Guys, for hdd backup
what's are the differences between copy & paste, and using those norton ghost/acronis software.

Does right click my C drive, copy and paste to external hdd..
means complete backup? , including OS & those installed program?
(if in future i bought new hdd, then i copy pasta back the whole C drive to the new hdd, will it behave like just exactly as before? , boot from OS, running previously installed program, etc. etc.)

Thanks. & Merry Christmas`

so, there's no way to complete backup entire OS/installed programs?

So, we can copy the whole OS-1 partition when we'r running on the 2nd OS windows?
Using, this method of backup..
does it mean we can have a fully working OS and those installed programs as well..
when we paste it on new hdd??

Can someone confirm this?

yes, this is wat i want.
i don't want to re-download and re-install 30++ programs/applications.

So which of the options below acts the same as mirroring backup?

1) boot with another OS, direct copy the entire old OS partition.
then paste it to new hdd.

2) acronis true image.

what i want is transfer to new hdd,
use the new hdd as boot drive/partition/OS
everything same as the old OS partition.
(including installed programs/apps. , working.)