TeraByte Unlimited

In many places online, you recommend not to copy,as not supported, the active OS partition to another drive location. You suggest creating a backup file, then restoring the backup file to another drive location.

Assuming that "to another drive location" implies another physical drive, Is there really a difference? Isn't backing up the active OS partition just as likely to cause the same problem?

If there is a difference, can you explain, as I have been using copy for a long time without apparent problems.

It may be better to do a copy from a bootable device so Windows is not
running.

I have IFL and can boot from that.
Mary


On 4/19/2016 10:51 PM, tas3086 wrote:
> In many places online, you recommend not to copy,as not supported,

the active OS partition to another drive location.

You suggest creating a backup file, then restoring the backup file to
another drive location.
>
> Assuming that "to another drive location" implies another physical

drive, Is there really a difference? Isn't backing up the active OS
partition just as likely to cause the same problem?
>
> If there is a difference, can you explain, as I have been using

copy for a long time without apparent problems.
>
>

that's probably more likely talking about linux, don't backup or copy a
mounted partition unless mounted read-only.

Doing a backup and restoring wouldn't be much different, but backup allows
you to have more copies where as a copy if fails in the middle means the
target is not considered good and if you don't have another one, you don't
have anything.


"tas3086" wrote in message news:11408@public.image...

In many places online, you recommend not to copy,as not supported, the
active OS partition to another drive location. You suggest creating a
backup file, then restoring the backup file to another drive location.

Assuming that "to another drive location" implies another physical drive, Is
there really a difference? Isn't backing up the active OS partition just as
likely to cause the same problem?

If there is a difference, can you explain, as I have been using copy for a
long time without apparent problems.

I use image/restore when transferring an OS to another HD/SSD. I'm often asked about using "Copy" in a laptop situation where the user wants to copy the OS to a new HD/SSD in a USB enclosure, prior to swapping drives. I gather a Geometry setting should be used but I've never understood what it does or which Geometry setting to select. Can we make this crystal clear so I can answer future questions without feeling uncomfortable?

just enable the global option to assume same target system.


"Brian K" wrote in message news:11416@public.image...

I use image/restore when transferring an OS to another HD/SSD. I'm often
asked about using "Copy" in a laptop situation where the user wants to copy
the OS to a new HD/SSD in a USB enclosure, prior to swapping drives. I
gather a Geometry setting should be used but I've never understood what it
does or which Geometry setting to select. Can we make this crystal clear so
I can answer future questions without feeling uncomfortable?

Thanks. I don't understand what that setting does but it's an easy one to remember. Are the geometry settings in LBA-0?

they are used by some (typically older) OS boot/kernel loaders (a bios
method for accessing the drive).

"Brian K" wrote in message news:11420@public.image...

Thanks. I don't understand what that setting does but it's an easy one to
remember. Are the geometry settings in LBA-0?