Make copy of Windows XP install

[Bk456]

I need to make an exact copy of the windows xp I have installed on my laptop as want to partition drive and install windows 7 separate to xp.

I need to copy xp as have important apps I don’t have access to anymore.

I want to make a dvd bootable disk for this. What are my options??

Best regards

 

[Spectre]

Image the drive and make bootable media if required. Some tools might allow partition resize on restore but if not use a partition manager.

Maybe more complicated but image the drive for a virtual machine and run XP on the VM in Win7.

 

[hackmax]

Booting your OS off a DVD is not practical as OS's need to write stuff.

You could try a dual boot of XP/7 but you risk messing up your XP installation if this fails.

A better option might be to virtualize (P to V) your old XP environment and run it within VMware/Hyper-V whilst you migrate applications to your main OS. assuming your laptop can handle that.

Failing that your in for a challenge, given it's a laptop so your limited to one drive. Maybe 2 drives and swap over as needed?

 

[Spectre]

Booting your OS off a DVD is not practical as OS's need to write stuff.

You could try a dual boot of XP/7 but you risk messing up your XP installation if this fails.

A better option might be to virtualize (P to V) your old XP environment and run it within VMware/Hyper-V whilst you migrate applications to your main OS. assuming your laptop can handle that.

Failing that your in for a challenge, given it's a laptop so your limited to one drive. Maybe 2 drives and swap over as needed?

I see we went down a similar path...

@Bk456 will nate to take care to make some backups.

I've never had success migrating an Acronis image to new hardware although it does claim to do it. I didn't really look into it too hard but the 2014 versions onward, I think, had the virtualisation tool.

 

[Bk456]

Im not trying to boot the OS from dvd. I want to have a dual boot system, i know how to partition the hard drive and install windows 7, but I'm unsure how to make a copy of my current windows xp OS and install to new system and if its possible the whole thing could go tits up...

But will do it on a different hard drive to be sure...and yes thats not a bad idea just to use two hard drives but will try to get it with dual boot method first...

 

[Bk456]

This links appears to describe how to backup files and settings but I want a full image of my OS so I can reinstall on a new hard drive. How do I do this???

 

[spud1966]

Acronis software will do this , you can clone your drive , but you will have to have a external hard drive connected to your laptop

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[alimac]

macrium reflect should do it for you

 

[spud1966]

never new about macrium reflect @alimac looks good and a free

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[banny32]

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