Cloning Windows partition to another: Works?

Supposing I have Windows Vista on C drive, D drive being my optical drive and E drive being an empty partition (all on the same hard disk), and I clone the C drive to my E drive, will I be able to use the Vista on the E drive if I add a boot entry (I am aware of how to go on doing it)?

 

yeah that will work.. you will end up with two exact same vista operating systems.

remember to do a disk scan/fix and defrag before you clone

 

Mind why I ask why you'd do this? I imagine it has to do with partition sizes but not sure why you wouldn't just re-size them.

 

I have my reasons.

I want to end up having two identical Vista.

 

I think, though, that you might end up with some inconsistencies if automatic updating occurs, since the update will only be done automatically to one copy.

 

I would be running only one of the copy, without touching the other.

Would that affect anything?

 

Can I assume that what you're trying to do is to create a DIY backup partition with a spanking-clean installation of _Vista in this second partition you want to create, that you would just keep around for those times when you needed to replace/overhaul your working installation?

If so, and if you're not going to be running the backup copy, then I think the only thing you'll want to make sure you keep track of are the updates that get installed into the working copy after the backup copy is made - keep a backup set of those updates as well (you can find them identified by their KB numbers), and if you have to copy the backup copy back over onto the working partition to "reinstall" the OS, you'll have to make sure the updates all get installed - in correct order.

 

Yes, my aim is to keep the "really default" Vista installation in another partition.

Since I need them to be "really default" I suppose the updates won't matter to me.

Thanks for the advice.