Backup Win 7 and Win 8 from dual-boot systems

Question applies to both systems on different computers.

Here's the question. It applies to both Win 7 and Win 8, but in the Win 7 case, requires backup to hd, in the Win 8 case, flash drive will do. I would expect the answers to be the same, or very similar.

Win 7_64: The system is dual-booted with PCLinuxOS_64. Boots from grub. Win7 is on sda1. Would like to backup the entire Win7 system onto an external hd, and put a Windows boot on the drive, so the system could boot to that external drive. I have the Win 7 s/w on DVD.

Win 8_32: The system is dual booted with PCLinuxOS_32. Boots from grub. Win 8 is on sda1. Would like to backup the entire Win8 system to a flash drive, and add a Windows boot to that drive, so system could boot and run from the flash. I do not have the software in usable form, since I upgraded via the Internet from XP, and Microsoft sent the s/w to the XP partition in some unrecognizable form, and I just had to tell the XP system to upgrade, and watch it go. (It may, of course, be there and available, but if it is, then I don't know how to get it and
copy it to hard copy CD or DVD.)

It is important to me to save the entire Win7 system, since it has paid software on it that would be expensive and difficult to replace.
In the case of Win8, I'd only be out the money I paid for it, and some s/w that was mostly free, but it would be nice to save it.

It should go without saying that I will not remove or damage the existing Linux systems.

FWIW, I can use Linux from a live CD to effect the backups, if that would be helpful, and I'm not afraid of the
command line.

I'm new to this forum, and I hope that I get notified of the answers, at wa2say@optonline.net

All responses gratefully accepted. --doug, WA2SAY

Welcome to EightForums.

As you have Windows & Linux, I would look for a 3rd party Partitioning,Backup & Cloning software.

I personally use Paragon.

PARAGON Software Group - partition manager, drive backup, hard disk partitioning

I agree Paragon works well, I have been using it for years.

It is very cautious - usually a good thing.

Use bcdboot and bootsect to enable windows boot management on each of the backed up drives.


If you want to boot win7 from an external - how will you connect it?

You will need to make a small adjustment to boot 7 via usb.

The Paragon link you posted shows 4 different products at different prices--expensive prices, in most cases--
so which one are you recommending?
--doug, WA2SAY

Depends what functions you might need.

Backup and Recovery Home is good for most people.