=769388&postcount=5

    Or pre-create all (same # as old) the partitions on the new drive and then do a single partition restore to each partition.
     
    Last edited: Aug 24, 2007
  9. aabm

    aabm Registered Member

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    According to Brian K's post, resizing C i.e. Win 98Se partition may break the dualboot since the Win 98 original "boot sector" record remains intact in the bootsect.dos file.
     
  10. jmk94903

    jmk94903 Registered Member

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    I don't know if this is a real limitation. Record the size of the partitions now in case you need to recreate them exactly, but then create the partitions in the size you want (be sure to set the W98 partition Active) and then restore the images. If it boots, you are done. If it doesn't boot, then Brian K's warning was correct. I think it will boot.

    If you plan on using a boot loader rather than the Micorosft dual boot, there will be a bit of an adjustment needed. Currently the XP boot files are on the W98 partition. You will need to move them to the XP partition for it to boot with a third party boot loader.
     
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