I keep a clone hard disk (updated every so often) of my main hard disk. The
purpose is that it to quickly get another computer up and running if needed.
However, I am informed that Windows XP will not work in the new computer

I should appreciate it if someone could confirm this and, if so, say why
(the software is after all only installed the once on a working computer)
and how to get around the problem.

Thanks.

Bill Ridgeway

"Bill Ridgeway" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:evskYAg$(E-Mail Removed)...
>I keep a clone hard disk (updated every so often) of my main hard disk.
>The purpose is that it to quickly get another computer up and running if
>needed. However, I am informed that Windows XP will not work in the new
>computer
>
> I should appreciate it if someone could confirm this and, if so, say why
> (the software is after all only installed the once on a working computer)
> and how to get around the problem.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Bill Ridgeway
>

You have been misinformed - Windows will work very nicely
with your cloned disk, provided that it is a true clone.

However, it seems that you've stopped at the half-way mark
with your backup strategy. To make it really useful it is absolutely
essential that you test it. Disconnect the current disk, connect
the new disk and watch what happens!

"Pegasus (MVP)" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%233SY7Fg$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "Bill Ridgeway" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:evskYAg$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>I keep a clone hard disk (updated every so often) of my main hard disk.
>>The purpose is that it to quickly get another computer up and running if
>>needed. However, I am informed that Windows XP will not work in the new
>>computer
>>
>> I should appreciate it if someone could confirm this and, if so, say why
>> (the software is after all only installed the once on a working computer)
>> and how to get around the problem.
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> Bill Ridgeway
>>
>
> You have been misinformed - Windows will work very nicely
> with your cloned disk, provided that it is a true clone.
>
> However, it seems that you've stopped at the half-way mark
> with your backup strategy. To make it really useful it is absolutely
> essential that you test it. Disconnect the current disk, connect
> the new disk and watch what happens!
Thanks for your response. It works very nicely on the existing computer but
I haven't had an opportunity to try the cloned hard disk on another
computer!

Bill Ridgeway

If you are moving that 'Cloned' disk to another PC then I would try it on
that other PC as their is a good chance it may not work, especially if the
PCs are not identical models.

JS

"Bill Ridgeway" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:evskYAg$(E-Mail Removed)...
>I keep a clone hard disk (updated every so often) of my main hard disk.
>The purpose is that it to quickly get another computer up and running if
>needed. However, I am informed that Windows XP will not work in the new
>computer
>
> I should appreciate it if someone could confirm this and, if so, say why
> (the software is after all only installed the once on a working computer)
> and how to get around the problem.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Bill Ridgeway
>

The problem will come up when you install the cloned drive in a different
system beacause none of the hardware drivers will match..........unless you
do a repair installation using your original XP disk.Which of course defeats
the purpose of the cloning...quick change.
The problem gets even worse if your original installation was a factory
installation...like Dell OEM and your trying to install onto a homebuild
system...not possible.
peter
"Bill Ridgeway" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:u71H6Qg$(E-Mail Removed)...
> "Pegasus (MVP)" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:%233SY7Fg$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>
>> "Bill Ridgeway" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:evskYAg$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>I keep a clone hard disk (updated every so often) of my main hard disk.
>>>The purpose is that it to quickly get another computer up and running if
>>>needed. However, I am informed that Windows XP will not work in the new
>>>computer
>>>
>>> I should appreciate it if someone could confirm this and, if so, say why
>>> (the software is after all only installed the once on a working
>>> computer) and how to get around the problem.
>>>
>>> Thanks.
>>>
>>> Bill Ridgeway
>>>
>>
>> You have been misinformed - Windows will work very nicely
>> with your cloned disk, provided that it is a true clone.
>>
>> However, it seems that you've stopped at the half-way mark
>> with your backup strategy. To make it really useful it is absolutely
>> essential that you test it. Disconnect the current disk, connect
>> the new disk and watch what happens!
> Thanks for your response. It works very nicely on the existing computer
> but I haven't had an opportunity to try the cloned hard disk on another
> computer!
>
> Bill Ridgeway
>

"Bill Ridgeway" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:evskYAg$(E-Mail Removed)...
>I keep a clone hard disk (updated every so often) of my main hard disk.
>The purpose is that it to quickly get another computer up and running if
>needed. However, I am informed that Windows XP will not work in the new
>computer
>
> I should appreciate it if someone could confirm this and, if so, say why
> (the software is after all only installed the once on a working computer)
> and how to get around the problem.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Bill Ridgeway

I can't speak for others but I clone my hard drive just as you but I do it
to be able to recover from a disk failure and not a computer failure. A
computer failure may be able to be fixed, there's no fixing a hard drive
failure. I use removeable hard drives and always switch drives and run off
the clone. In case of an unfixable computer failure I would never consider
building or buying a new one and trying to run off the clone of the old.
Like Peter said, with an OEM version it won't work and with the full or
upgrade version you would have to do a repair. An alternative would be to
have 2 identical computers. I've just never heard of anyone cloning their
hard drive to recover from a computer failure.

"Bill Ridgeway" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:u71H6Qg$(E-Mail Removed)...
> "Pegasus (MVP)" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:%233SY7Fg$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>
>> "Bill Ridgeway" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:evskYAg$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>I keep a clone hard disk (updated every so often) of my main hard disk.
>>>The purpose is that it to quickly get another computer up and running if
>>>needed. However, I am informed that Windows XP will not work in the new
>>>computer
>>>
>>> I should appreciate it if someone could confirm this and, if so, say why
>>> (the software is after all only installed the once on a working
>>> computer) and how to get around the problem.
>>>
>>> Thanks.
>>>
>>> Bill Ridgeway
>>>
>>
>> You have been misinformed - Windows will work very nicely
>> with your cloned disk, provided that it is a true clone.
>>
>> However, it seems that you've stopped at the half-way mark
>> with your backup strategy. To make it really useful it is absolutely
>> essential that you test it. Disconnect the current disk, connect
>> the new disk and watch what happens!
> Thanks for your response. It works very nicely on the existing computer
> but I haven't had an opportunity to try the cloned hard disk on another
> computer!
>
> Bill Ridgeway

Oops - I allowed myself to be misled by your subject line
(Changing hard disks) and did not realise that you really
meant "Changing computers". As others have pointed out,
porting an existing WinXP installation to different hardware
will most likely fail.

"Pegasus (MVP)" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:u1NqZzi$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "Bill Ridgeway" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:u71H6Qg$(E-Mail Removed)...
>> "Pegasus (MVP)" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:%233SY7Fg$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>
>>> "Bill Ridgeway" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>> news:evskYAg$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>>I keep a clone hard disk (updated every so often) of my main hard disk.
>>>>The purpose is that it to quickly get another computer up and running if
>>>>needed. However, I am informed that Windows XP will not work in the new
>>>>computer
>>>>
>>>> I should appreciate it if someone could confirm this and, if so, say
>>>> why (the software is after all only installed the once on a working
>>>> computer) and how to get around the problem.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks.
>>>>
>>>> Bill Ridgeway
>>>>
>>>
>>> You have been misinformed - Windows will work very nicely
>>> with your cloned disk, provided that it is a true clone.
>>>
>>> However, it seems that you've stopped at the half-way mark
>>> with your backup strategy. To make it really useful it is absolutely
>>> essential that you test it. Disconnect the current disk, connect
>>> the new disk and watch what happens!
>> Thanks for your response. It works very nicely on the existing computer
>> but I haven't had an opportunity to try the cloned hard disk on another
>> computer!
>>
>> Bill Ridgeway
>
> Oops - I allowed myself to be misled by your subject line
> (Changing hard disks) and did not realise that you really
> meant "Changing computers". As others have pointed out,
> porting an existing WinXP installation to different hardware
> will most likely fail.

OK, so porting the cloned hard disk to another computer wont work. That, at
least confirms what I thought is the case. At least it does work as an
alternative hard disk in the same system.

I'm probably clutching at straws here to remedy a problem that doesn't exist
(other than a possibility) but would there be a better chance of working if
the computer with the donor hard disk was started in Safe Mode?

Bill Ridgeway

"Bill Ridgeway" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%23IzyKIj$(E-Mail Removed)...
> "Pegasus (MVP)" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:u1NqZzi$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>
>> "Bill Ridgeway" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:u71H6Qg$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> "Pegasus (MVP)" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>> news:%233SY7Fg$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>>
>>>> "Bill Ridgeway" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>>> news:evskYAg$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>>>I keep a clone hard disk (updated every so often) of my main hard disk.
>>>>>The purpose is that it to quickly get another computer up and running
>>>>>if needed. However, I am informed that Windows XP will not work in the
>>>>>new computer
>>>>>
>>>>> I should appreciate it if someone could confirm this and, if so, say
>>>>> why (the software is after all only installed the once on a working
>>>>> computer) and how to get around the problem.
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks.
>>>>>
>>>>> Bill Ridgeway
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> You have been misinformed - Windows will work very nicely
>>>> with your cloned disk, provided that it is a true clone.
>>>>
>>>> However, it seems that you've stopped at the half-way mark
>>>> with your backup strategy. To make it really useful it is absolutely
>>>> essential that you test it. Disconnect the current disk, connect
>>>> the new disk and watch what happens!
>>> Thanks for your response. It works very nicely on the existing computer
>>> but I haven't had an opportunity to try the cloned hard disk on another
>>> computer!
>>>
>>> Bill Ridgeway
>>
>> Oops - I allowed myself to be misled by your subject line
>> (Changing hard disks) and did not realise that you really
>> meant "Changing computers". As others have pointed out,
>> porting an existing WinXP installation to different hardware
>> will most likely fail.
>
> OK, so porting the cloned hard disk to another computer wont work. That,
> at least confirms what I thought is the case. At least it does work as an
> alternative hard disk in the same system.
>
> I'm probably clutching at straws here to remedy a problem that doesn't
> exist (other than a possibility) but would there be a better chance of
> working if the computer with the donor hard disk was started in Safe Mode?
>
> Bill Ridgeway
>

No, Safe Mode won't make any difference.

Bill Ridgeway wrote:
> "Pegasus (MVP)" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:u1NqZzi$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>
>> "Bill Ridgeway" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:u71H6Qg$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> "Pegasus (MVP)" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>> news:%233SY7Fg$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>>
>>>> "Bill Ridgeway" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>>> news:evskYAg$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>>> I keep a clone hard disk (updated every so often) of my main hard
>>>>> disk. The purpose is that it to quickly get another computer up
>>>>> and running if needed. However, I am informed that Windows XP
>>>>> will not work in the new computer
>>>>>
>>>>> I should appreciate it if someone could confirm this and, if so,
>>>>> say why (the software is after all only installed the once on a
>>>>> working computer) and how to get around the problem.
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks.
>>>>>
>>>>> Bill Ridgeway
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> You have been misinformed - Windows will work very nicely
>>>> with your cloned disk, provided that it is a true clone.
>>>>
>>>> However, it seems that you've stopped at the half-way mark
>>>> with your backup strategy. To make it really useful it is
>>>> absolutely essential that you test it. Disconnect the current
>>>> disk, connect the new disk and watch what happens!
>>> Thanks for your response. It works very nicely on the existing
>>> computer but I haven't had an opportunity to try the cloned hard
>>> disk on another computer!
>>>
>>> Bill Ridgeway
>>
>> Oops - I allowed myself to be misled by your subject line
>> (Changing hard disks) and did not realise that you really
>> meant "Changing computers". As others have pointed out,
>> porting an existing WinXP installation to different hardware
>> will most likely fail.
>
> OK, so porting the cloned hard disk to another computer wont work. That,
> at least confirms what I thought is the case. At least it does
> work as an alternative hard disk in the same system.
>
> I'm probably clutching at straws here to remedy a problem that
> doesn't exist (other than a possibility) but would there be a better
> chance of working if the computer with the donor hard disk was
> started in Safe Mode?
> Bill Ridgeway

There are cases when the cloned HDD will work and some where it won't. If
your systems are similar then you can effectively clone your OS and run it
on as many systems as you want providing you do a repair install and don't
expect to use Windows Update on other than the original system. Your idea of
cloning your drive for backup is one that I use continually. I have a few
drives that I install every few months and remove the original and clone
that from the newest recycling them over and over. If my system were to
crash now I would use my last clone and would only be a bit behind on some
of the things I have done since the last time. I keep the drive in a bay and
replace the drawer and am up and running in less time then it takes to do an
install. This is a perfect solution and legal unlike the other that I
mentioned. I would never recommend that you do anything that is not legal.
LOL