Windows XP runs in a 20 GB partition C:\, with 50% space unused.
Before creating an image of C:\ I purge unwanted junk.
The latest image is then "validated", but this does not prove bootability.
To PROVE bootability, the image must be restored to C:\ and the computer restarted.
If the computer failed to restart, the latest image was worthless,
AND C:\ is now TRASHED so it is too late to create another image.
Therefore I never "test" bootability of an image that probably will not be needed,
and when I NEED to restore an image I am a little nervous.
For Christmas my Laptop received a much larger hard drive.
I now have 20 GB C:\ active, plus 15 GB R:\ primary, plus other logic partitions.
Now I can restore the latest image to 15 GB R:\,
and a file/folder comparison with C:\ gives a little more confidence.
Please advise me of a Boot-CD that can change quickly swap the partitions,
e.g. hide 20 GB C:\ partition, and make 15 GB partition Active as C:\,
so I can see for myself that the latest image is (or is not) bootable,
AND regardless of bootability, to subsequently hide the 15 GB partition,
and make the 20 GB partition active as C:\ with no loss of data.
I have Easeus Partition Manager which :-
under Windows can change which partitions are active, but cannot hide or alter the letter of the partition which was active, nor the partition which is to become active.
It provides a Boot-CD that uses Linux, and avoids confusing me by concealing any knowledge of drive letters - it can only hide/unhide and make active.
If 15 GB is hidden I could make it Active, then I could hide 20 GB, then I could unhide 15 GB and with luck it might default to C:\ - or would Linux set it to Z:\ ! !
I want a Boot-CD that will allow me to see what I am doing, and allow me to undo any damage.
I could use a Linux Live CD.
Learning to use Linux whilst manipulating partitions is possible,
but I am not that brave.
An alternative might be to dual boot.
I assume a Laptop with only one physical drive cannot dual boot between two XP partitions.
Also, I have pre-installed XP with no CD Installation disc.
There are Acer recovery discs that never satisfied Windows File Protection when it wanted a CD.
I have created a Bart-PE disc.
It did not include the tools to meet my need.
Please advise of a version that might help.
Although I have no Windows CD, Bart found installation files in C:\ that allowed it to create XP with SP1 (probably as it left the factory, because there are SP2 and SP3 service pack archives that were subsequently downloaded and installed).
Regards
Alan
