[SOLVED] Two Partitions / Two Operating Systems >>> ONE External SSD? (And other questions).

[OhGod]

Hi all! It's been a while. I hope everyone is well.

Question: I LOVE my laptops and have customized SO much on them, but they ARE getting OLD. I have an extra external SSD and was wondering if I could extend their lives by:

Cloning both operatings systems (one MSI, one ASUS) on to it - I imagine on separate partitions. Would each system know to boot into its designated OS?

If not both, then maybe just my favorite of the two. In other words, CHANGE the BOOT-UP from my current ASUS SSD, to the external one so as to give some rest to the current SSD? I imagine that would work, and in fact maybe is what the ext. SSD is meant for, but I'd then have a built-in SSD to use as extra space, I guess?

Finally, ALTERNATIVELY, what else can I do with an external SSD? Can it help me try to log into and diagnose a 'dead' Lenovo? If so, someone point me to how, please. (I think I recall doing something like that in the past).

Thanks so much!!

 

[Lafong]

Why did you buy the external?

The most common and most suitable use for an external is to be a destination for personal file backup of whatever is on your internal.

How much agony are you willing to undergo to boot Windows from an external?

 

[SkyNetRising]

I imagine that would work, and in fact maybe is what the ext. SSD is meant for, but I'd then have a built-in SSD to use as extra space, I guess?

Do not expect windows to boot from external drive.
For this you'd need to create a special windows2go installation.

 

[OhGod]

Why did you buy the external?

The most common and most suitable use for an external is to be a destination for personal file backup of whatever is on your internal.

How much agony are you willing to undergo to boot Windows from an external?

I bought it on sale to make it a bootable drive for an older laptop which only has a HDD and boots like molasses. Once I'm through with my systems, I normally hand them off to family and thought I could make it faster by adding the bootable SSD. I cloned the OS to it, but could not get the BIOS on it to switch and "pick" the SSD to boot from. I have to go through Windows Repair Mode to boot into the SSD each time, so that was a fail. Luckily, just disconnecting it makes it revert to the HDD boot. Pretty much closing the door on that, and will give it away as-is.

The two systems I am speaking of and would like to keep around forever if possible , are a different matter. I figured I had this extra external SSD, and wondered if it could help extend them.

Honestly, I do way too much to use just a phone, and I cannot begin to tell you how "perfect" I have these two (well one, especially). Just the thought of starting over new, makes my head hurt. Anything to prolong its life - not that it's showing any signs of slowing down - only helps.

 

[USAFRet]

I bought it on sale to make it a bootable drive for an older laptop which only has a HDD and boots like molasses. Once I'm through with my systems, I normally hand them off to family and thought I could make it faster by adding the bootable SSD. I cloned the OS to it, but could not get the BIOS on it to switch and "pick" the SSD to boot from. I have to go through Windows Repair Mode to boot into the SSD each time, so that was a fail. Luckily, just disconnecting it makes it revert to the HDD boot. Pretty much closing the door on that, and will give it away as-is.

The two systems I am speaking of and would like to keep around forever if possible , are a different matter. I figured I had this extra external SSD, and wondered if it could help extend them.

Honestly, I do way too much to use just a phone, and I cannot begin to tell you how "perfect" I have these two (well one, especially). Just the thought of starting over new, makes my head hurt. Anything to prolong its life - not that it's showing any signs of slowing down - only helps.

You have to jump through some very specific hoops to get Windows to boot from an external drive.

And running the OS from an external drive would only make your existing old laptops run even slower.

 

[TerryLaze]

Hi all! It's been a while. I hope everyone is well.

Question: I LOVE my laptops and have customized SO much on them, but they ARE getting OLD. I have an extra external SSD and was wondering if I could extend their lives by:

If it's just about extending their lives then instead of cloning just image each SSD to a file on the external ssd and keep using the laptops as normal, if an ssd fails you buy a new one and restore the image and everything will be fine.
You can also keep using any spare space on the external as general file storage, although if you want to keep the images safe the less you use it the better.

If you want to boot into the image files on the external you will have to use the vhd file format.
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/disk2vhd
Using easybcd you can add the corresponding vhd file to the boot menu of the laptop in question and make it boot into it.
Anything that relies on disc access will take a performance hit.

Booting into VHD Images

Booting an operating system from a VHD requires that the guest OS have the VHD driver loaded and working. Only Windows 7 and later will work out of a VHD by default, though workarounds exist for ot…

neosmart.net

 

[OhGod]

If it's just about extending their lives then instead of cloning just image each SSD to a file on the external ssd and keep using the laptops as normal, if an ssd fails you buy a new one and restore the image and everything will be fine.
You can also keep using any spare space on the external as general file storage, although if you want to keep the images safe the less you use it the better.

Yes, thank you. I know someone who added an external SSD and boots into it. They too had problems trying to boot into it at first, but resolved it by resetting or reinstalling Windows with the boot up automatic repair options (something like that). I did not want to commit to resetting it and then dealing with the notorious "not genuine" message from a dropped key, etc. She says it is REALLY fast now, but not sure if she means booting in, or the system in general.

As far as "saving" mine ... can you explain a bit, please? I've asked around how I might do precisely that: basically, I'd love to copy my entire system to a new one. Can this be done? I have so many icons and cursors I MADE and am using even on system files, so many shortcuts, so many programs I use ... to begin anew ... ouch. Is there a way to just copy everything over?

Thanks!

https://imgur.com/NSdsv4T

View: https://imgur.com/NSdsv4T

 

[Lafong]

As far as "saving" mine ... can you explain a bit, please? I've asked around how I might do precisely that: basically, I'd love to copy my entire system to a new one. Can this be done?

Yes it can be done and is done frequently.

2 methods of about the same reliability, perhaps 98%.

Cloning or Imaging.

Macrium Reflect is the most commonly used software for either purpose around here.

There are many threads here about using it. Use "Macrium" as a search term.

If you were experienced at it, you could transfer everything to a new drive in an hour or two.

 

[TerryLaze]

As far as "saving" mine ... can you explain a bit, please? I've asked around how I might do precisely that: basically, I'd love to copy my entire system to a new one. Can this be done? I have so many icons and cursors I MADE and am using even on system files, so many shortcuts, so many programs I use ... to begin anew ... ouch. Is there a way to just copy everything over?

Well the easiest and safest method would be to boot into a PE and take a copy of your system to a file, then after swapping the ssd boot into it again and write the copy to the new disk, presto changeo new ssd with all of your stuff.

You can download a readymade PE with included disk imaging software like hirens boot cd that has a copy of macrium

Download | Hiren's BootCD PE

or If you don't trust those you can build one on your own
https://www.macrium.com/techie-tuesday-the-macrium-rescue-environment-49acc47bcc71

 

[OhGod]

Yes it can be done and is done frequently.

2 methods of about the same reliability, perhaps 98%.

Cloning or Imaging.

Macrium Reflect is the most commonly used software for either purpose around here.

There are many threads here about using it. Use "Macrium" as a search term.

If you were experienced at it, you could transfer everything to a new drive in an hour or two.

Yes, Macrium Reflect is what I used to clone the one which would not boot directly from the SSD. Not Macrium's fault, I'm sure. I think you guys have put me on the right track though. If I can clone or image this one, then be sure to be able to MOVE or COPY that clone or image on to a new system, that'd be PERFECT!

 

[OhGod]

Well the easiest and safest method would be to boot into a PE and take a copy of your system to a file, then after swapping the ssd boot into it again and write the copy to the new disk, presto changeo new ssd with all of your stuff.

You can download a readymade PE with included disk imaging software like hirens boot cd that has a copy of macrium

Download | Hiren's BootCD PE

or If you don't trust those you can build one on your own
https://www.macrium.com/techie-tuesday-the-macrium-rescue-environment-49acc47bcc71

Thanks, I will look through the links! Macrium Reflect is what I used to clone the one which would not boot directly from the SSD. Not Macrium's fault, I'm sure. It was quick and easy enough to clone. It's accessing the image or clone that still gives me pause.

 

[SkyNetRising]

Yes, Macrium Reflect is what I used to clone the one which would not boot directly from the SSD.

If clone was done properly, then it would be perfectly bootable.
Again - do not expect to boot windows from external drive.

 

[Lafong]

It's accessing the image or clone that still gives me pause.

If done successfully to an ordinary internal drive, the machine will boot just as it did on the old drive.........if that is what you mean by "access".

Clone: one step process. The destination drive is immediately bootable.

Image: two step process. Make an image file; restore that image file to the new drive. The drive to which the image file is restored is immediately bootable.

 

[TerryLaze]

Thanks, I will look through the links! Macrium Reflect is what I used to clone the one which would not boot directly from the SSD. Not Macrium's fault, I'm sure. It was quick and easy enough to clone. It's accessing the image or clone that still gives me pause.

You have to check all partitions in macrium, windows has a small boot partition that has all the info the PC needs to start up and find where windows is, if you don't copy that one your system has no idea what to do.

 

[USAFRet]

then be sure to be able to MOVE or COPY that clone or image on to a new system, that'd be PERFECT!

Cloning to a new internal drive in the SAME system, no problem.

Going into a NEW system.....maybe not so much.
A clone is no different than trying to move the original physical drive.
3 probably outcomes:

1. It works just fine
2. It fails completely
3. It "works", but you're chasing issues for weeks/months.

I've personally seen all 3.

For a new system, a fresh is install is strongly recommended, often required.

 

[USAFRet]

Cloning to replace an Internal drive:

-----------------------------
Specific steps for a successful clone operation:
-----------------------------
Verify the actual used space on the current drive is significantly below the size of the new SSD
Both drives must be the same partitioning scheme, either MBR or GPT
Download and install Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration, if a Samsung SSD)
If you are cloning from a SATA drive to PCIe/NVMe, you may need to install the relevant driver for this new NVMe/PCIe drive.
Power off
Disconnect ALL drives except the current C and the new SSD
Power up
Run the Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration)
Select ALL the partitions on the existing C drive

[Ignore this section if using the SDM. It does this automatically]
If you are going from a smaller drive to a larger, by default, the target partition size will be the same as the Source. You probably don't want that
You can manipulate the size of the partitions on the target (larger)drive
Click on "Cloned Partition Properties", and you can specify the resulting partition size, to even include the whole thing
[/end ignore]

Click the 'Clone' button
Wait until it is done
When it finishes, power off
Disconnect ALL drives except for the new SSD. This is not optional.
This is to allow the system to try to boot from ONLY the SSD

(swapping cables is irrelevant with NVMe drives, but DO disconnect the old drive for this next part)
Swap the SATA cables around so that the new drive is connected to the same SATA port as the old drive
Power up, and verify the BIOS boot order
If good, continue the power up

It should boot from the new drive, just like the old drive.
Maybe reboot a time or two, just to make sure.

If it works, and it should, all is good.

Later, reconnect the old drive and wipe all partitions on it.
This will probably require the commandline diskpart function, and the clean command.

Ask questions if anything is unclear.
-----------------------------

 

[OhGod]

Cloning to a new internal drive in the SAME system, no problem.

Going into a NEW system.....maybe not so much.

Correct. Which is where my desire to do something, hits the wall of what is feasibly possible.

 

[TerryLaze]

Correct. Which is where my desire to do something, hits the wall of what is feasibly possible.

To use an image of a system on a different system you need to use a process called restore to dissimilar, it scrubs the image of any non-standard drivers and other things that could cause issues.
http://kb.macrium.com/KnowledgebaseArticle50126.aspx

You can do this with tools that are free on windows but it's a pretty complicated procedure.
the /generalize option here does the "magic"
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/wi...ot-ent-sysprep-capture-deploy?view=windows-11

 

[OhGod]

To use an image of a system on a different system you need to use a process called restore to dissimilar, it scrubs the image of any non-standard drivers and other things that could cause issues.
http://kb.macrium.com/KnowledgebaseArticle50126.aspx

You can do this with tools that are free on windows but it's a pretty complicated procedure.
the /generalize option here does the "magic"
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/wi...ot-ent-sysprep-capture-deploy?view=windows-11

I was about to say "complicated matters little (if stuck, I'll be back)", because the ultimate goal is extending these and/or mirroring it/them to newer systems. However, it seems that in this case, it's a bit of: half-dozen of these, six of the other. Go through everything mirroring (for lack of a better word) would entail, or just bite it and get a new system and slowly begin the process of Frankensteining it to my needs and wants. Tough choice for me since I have had other systems while owning these, and the thought of beginning the "rebuild" of programs and customizations (design, mostly) to an equally fast and responsive alternate, kills me.

In any case, while all replies and discussions were informative, this is an answer for what my main goal is (despite title being about the SSD) - and should others be on the hunt for the same. Hopefully, someone will develop some program that can EASILY get us there, or mostly there. I believe everything is only a matter of time before it IS.

Thanks all!

 

[TerryLaze]

I was about to say "complicated matters little (if stuck, I'll be back)", because the ultimate goal is extending these and/or mirroring it/them to newer systems. However, it seems that in this case, it's a bit of: half-dozen of these, six of the other. Go through everything mirroring (for lack of a better word) would entail, or just bite it and get a new system and slowly begin the process of Frankensteining it to my needs and wants. Tough choice for me since I have had other systems while owning these, and the thought of beginning the "rebuild" of programs and customizations (design, mostly) to an equally fast and responsive alternate, kills me.

In any case, while all replies and discussions were informative, this is an answer for what my main goal is (despite title being about the SSD) - and should others be on the hunt for the same. Hopefully, someone will develop some program that can EASILY get us there, or mostly there. I believe everything is only a matter of time before it IS.

Thanks all!

At least for folder icons, inside the folder there is a hidden file called desktop.ini which points to the icon file or exe the icon comes from, you can edit this file in any text editor.
So a copy paste of the folders will keep the custom folder icons as long as the icon files are all at the exact same path they are on the old system.

 

[OhGod]

At least for folder icons, inside the folder there is a hidden file called desktop.ini which points to the icon file or exe the icon comes from, you can edit this file in any text editor.
So a copy paste of the folders will keep the custom folder icons as long as the icon files are all at the exact same path they are on the old system.

I played around with the .ini files once, and can't remember what made me opt to use regedit instead. May check that option out again. Some icons just react differently - not sure why. I use a combo of SD's "Icon Packager" (would not recommend - their catalog offers great programs in THOUGHT, but very little follow-through to perfect them); FileTypesMan(ager); as mentioned, system's RegEdit; and a super powerful little tool iconchanger-3.8. The only issue I ever ran into was that you should NEVER attempt to change the icon for the .exe executable. EVERY .exe in your system changes. It's (mostly) precisely because of all the work that went into this over years, really, (because how much extra time is there to do all this in a day?) that I dread starting over. LOL ... in the great scheme of things though, first-world problems, right? Thanks for all the help!