So #4hd (presently in the 8500) is the same as #3 (boxed) because
they both finished with Invalid Windows OS messages because I lost
my Activation. Nevertheless it cloned successfully. Does that matter
if it's not authentic especially since Microsoft stopped supporting
Win7? Will it affect anything?

I also remembered to resize the partition this time around to take up the
unused space. However I need to go back to #3hd and do the same.
Can I do that if I put it in the external case or does it have to be inside the
8500?

I also have to do the same thing to #1 and #2 for the 780.

Robert