I've asked this question previously in a different way and none of the answers panned out, so will try another approach. The task is simple: I want to clone the boot drive of my running Win 7 64 bit system (UEFI) and put that drive on the shelf. Sometime later, I want to be able to replace the hard drive in the machine with the clone drive and have it boot properly. I've been doing this for a decade now with my old Win 7 32 bit system with ZERO problems. I would like to hear solutions from someone who has actually done it with his own hands.
I have made a clone copies with Casper and Easus Todo and they both made copies. Examining the directory structures, everything is there. But - they just won't boot when I swap the clone into the machine. The extra partitions are there as they should be, but clearly something isn't quite right with the boot mechanism. Wise men have told me - no problem! Boot your Win 7 install DVD and fix the boot problem. I've done that with both cloned drives with the same result: The repair code tells me "Failed to save startup options" (whatever that means), followed by "Startup repair can't repair". When going through that process, no operating system name appears in the list where it should be. I can take the same drive and install Win 7 (64 bit) from the DVD on it and it installs and boots just fine.
I was referred to the Acronis product as one that might work, but the free versions won't run unless they like your mix of hard drive brands. I've no objection to paying well for a product that actually works, but the all-brand version of Acronis has the clone function disabled in the trial version and they don't seem to know why it's that way. I can guess.
I'm sure that eventually everyone will get this UEFI stuff all figured out and there will be a lot of software that actually works creating a clone. For now, can someone tell me a product or process that they have firsthand knowledge of being used successfully as I described?
Thanks for your time.
I have made a clone copies with Casper and Easus Todo and they both made copies. Examining the directory structures, everything is there. But - they just won't boot when I swap the clone into the machine. The extra partitions are there as they should be, but clearly something isn't quite right with the boot mechanism. Wise men have told me - no problem! Boot your Win 7 install DVD and fix the boot problem. I've done that with both cloned drives with the same result: The repair code tells me "Failed to save startup options" (whatever that means), followed by "Startup repair can't repair". When going through that process, no operating system name appears in the list where it should be. I can take the same drive and install Win 7 (64 bit) from the DVD on it and it installs and boots just fine.
I was referred to the Acronis product as one that might work, but the free versions won't run unless they like your mix of hard drive brands. I've no objection to paying well for a product that actually works, but the all-brand version of Acronis has the clone function disabled in the trial version and they don't seem to know why it's that way. I can guess.
I'm sure that eventually everyone will get this UEFI stuff all figured out and there will be a lot of software that actually works creating a clone. For now, can someone tell me a product or process that they have firsthand knowledge of being used successfully as I described?
Thanks for your time.