Since you're not used with Linux, i also can recommend you tools called GNOME Disks (sometimes called Disks).
It's easier to use and less risky, see this guide, https://www.techrepublic.com/article/how-to-create-disk-images-using-gnome-disk/

On a side note, i hear gaming on Linux is better thanks to Proton (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proton_(software) and https://www.protondb.com/)
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Thanks I think I will try to use windows based tools for cloning the disk but I appreciate the suggestion.
As for Proton is something quite interesting specially because it is being developed by Valve - 99% of my games are in a Steam account.

Update:

While going through what I have done in 2017 I discovered that maybe I am not as stupid as I sound.
I did an image of the HD and ran WinHex on said image. I cannot recall exactly but believe the image was done using WinHex - I still have the image on a USB hard drive and plan on running pywallet there while I proceed to do more clones of the original HD.

I spent a few hours with python and was progressing slowly. I was not able to install Twistted because even pip has apparently stopped supporting older versions of python. As I was using my private computer, which runs Windows 7 professional, I was unable to further progress the preparation to run pywallet. Any suggestions on how to proceed? Sounds like booting some linux version on that computer I intend to use to run pywallet is my easiest way out.

Cheers