cannie

You are totally right: even when I did things in a different way there's no need to use a primary partition for any OS copy at all. You may use that option when possible, but not forcedly in any way. You know I like to explain everything punctually according to my own experience. When I first wrote the tutorial I had done everything as explained. I was installing totally from scratch, then I used Partition 1 and 2 for the original OS and Partition 3 for the Windows copy. Windows 7 allows you to create logical units directly afterwards (no need to create an Extended partition previously any more), so I directly created four logical units for personal files. I chose then this option because I thought it was the best taking into account the circumstances. After checking everything I published it here to allow others taking profit of it. But this can be done almost exclusively when you are installing from scratch. When using preinstalled computers it is almost always impossible to create any primary partition at all. You must forcedly create logical units only for OS copies, and also to separe your personal files and folders from the OS to avoid "putting all eggs into the same basket", after sorting out the problems mentioned in the post which you transcribe. That's what I've tried to explain at paragraph 5.2, which has been added much later after also personally living this experience. It has been modified now to include the link you mention. Thank you very much for remembering it here. Greetings. cannie

Hi jaclaz: As I did many times before when working with Windows 98 and XP, thank you very much for your excellent opinions and help. I'll try to answer all points: 1.- About: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control] "SystemBootDevice"="" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet002\Control] "SystemBootDevice"="" As you see I delete the whole key and create it afterwards only including these two subkeys, thinking on a first install process. 2.- Also, it should be added that one needs to shutdown the Windows 7 immediately after having modified the mentioned key. And also that the copy of the modified Win1 must be obtained before running it again. Totally correct. I've modified the text to include it. 3.- Another point that IMHO you should make clearer is that this approach ONLY works for those "from scratch" installs of Windows 7 that create the "protected" 100 Mb partition (where BOOTMGR and the \boot\BCD are) since there are not particularly complex "added operations" for a more "traditional" install, you may want to add a point explaining these needed operations Everything was initially thought for a "from scratch" install process. I take notice of your observation in this point to reconsider it whenever needed. 4.- There is no actual "need" that the Windows 7 partition (BOTH "Win1" and "Win2") is a Primary (if the 100 Mb protected partition is used). As said everything was initially thought for a "from scratch" install process, and in this kind of install there's no problem on using Primary partitions 2 and 3. As you may read later into the text, the use of logical units is included whenever you need a third disk space, be it to have both working system (32 and 64 bits) into the same HDD or because you are keeping a preinstalled OS and using a fourth disk space to copy C drive. 5.- There is no actual *need* to image the whole 100 Mb partition, you could add instructions to create a "boot floppy": http://www.multiboot....uk/floppy.html (such an image, if stored on external device, such as USB stick or HD, can be mounted and booted by grub4dos allright) or, if Primary partitions are used, copy anyway the BOOTMGR and \boot\BCD inside the "Win1" and "Win2" partitions, this way in case of problems you only need to make the "Win1" or "Win2" partition the Active one. This is also a good idea. Nevertheless I did not include it to simplify the text being 100 MB a very small space. I desisted also from including the use of WAIK to create a WinPE pendrive for the same reason. Nevertheless I included how to use a first small primary partition of an external HDD as a flash pendrive using a "LiveCD" iso file because it is extremely easy. 6.- Finally (and IMHO) EasyBCD is not the "best" tool to simply add an entry to the BCD, there are simpler tools: http://reboot.pro/7476/ on 32 bit, I find this: http://reboot.pro/10003/ the straighter one, but also Bellavista (both 32 and 64 bit exist): http://www.zezula.ne...bellavista.html and BOOTICE (cannot say if 64 bit working) could be a nice tool to use as it has many more useful features, very handy when doing this kind of mods, latest version is here: http://www.ipauly.co...bootice_0.9.rar I included the program EasyBCD because it reflects my own experience. These other four are also excellent alternatives. Thank you. As you already know, I never consider work finished if there's a possibility of improving it. You are always welcome, jaclaz. Sincerely cannie

Latest changes: - Paragraphs 2.1 and 5.3 have been improved with new options. Greetings.

"Ultimate Windows Tweaker" is an excellent freeware which allows you that and many other useful tweaks. HTH

Hi Bookworm: DisplaySet is a good solution. Even when it is a rather old freeware program I've tried it under Windows 7 and it runs perfect. Greetings.

Hi XpJohnson: I'll try to answer your questions: 1.- What is the purpose of the format fast while running win2? Being your purpose to delete totally your OS and reinstall it again "from scratch" into Win1 and Win2, you may of course format Primary Partition 2 at the beginning of the install process when this option is offered to you by the install DVD, being the only snag that the drive name is lost. You must rename it afterwards as Win1. 2. -In 4.6 you mention the convenience of running win2 as default, what is the advantage? In case of need you may rebuild Win2 by fast formatting its drive and copying into it again the original version. I like preserving the original, at least until I'm totally sure that the KNOPPIX obtained copy is working properly. Even when everything is usually OK, as it is said "all cautions are few in computing". Apart of this both partitions work the same way and there's no problem on using Win1 as default, or even formatting Primary partition 2 and rebuilding Win1 from the .rar file. 3.- Is winrar better for the backup than 7zip? Both are excellent and may be used indistinctively. Greetings. cannie

Hi avada: You may try "Ultimate Windows Tweaker" . Two of the Internet Explorer tweaks are about allowing unsigned drivers. HTH

Hi SaiTech: You may also duplicate easily the OS into two drives of the same HDD and keep into a pendrive, DVD or external HDD a compressed file copy of it to format and rebuild any of both units while running the other one. Greetings.

Latest changes: - Paragraph 6 has been improved. Greetings.

Hi xpJohnson: The easiest way is as follows: 1.- Save first any personal files or folders kept into partitions 2 and 3 into an external device. 2.- Boot partition 3 (Win2) and format fast partition 2 (Win1). 3.- Insert the install DVD, reboot from it and reinstall Windows 7 into partition 2 (Win1). 4.- Go on doing as explained at paragraph 4. 5.- When you restore afterwards your personal files and folders you'd rather not use for it none of both Windows drives, but logical units. If you don't have any you only need to reduce the size of partition 2 or 3 (the biggest one) and create one or several logical units into the free left HDD space. As usually said, "never put all eggs into the same basket". Best wishes. cannie

Hi! A system restore point allows you a restore operation when all modified elements are saved. Very frequently that operation doesn't work, and there's no solution for it, I'm afraid. The only secure way to rebuild your OS is saving an image into an external device, preferably an external HDD. Windows 7 offers you this option and of course this is the first thing that always should be made when using a preinstalled comp. HTH

Hi mazxim: The winsxs folder grows more and more every time Windows installs patches and updates, and this is a permanent process. Many of them are not thought for your personal needs , so the best means to keep constant the OS dimension is to examine them when offered by Microsoft and install only the needed ones. You may delete the Windows\winsxs\Backup subfolder, not forgetting to recreate it afterwards whenever you wish to install any really needed patch/update. HTH PS: Edited for a better understanding. Greetings.

Hi nimd4: If you are running Windows 7 without SP1 you are able to filter any system default apps by using the freeware "Pc Tools Firewall Plus". Greetings

You may try this freeware: http://www.privacyware.com/personal_firewall.html Greetings

You may see all differences here: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/products/compare and also watch this explanatory video: http://view.atdmt.com/action/RF_Atlas_CompareEd_ChooseEd_VS?href=http://res1.windows.microsoft.com/resbox/en/Windows%207/main/0/8/08c270cb-7f8b-4984-9d5d-a70733bb4361/08c270cb-7f8b-4984-9d5d-a70733bb4361.wmv Best wishes.

Latest changes: - Paragraph 5.7 has been improved to include new experiences. Greetings. cannie

Hi GREGZENG: When you install Windows 7 into a non assigned space at the beginning of the HDD, as explained, Windows gets installed into Primary Partition 2 while Primary Partition 1 contains the bootmanager, just a Microsoft's version of Grub. The whole tutorial is based on this. What I consider to be of course also a valid option is the use of other Grub versions instead of it. Being this work a live collection of new ideas and experiences, I rewrote the tutorial using Linux KNOPPIX as basic file manager to create the cloned unit instead of the more hazardous and difficult procedure previously used. Any new idea to make things better will always be welcome. Best wishes. cannie

Hi cliff! The tiny primary partition 1 (used for the boot manager only) will continue being there and will update itself after you reinstall. No need to touch it at all, you only need to format your C drive and reinstall. Greetings.

Hi Andromeda43: Your proposal is furthermore the only possible option if you install SP1. It has left "out of service" all traditional firewalls. Greetings.

Sorry, I forgot to include paragraph 4.6 into my previous post, which describes the procedure to prevent this disturb. Happy of being helpful. Greetings.

1.- Windows 7 incorporates its own "grub" version which works perfect if you only use no matter how many copies or versions of a Microsoft product. No need to install any other version. You may run any Linux product by booting it from a pendrive. I chose KNOPPIX because it loads very fast and runs perfect into a 4GB pendrive, for maintenance purposes only. Old times are far away, now Windows 7 is great. 2- You are using the same product into different drives of the same computer. You only need to activate the original after building the copy and reducing its size, but always before building the compressed file. Activation keeps being valid also for every copy that you run, no matter how many logical units you use to be run as C drive, because you are running the same program into the same computer. Greetings.

Hi avada: You can duplicate your existing Windows 7 into any other primary or logical unit as explained at paragraph 4 of here: HTH

Latest changes: - Paragraph 4.5 has been improved to optimize copy booting. Greetings.

Hi jaclaz! After trying to sort it out in many ways by fear of losing warranty (the experiment was done on a brand new Hewlett Packard Pavilion running Windows Home Premium 64 ) I decided building an image of the whole HDD into 5 DVD units and another one into an external USB HDD, for increased security (any of both could fail) , to be used in case of need, copy/paste also into DVD and external USB HDD the driver's swsetup folder, then happily deleting the whole HDD rebuilding it from scratch using an install DVD and the same activation key . No problems at all. Warranty period is already expired, no need of it at any moment. Greetings. cannie

cannie , don't take this question as an aggressive one, but can you please explain HOW the warranty is supposed to be lost by re-partitioning a hard disk? Hi jaclaz! Maybe I'm wrong, I've never had to use warranty until now. If warranty is not in danger leaving free a primary partition to allow an extended partition is of course the best solution. Greetings. cannie