Disk Cloning / Imaging

[Dan]

Hello, Im intrested in purchasing a product to clone hard disks in
Windows but I have a question before hand

If I clone a hard disk into some DVD´s and the I want to restore that
image into another hard disk on a new computer, a new, different
size/brand hard disk. Is
that possible? Is there a "correct" way to do it?

Someone reccomendme either Norton Ghost or Acronis True Image, but Im
not sure if itll help me.

I hope your answers help me to decide weather to buy the software.
Thanks in advance,
Dan

 

[Peter]

If I clone a hard disk into some DVD´s and the I want to restore that

image into another hard disk on a new computer, a new, different
size/brand hard disk. Is
that possible? Is there a "correct" way to do it?

Why would you want to restore an image from the "old" computer
to a "new" one?
Do you realize that most likely new PC will require different setup
(drivers, etc.)? Fresh install is highly recommended.

If you want to transfer your data, the most convenient way is to use
a network between "old" and "new" machine (after a "new" one has
been setup).

 

[Bob]

Hello, Im intrested in purchasing a product to clone hard disks in
Windows but I have a question before hand

If I clone a hard disk into some DVD=B4s and the I want to restore that
image into another hard disk on a new computer, a new, different
size/brand hard disk. Is
that possible? Is there a "correct" way to do it?

Someone reccomendme either Norton Ghost or Acronis True Image, but Im
not sure if itll help me.

First you need to understand the difference between a "disk image" and
a "disk clone".

You might want to look at Western Digital's Data Lifeguard utility. I
only use WD drives so I do not know if it will work with other makers.
It has a disk clone capability.




--

Map of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy
http://home.houston.rr.com/rkba/vrwc.html

"Nothing in the world can take the place of perseverence. Talent
will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent.
Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education
will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and
determination alone are omnipotent."
--Calvin Coolidge

 

[Bob]

Why would you want to restore an image from the "old" computer
to a "new" one?

Do you realize that most likely new PC will require different setup
(drivers, etc.)? Fresh install is highly recommended.

If you want to transfer your data, the most convenient way is to use
a network between "old" and "new" machine (after a "new" one has
been setup).

You apparently do not know about Window's "In-Place Upgrade" (aka
"IPU).

I used it to go from NT4 to Win2K and then again to put my "old" Win2K
onto a new machine. I have also used it to recover a corrupted disk.
It upgrades the Registry and Profiles plus rebuilds the Windows system
files.

First you clone the "old" hard disk onto the "new" hard disk. Then you
run the Windows install CD and use the IPU feature. It is recommended
that you visit the Microsoft Knowledge Base to learn how to do that.

It is my understanding that XP has an even better strategy. You
install XP on a "new" HD and then run a utility that copies the "old"
profiles and settings onto the "new" disk.

Win2K Control Panel > System > Advanced has a Profile Exporter that I
have used. But it does not upgrade the Registry which means you have
to reinstall all your applications. That's a real bummer.

You do not want to "xcopy" the apps because that does not upgrade the
Registry.


--

Map of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy
http://home.houston.rr.com/rkba/vrwc.html

"Nothing in the world can take the place of perseverence. Talent
will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent.
Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education
will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and
determination alone are omnipotent."
--Calvin Coolidge

 

[Rod Speed]

Hello, Im intrested in purchasing a product to clone hard
disks in Windows but I have a question before hand

If I clone a hard disk into some DVD´s and the I want to
restore that image into another hard disk on a new computer,
a new, different size/brand hard disk. Is that possible?

Yes.

It usually works pretty well with the Win9x family and ME.

It can get more tricky with the NT/2K/XP family, you can
find that the clone wont boot and that you need to repair
the installation. That requires the distribution CD for the OS.

Is there a "correct" way to do it?

Not really. There are a variety of ways of doing that, ranging
from the sort of cloning you are asking about, to doing a clean
install of the OS and apps instead, thru to that plus the use of
the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard with XP to move the
files and settings to the new installation.

Someone reccomendme either Norton Ghost or
Acronis True Image, but Im not sure if itll help me.

Yes, they will both do that job. I prefer True Image currently.

I hope your answers help me to
decide weather to buy the software.

You dont say why you want to clone like that.

 

[Rod Speed]

You apparently do not know about Window's
"In-Place Upgrade" (aka "IPU).

He appears to consider that a clean install is a better approach.

I used it to go from NT4 to Win2K and then again to put my
"old" Win2K onto a new machine. I have also used it to recover
a corrupted disk. It upgrades the Registry and Profiles

No it doesnt.

plus rebuilds the Windows system files.

It basically installs the drivers that are appropriate for the new system.

First you clone the "old" hard disk onto the "new" hard disk. Then you
run the Windows install CD and use the IPU feature. It is recommended
that you visit the Microsoft Knowledge Base to learn how to do that.

It is my understanding that XP has an even better strategy.

Nope, thats still used when say changing the motherboard with XP.

You install XP on a "new" HD and then run a utility that
copies the "old" profiles and settings onto the "new" disk.

Yes, you can do that too.

Win2K Control Panel > System > Advanced has a Profile Exporter
that I have used. But it does not upgrade the Registry which means
you have to reinstall all your applications. That's a real bummer.

You have to install the apps again with XP too. The Files and
Settings Transfer Wizard JUST transfers the files and settings
from the old install to the new one, it doesnt transfer the apps.

You do not want to "xcopy" the apps
because that does not upgrade the Registry.

And most of the settings are in the registry anyway with modern OSs.

 

[Ron Reaugh]

Please post in plain text.

If your goal is to restore a bunch of your files then most everything you
describe is possible using Acronis TrueImage, Ghost or even Xcopy /e/h .
However if your goal is to "clone" a running/bootable/operational Windows
install then things are much more difficult.

With some playing around it'll usually work with 98[SE] and ME but not with
W2K, NT4, XP nor W2K3. The exception to that is that if your goal is to
restore the DVD/image to a different(bigger) HD(but same connection type
like ATA vs. SCSI) on the same PC then that will work with TrueImage and
Ghost on all 98[SE], ME, W2K, XP, W2K3.

Otherwise a clean install of NT4, W2K, XP or W2K3 is the best way to go
followed by files copies and/or some settings transfers wizards etc.

Hello, Im intrested in purchasing a product to clone hard disks in
Windows but I have a question before hand

If I clone a hard disk into some DVD´s and the I want to restore that
image into another hard disk on a new computer, a new, different
size/brand hard disk. Is
that possible? Is there a "correct" way to do it?

Someone reccomendme either Norton Ghost or Acronis True Image, but Im
not sure if itll help me.

I hope your answers help me to decide weather to buy the software.
Thanks in advance,
Dan

 

[Peter]

You apparently do not know about Window's "In-Place Upgrade" (aka

"IPU).

Why do you think that?
To me a fresh install is almost always better than repaired install.
BTW Microsoft does not list new PC as the reason to use this
method.

"Choose a clean installation if:
.. No operating system is installed on the destination computer.
.. The installed operating system cannot be upgraded to Windows
XP Professional or Windows Server 2003.
.. The computer has a multiple-boot configuration that needs to
support the current operating system and either Windows XP
Professional or Windows Server 2003.
.. You are planning on implementing a managed environment
through Group Policy, the Active Directory® directory service,
or other means, but you have not yet implemented a managed
environment. In this case, clean installations are desirable
because they ensure that you have a standard configuration on
which to implement your managed environment.
.. You want to reset the desktop or server configuration in your
organization to a consistent, known standard.
.. You are purchasing new hardware or software as part of your
deployment.


Choose to upgrade if:
.. You already have a Windows operating system that is suitable
for upgrading, and your IT department centrally manages the
computers in your organization.
.. You want to use existing hardware and software, and you do
not want to reconfigure user settings, operating system settings,
or application settings.
.. You need to retain hardware or software settings for
compatibility reasons."

 

[Dan]

Thanks a lot for all the comments. I decided to do a fresh install of
everyhitng in the new computer, just to play in on the safe side.

Again, thanks for the help and opinions,

Cheers,
Dan

 

[Rod Speed]

Please post in plain text.

He did

Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

The problem is with

Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

OE doest quote that properly.

If your goal is to restore a bunch of your files then most everything you
describe is possible using Acronis TrueImage, Ghost or even Xcopy /e/h .
However if your goal is to "clone" a running/bootable/operational Windows
install then things are much more difficult.

With some playing around it'll usually work with 98[SE] and ME

It'll usually work with out any playing around with those.

but not with W2K, NT4, XP nor W2K3.

Wrong, you've just got to repair the install with those.

The exception to that is that if your goal is to restore the
DVD/image to a different(bigger) HD(but same connection
type like ATA vs. SCSI) on the same PC then that will work
with TrueImage and Ghost on all 98[SE], ME, W2K, XP, W2K3.

Only if you're careful about what the OS can see on
the first boot after clone is done with W2K, XP, W2K3.

Otherwise a clean install of NT4, W2K, XP or W2K3 is the best way to
go followed by files copies and/or some settings transfers wizards etc.

Not necessarily, cloning and repair usually works fine.

 

[Ron Reaugh]

Please post in plain text.

He did

Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

The problem is with

Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

OE doest quote that properly.

If your goal is to restore a bunch of your files then most everything you
describe is possible using Acronis TrueImage, Ghost or even Xcopy /e/h ..
However if your goal is to "clone" a running/bootable/operational Windows
install then things are much more difficult.

With some playing around it'll usually work with 98[SE] and ME

It'll usually work with out any playing around with those.

but not with W2K, NT4, XP nor W2K3.

Wrong, you've just got to repair the install with those.

Niope, not reliably while saving all the existing installs.

The exception to that is that if your goal is to restore the
DVD/image to a different(bigger) HD(but same connection
type like ATA vs. SCSI) on the same PC then that will work
with TrueImage and Ghost on all 98[SE], ME, W2K, XP, W2K3.

Only if you're careful about what the OS can see on
the first boot after clone is done with W2K, XP, W2K3.

Otherwise a clean install of NT4, W2K, XP or W2K3 is the best way to
go followed by files copies and/or some settings transfers wizards etc.

Not necessarily, cloning and repair usually works fine.

Not saving all the existing installs.

 

[Rod Speed]

If your goal is to restore a bunch of your files then
most everything you describe is possible using
Acronis TrueImage, Ghost or even Xcopy /e/h
However if your goal is to "clone" a running/bootable/operational
Windows install then things are much more difficult.
With some playing around it'll usually work with 98[SE] and ME

It'll usually work with out any playing around with those.

but not with W2K, NT4, XP nor W2K3.

Wrong, you've just got to repair the install with those.

Niope,

Yep.

not reliably while saving all the existing installs.

Wrong, very reliable.

The exception to that is that if your goal is to restore the
DVD/image to a different(bigger) HD(but same connection
type like ATA vs. SCSI) on the same PC then that will work
with TrueImage and Ghost on all 98[SE], ME, W2K, XP, W2K3.

Only if you're careful about what the OS can see on
the first boot after clone is done with W2K, XP, W2K3.

Otherwise a clean install of NT4, W2K, XP or W2K3 is the best way to
go followed by files copies and/or some settings transfers wizards etc.

Not necessarily, cloning and repair usually works fine.

Not saving all the existing installs.

Wrong. It doesnt touch those, it just redoes
the drivers for the current hardware.

 

[Ron Reaugh]

If your goal is to restore a bunch of your files then
most everything you describe is possible using
Acronis TrueImage, Ghost or even Xcopy /e/h
However if your goal is to "clone" a running/bootable/operational
Windows install then things are much more difficult.
With some playing around it'll usually work with 98[SE] and ME
It'll usually work with out any playing around with those.
but not with W2K, NT4, XP nor W2K3.
Wrong, you've just got to repair the install with those.

Niope,

Yep.

not reliably while saving all the existing installs.

Wrong, very reliable.

The exception to that is that if your goal is to restore the
DVD/image to a different(bigger) HD(but same connection
type like ATA vs. SCSI) on the same PC then that will work
with TrueImage and Ghost on all 98[SE], ME, W2K, XP, W2K3.
Only if you're careful about what the OS can see on
the first boot after clone is done with W2K, XP, W2K3.
Otherwise a clean install of NT4, W2K, XP or W2K3 is the best way to
go followed by files copies and/or some settings transfers wizards

etc.

Not saving all the existing installs.

Wrong. It doesnt touch those, it just redoes
the drivers for the current hardware.

Further research indicates that you are mostly right. I seem to have
confused the fact that one DOES lose all the updates and SPs to XP itself
but not the program installs and user files and settings.

 

[Rod Speed]

If your goal is to restore a bunch of your files then
most everything you describe is possible using
Acronis TrueImage, Ghost or even Xcopy /e/h
However if your goal is to "clone" a running/bootable/operational
Windows install then things are much more difficult.
With some playing around it'll usually work with 98[SE] and ME
It'll usually work with out any playing around with those.
but not with W2K, NT4, XP nor W2K3.
Wrong, you've just got to repair the install with those.
Niope,

Yep.

not reliably while saving all the existing installs.

Wrong, very reliable.

The exception to that is that if your goal is to restore the
DVD/image to a different(bigger) HD(but same connection
type like ATA vs. SCSI) on the same PC then that will work
with TrueImage and Ghost on all 98[SE], ME, W2K, XP, W2K3.
Only if you're careful about what the OS can see on
the first boot after clone is done with W2K, XP, W2K3.
Otherwise a clean install of NT4, W2K, XP or W2K3 is the best way to
go followed by files copies and/or some settings transfers wizards etc.
Not necessarily, cloning and repair usually works fine.
Not saving all the existing installs.

Wrong. It doesnt touch those, it just redoes
the drivers for the current hardware.

Further research indicates that you are mostly right.

Completely right, actually.

I seem to have confused the fact that one
DOES lose all the updates and SPs to XP itself

Only if you dont use a slipstreamed CD when doing the repair.

but not the program installs and user files and settings.

Correct.

 

[Lil' Dave]

Its unclear to me whether you want to clone another hard drive on the same
PC, or create an image file to DVD for future restoration to another hard
drive on another PC. Or both.

In regards to the latter, it can be done with Win98 OS installed with a
multiboot XP as the environment for imaging. But, you have to prepare the
98 OS by removing the drivers referenced in device manager/registry first
for best results on new PC, then install the new drivers. In some cases,
its best to uninstall printer, and video menu software first as well. No
experience here with XP restoration to a new hardware PC. If possible, am
sure you would have to get a new product key from MS. I would suggest a new
install of XP on another PC platform. You can carry any remaining
partitions, leaving blank space for the XP installation.

Have heard of problems using multiple DVD media, when using the verify
option, can't find the first DVD after burning all DVDs within Ghost 9.0 I
would subdivide the image files to 1GB files, then burn in ISO 9660 format
to DVD. The reason 2GB is not selected is the actual image file result will
be slightly bigger than that. ISO 9660 allows no larger that 2GB file size.
You need another hard drive to burn these to in this case since you're
imaging the entire hard drive. You can't image to any partition, if that
target partition is being imaged as well.

Since I can't compare the products you mentioned, I can't make a suggestive
reply to a selection for either. Best of luck.

Hello, Im intrested in purchasing a product to clone hard disks in
Windows but I have a question before hand

If I clone a hard disk into some DVD´s and the I want to restore that
image into another hard disk on a new computer, a new, different
size/brand hard disk. Is
that possible? Is there a "correct" way to do it?

Someone reccomendme either Norton Ghost or Acronis True Image, but Im
not sure if itll help me.

I hope your answers help me to decide weather to buy the software.
Thanks in advance,
Dan

 

[Rod Speed]

Its unclear to me whether you want to clone another hard drive
on the same PC, or create an image file to DVD for future
restoration to another hard drive on another PC. Or both.

In regards to the latter, it can be done with Win98 OS installed with a
multiboot XP as the environment for imaging. But, you have to prepare
the 98 OS by removing the drivers referenced in device manager/registry
first for best results on new PC, then install the new drivers.

No you dont, it normally works fine without doing that.

In some cases, its best to uninstall printer, and video menu software first
as well.

Hardly ever necessary.

No experience here with XP restoration to a new hardware PC.

You may well need to repair the install if the motherboard is different to
the one that the original install was done on, but that normally works fine.

If possible, am sure you would have to get a new product key from MS.

Nope, not necessarily.

I would suggest a new install of XP on another PC platform.

Thats just one way and you'd need a new key going that route.

You can carry any remaining partitions,
leaving blank space for the XP installation.

Its simpler to copy the lot and format the XP partition
at install time if you do want to go the clean install route.

Have heard of problems using multiple DVD media, when using the verify
option, can't find the first DVD after burning all DVDs within Ghost 9.0 I
would subdivide the image files to 1GB files, then burn in ISO 9660 format
to DVD. The reason 2GB is not selected is the actual image file result will
be slightly bigger than that. ISO 9660 allows no larger that 2GB file size.

Makes more sense to specify say 1.9G or
whatever will allow 5 files to fit on a DVD.

 

[Timothy Daniels]

You may well need to repair the install if the motherboard is different to
the one that the original install was done on, but that normally works fine.


Nope, not necessarily.


Thats just one way and you'd need a new key going that route.


Its simpler to copy the lot and format the XP partition
at install time if you do want to go the clean install route.

Does that mean that you can move a hard drive that contains
an installed WinXP from one PC to another, and all that's
necessary to make the installed WinXP work on the new PC is
to do a repair using the WinXP installation CD?

*TimDaniels*

 

[Lil' Dave]

Top posted just for Ron,
Believe you're under the impression I was talking about XP throughout my
previous reply, I wasn't in many, but not all, of your hit and run replies
to my reply. The OP's premise begins with saving from the OS environment, a
requirement of the OP XP would be the OS in this case for saving the image
of the entire hard drive and all its partitions. Including any other OS
partition, not mentioned by the OP. Ghost 9.0 does not work in the 98OS
environment.

If you understood that, then you're mistaken about your replies in reference
to the 98OS move to another PC. And, you're setting people up for unneeded
problems who follow through on your notions.

I won't reply on XP OS partition restoration, as I don't have enough image
restoration experience to comment. From my chair, in the place of the OP, I
would install XP from scratch on a new PC rather than attempt to use an
image file restoration from another PC using Ghost 9.0

No one challenged my 2GB image file size selection problem, nor the problem
with multiple DVDs which is a different problem, so I assume its correct
with Ghost 9.0 Nor did anyone challenge the need for a new MS XP product
key if an image file restoration was used. So, will assume that is correct
as well. And, more importantly, that the OP understands this before making
the decision to select and utilize a product for backing up his hard drive
to restore on another PC.

 

[Rod Speed]

Rod Speed wrote

Does that mean that you can move a hard drive that contains
an installed WinXP from one PC to another, and all that's
necessary to make the installed WinXP work on the new PC is to do a repair
using the WinXP installation CD?

Normally, yes.

 

[Rod Speed]

Top posted just for Ron,

I couldnt care less about where the posting is.

Believe you're under the impression I was
talking about XP throughout my previous reply,
Wrong.

I wasn't in many, but not all, of your hit and run replies to my reply.

Pathetic, really.

The OP's premise begins with saving from the OS environment,
a requirement of the OP XP would be the OS in this case for
saving the image of the entire hard drive and all its partitions.

Want to try that again in english next time ?

Including any other OS partition, not mentioned by the OP.
Ghost 9.0 does not work in the 98OS environment.

Irrelevant, the OP didnt even mention 9.0 and 9.0
comes with 2003 if you do want to do it from 98 etc.

If you understood that, then you're mistaken about your
replies in reference to the 98OS move to another PC.
Nope.

And, you're setting people up for unneeded
problems who follow through on your notions.
Nope.

I won't reply on XP OS partition restoration, as I don't have enough image
restoration experience to comment. From my chair, in the place of the OP,
I would install XP from scratch on a new PC rather than attempt to use an
image file restoration from another PC using Ghost 9.0

Your pig ignorance is your problem.

No one challenged my 2GB image file size selection problem,

I chose to comment on your errors.

nor the problem with multiple DVDs which is a different
problem, so I assume its correct with Ghost 9.0

Stupid assumption. And he didnt even mention 9.0

Nor did anyone challenge the need for a new MS
XP product key if an image file restoration was
used. So, will assume that is correct as well.

Stupid assumption again. It basically depends on how
different the hardware is between the system that the
image was created on and the one its restored on.

And you dont even know that he's even using
a version of XP that requires validation anyway.

And, more importantly, that the OP understands this
before making the decision to select and utilize a product
for backing up his hard drive to restore on another PC.

Completely irrelevant to your errors I chose to comment on.