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If I don't have any external drives, can I still create a full system image? Can I create a separate partition, and image only the original partition, to be stored on the second partition? Or does it need to image the entire drive?

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Most imaging software allows you to pick the partition(s) you wish to image, no you cannot image the same partition you are actively storing the image on. – Moab Sep 26 '11 at 4:14
I don't want to store it on the same partition, but on a different partition on the same drive. – Neil Traft Sep 26 '11 at 11:48
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It should work but will be slow since it is using the same physical disk. – Moab Sep 26 '11 at 15:43
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It would really depend upon the amount of remaining disk space you have and the software you are using. Some imaging programs will image data+free space. Others won't. I would tentatively say you can make a disk image to another partition on the same hard drive, if the imaging software supports it. If you plan on keeping the image on the separate partition as a backup, be advised that should the hard drive go you will potentially lose both your system and your backup.

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Yeah, it's really just a temporary solution until the new external HDD arrives in a couple days. But you don't know what software I can use to do this? – Neil Traft Sep 26 '11 at 3:18
Norton Ghost should work. Partimage or Clonezilla should also do what you need. – Justin Pearce Sep 26 '11 at 3:33
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