If you've got an Intel Mac and are using Bootcamp, this entry is for you.
I've searched for and and failed miserably to find a method to create a backup image of a Bootcamp NTFS partition. A Google search on the subject turns up lots of results for Bombich Netrestore, but I found the interface to be rather obtuse. I didn't come away feeling warm and fuzzy after using it, which more or less rendered the entire exercise moot.
Enter Winclone -- a tool to easily image and restore a Windows NTFS partition used by Bootcamp. As the included screenshot implies, usage is dead-simple.
Winclone allows for some advanced image handling, including the ability to prepare for and deploy to destination partitions of a different (smaller, larger, or unknown) size. This is particularly useful if you're migrating to a new computer or want to alter the size of your Bootcamp partition on an existing machine.
Another nifty feature is the ability to rename NTFS partitions. Bootcamp creates a default partition named 'Untitled'. If you stick with a FAT32 filesystem, you can rename it. If you opt for NTFS as I did, renaming is problematic since OSX can't natively handle writing to the filesystem. Winclone makes renaming a point-and-click affair.
As with any imaging tool, you need to be careful and understand the implications of what you're trying to do. Winclone does have the ability to muck around with partition contents and the MBR of a disk, so do be careful.
Apple should really include this functionality by default with Bootcamp in Leopard.
All that said, Winclone is a fantastic application that -- for some odd reason -- seems to be flying under the radar. Thumbs-up to twocanoes software for providing a great utility, making it free, and providing timely responses to support questions, too!
9 comments for this entry ↓
1 Steve // Apr 13, 2007 at 8:50 am
Mac? A Mac? Really? They still make those?
2 Dave Barnard // Apr 14, 2007 at 6:03 am
Great Tip!
Winclone looks perfect for the dual-boot Mac lab I'm setting up and fits the budget perfectly :) Will try it RSN. Thanks to all!
3 Jasper // May 8, 2007 at 10:30 pm
exactly what I'm after! hopefully I will remember to report back with how I get on.
4 OddyOh // Jun 4, 2007 at 9:05 am
Well, I finally had some time this weekend to try out WinClone...worked perfectly! My goal was to increase the size of my Boot Camp partition. First I backed up my NTFS WinXP partition into a 12GB file. Then I used Apple's Boot Camp Assistant to delete the partition. Then I ran iDefrag overnight (Assistant wouldn't let me create a new one due to how fragged my disk was). This morning I used Boot Camp Assistant to create a new and bigger partition. Started the Windows installer, just to the point where you format the partition and start copying files. Then I powered off the Mac, rebooted to OSX, and used WinClone to restore the backup to my new partition...almost too easy. :)
5 Arne Kuilman // Jun 19, 2007 at 11:16 am
I have been using Winclone as well to image 30-some MacBooks for a lab. Works like a charm!
6 Glenn // Jun 21, 2007 at 4:01 pm
Winclone does work very well, but I was looking for something slightly different... does anyone know if there is any software that can make an exact (bootable) copy of a windows partition from Mac OS? Carbon Copy Cloner works for HFS+ partitions, but I can't find anything so far that makes a bootable copy of NTFS. If anyone knows about some good software, please tell me.
[email protected]
7 Rob Craig // Jun 26, 2007 at 7:46 am
Top stuff. Grabbed a copy of Winclone. Backup up my drive. Ran the iDefrag over night to move al the date to the start of my drive. Started the boot camp assistant. Created my Windows partition 20GB. restored my drive all up and runing with more space.
Rob.
8 dennis.ca » Howto: Read/Write NTFS Disks Using MacFUSE // Sep 22, 2007 at 2:09 pm
[...] regret not having done so. If you need help backing up NTFS drives, read my entry on using Winclone. The nicest backup tool I’ve encountered for OSX is [...]
9 Felix Revolle // Oct 1, 2007 at 12:17 am
Hello
Winclone is perfect for saving and restoring the Win/BootCamp partition on Mac intel
Thanks for your contribution
I test NetRestore 3,6: a little bit more complicate but excellent for the same purpose
But, but....
How to SAVE and RESTORE the Mac Tiger/BootCamp partition?!?!
I use NetRestore 3.6
- Saving: with Net Nestore Helper I got (without any difficulty) an "Mac.dmg" on a bootable USB2 HD
- Boot on the USB2 HD
- restoring the Mac/BootCamp from the above "Mac.dmg" with Net Restore => ERROR with that message:restore failed and at the end of the Terminal log could not erase target , operation not permitted
Have you any solution???
Regards
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