Copy of a Windows 7 system on another partition as another operating system.

There are two difficulties :
_The first difficulty occurs if the original system (for instance C:) has already given a letter to the destination partition (for instance D:) This is generally the case . After a copy, the partition's letters have not changed in the registry of the copied system. So a system installed in C: is now in D: but its registry uses many files of C: and modify the original system or cannot boot if the original system is absent. We must swap the letters C: and D: in the registry of the copied system
_ The boot manager BCD must be updated to boot the new system.

1 Installing multiple systems per copy

All tools are available in Windows 7.

1.1 Prepare the disk and install the first system

Create a partition of 100 MB (NTFS primary active) to accommodate boot files of Windows 7 and then partitions for several systems (30, or 60 GB primary or extended)
Install Windows 7 on a partition proposed by the Windows 7 DVD The boot files will be installed on the 100 MB partition
If the new system works it is possible to copy this system to another location.
Note: It is possible to shrink a partition to create another one using the disk manager.
It is convenient to put on the desktop of each system an empty file with a name to identify these systems. Give an explicit label to each partition.

1.2 Beginning of the copy of the first system

Boot on a disc repair system (created by start / all programs / maintenance / create a repair disk system) (you can also use a Windows 7 DVD ) Do not accept the proposed repairs, but access to the tools and start a command prompt window.
Look what letters are attributed to the original partition and to the partition of the copied system : try c: dir and then read the label of the partition and then try another letter .... (Note: the letters are different from those in windows explorer).
Here is an example of command to copy C: \ on L: \ and to create a log file c: \ tmp \ robocopy.txt):
robocopy C:\ D:\ /mir /xjd /r:1 /w:3 /zb /efsraw /NP /log:c:\tmp\robocopy.txt
Attention : the partition D: \ will be completely erased during the copy.

1.3 Boot on the original system

Check the copied volume.
In the destop of the copied system change the name of the icon which it is advisable to use to indicate the operating system..
In Disk Management note the letters of the original system partition and of the copied system.
If the original system (for instance C:) has already given a letter to the destination partition (for instance D:) . After a copy, the partition's letters have not changed in the registry of the copied system. So a system installed in C: is now in D: but its registry uses many files of C: and modify the original system or cannot boot if the original system is absent. We must swap the letters C: and D: in the registry of the copied system

1.4 Swap letters in the registry of the new system.

Being still in the original system: start / Accessories / Command Prompt / right click run as administrator, type the command regedit.The register of the original system is displayed.Select HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE. We will temporarily add a new hive for editing.
File / load the hive (grayed out if nothing is selected) Go to the WINDOWS directory of the new system that we have just copied . Then go in its WINDOWS \ system32 \ config (assuming that the new system was copied from C to D we must switch C and D in his register)
Select the hive system: Windows \ system32 \ config \ system
A dialog box requests a name for the key. this is not the name of the key to open, but the name that will be displayed for the hive. It appears in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE a new directory with this name, it is the system hive of the new system.Select this hive
In MountedDevices swap the letters for example
Right click on the C line: choose rename replace C with Z
Right click on the line D: choose rename replace D by C
Right click on the Z line: choose rename replace Z with D
Reselect the hive system (important: set the hive to unload)
Menu / File / Unload Hive (grayed out if nothing is selected): the changes are saved at unload. Select the right hive before unloading the hive.

1.5 Repair the boot files to boot the new system

It is not possible to boot the new system because the startup files do not take into account the new system. Remove any other disk with an operating system. Boot on the installation DVD of Windows 7. Choose "Safe mode with command prompt" Select the country. Do not select "install" but repairs. A window opens "Recovery Options" which normally displays "Windows has detected problems do you want to perform repair and restart?"
Click on "view details" it is proposed to add a boot option for the new system. Accept the repairs.
Restart: a menu will offer a choice between two systems.
. Note: You can copy the original system in several locations prior to repair (do not forget to swap the letters for each copy).

1.6 Boot the new system

Verify that the letter of the new system is C:. Otherwise do not use this system because the permutation of letters has not been done properly and a modification of this system may be reflected in the register of the original system: Both systems will deteriorate.
Change the generic name appearing in the menu for a more specific name:
Start / Accessories / Command Prompt / right click run as administrator, enter the command:
bcdedit /set {current} description "replace all this by the desired name for the system just started, keep the quotes"

2 Copy on another partition (same disk)

Use the above procedure to copy a system.

3 Copy to a second hard disk

Prepare the disk to install multiple systems.
Copy the partition of 100 MB then the other partitions
Disconnect the first disk and ask for repairs as above. (In case of trouble you can begin an installation of a new system to get the right startup files). Start with the second disk only.
You can then add the first disk. You can choose the startup disk in the bios and the system boot with the disk's menu.

4 Copy of Windows 7 to remove and replace a system.

It's the same procedure but simpler because it is possible to boot the copied without repairing the startup files. It is thus possible to easily make backups on which to start. It is preferable to format the destination partition before the copy. Some undeletable files may give errors.

To copy XP

To copy Vista

October 30 2011___g@gjullien.fr________