asmith,

The link you posted is interesting.

It apears that there are similarities to the method described in this thread

e(1) Vista installation DVD is being used as a Live DVD. An operating sysytem is "sourced" from the outside and the operating system residing in the hard disk is not booted.

(2) The Vista Live DVD is used as a utility just for the cloning process.

(3) All hardware has to be keep unchanged so as not to contradict setting discovered by Vista .

(4) Depending on the cloning process it is some times necessary to repair/restore the Vista's MBR (reported by the user). This apparently applies to both methods.

Then there are the following differences

(a) Vista Live DVD clones a system by copying its files (several users reported omission of files after the process). Linux Live CD clones a partitions/disk by just the binary bits (of "1" & "0"). Thus Linux Live CD can clone any system whereas Vista Live DVD clones only the filing system it supports.

(b) Vista Live DVD clones an operating system with several commands necessitating the creation and formatting of a partition.
LIST DISK (Shows the disks attached)
SELECT DISK 0 (Selects the first disk)
LIST PARTITION (Shows the partitions on the first disk)
CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY (Creates a new primary partition on the first disk)
LIST PARTITION (Shows the partitions, and now there is one)
SELECT PARTITION 1 (Selects the newly-created partition)
ACTIVE (Marks the new partition as active, or bootable)
FORMAT QUICK (Formats the partition with NTFS)
LIST VOLUME (Shows the newly-formatted volume)
ROBOCOPY E:\ C:\ /e /efsraw /copyall /dcopy:t /r:0
The color commands are regarded essential while others are optional and can possibly omitted by an experienced user.

The main theme of this thread is simplicity by cloning the whole disk and dd can do it with just one line of command using a disk directly off a sealed raw disk (sda)
Code:
dd if=/dev/hda of=/dev/sda bs=32768
even the red bit is optional as it is there just to make the cloning go faster by transferring a bigger block of data each time.

(c) I am not sure if it is necessary but the link indicates the hard drive of the resident MS operating system must be physically removed first in order for Vista not to pick up any change in the hardware when at a later time the system to be cloned is introduced back in an external USB disk.

The Linux Live CD method described here has been applied by me for cloning internal disks, external disks, Sata disks, Pata/IDE disks, 3.5" desktop drives, 2.3" laptop drives in any combination. The resident disk can remain in its original position if required in the cloning process.

The above is not an attempt to sell the method described in this thread but to lay out in the open all the relevant differeces and similarities to let the readers to understand better what is going on behind all these commands and instructions.

I personally welcome any alternative method, especially on backing up a Vista, to place together in one place to enable users to make their choices, and if desired to understand the underlining principles too. So I learn a new thing today myself.