Bootable copy ?

[jylaxx]

I tried several hard disk cloning software and finally choose to buy Paragon Disk Copy. I want to have an exact copy of my main disk in case of hardware failure, so I will be able to go on working immediatly.
I tried several options without success (errors, hang on reboot...) and finally was able to have a correct result with no options check except "Perform surface test".
BUT when I tried to boot from the USB disk copy on another computer I have the message :
Loading PBR for descriptor 2... done
And then
Err. Reading disk
Enter Ctrl-Alt-Del to restart
Is-it possible to boot from my disk copy on a USB port ? (when the BIOS support the feature of course...)

I must add that I have different behaviours of the disk under XP.
On the original disk I have (from Drive Copy Disk View) :
- Primary FAT16 partition (*) "DellUtility"
- Primary NTFS partition C:
- Logical NTFS partition E:
- Primary not formatted partition (*) Id 0xDB Digital Research CP/M
On the copy I have (from Drive Copy Disk View) :
- Primary FAT16 partition (*) "DellUtility"
- Primary NTFS partition (*)
- Logical NTFS partition (*)
- Primary FAT32 partition D: "DellRestore" Id 0x0C FAT32 LBA

How do you explain that the fourth partition is "not formatted" on the original disk and is FAT32 with a label and data on the copy ?
From explorer, on one computer only the "DellRestore" partition is visible from the copy D:.
On another computer I can access to all four partitions and data.

I need to have a trust protocol to clone my disk and be able to use the clone as boot disk on any computer.

Thanks for help.

[Huoliuhi]

Thanks! Bump!

[Robin A.]

1. To clone a disk, remove the old disk and install in its place the new one, then install the old one in the USB enclosure and clone. Look for details in the Wilders Acronis forum.
2. As is well known, the Dell Restore partition has an unusual identification that can confound the clone software. See http://www.goodells.net/dellutility/index.htm.