bare metal restore - advice needed

[Mike in Nebraska]

OS: WinXP Pro w/SP3
Computer: Dell Latitude D830 laptop

This is the boss's laptop. Just upgraded his RAM and bought a bigger HDD.
Ran the Files and Settings Transfer wizard (FAST), then did a full backup.

I've now wiped his new HDD 3 times now so I can start over -- I keep getting
application errors, windows errors, etc. when restoring things. Bad enough
that after a few hours of pulling my hair out, I decide to wipe and start
over. Finally got it through my head that I need some advice.

Here's how I go about the process:
I use the OEM CD to format the HDD with NTFS and install the OS.
I install, from CD, some DELL drivers so I have networking.
Use Microsoft Update (MU) to get WinXP Pro up to the same level it was when
I did the backup on the original HDD.
Used FAST to bring all his files and settings back.
Select a few apps from the backup and restore them.

It's after a reboot that I have several errors.

What is the preferred/better method to do this?

Many thanks in advance!!

 

[db ´¯`·.. >]

since you restored to
a new disk with different
specs/parameters than that
of the original disk,

you should simply do a
"repair installation" with a
windows cd to synchronize
the o.s. to its new disk
parameters.

--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces

"share the nirvana" - dbZen

 

[smlunatick]

OS: WinXP Pro w/SP3
Computer: Dell Latitude D830 laptop

This is the boss's laptop.  Just upgraded his RAM and bought a bigger HDD.
Ran the Files and Settings Transfer wizard (FAST), then  did a full backup.

I've now wiped his new HDD 3 times now so I can start over -- I keep getting
application errors, windows errors, etc. when restoring things.  Bad enough
that after a few hours of pulling my hair out, I decide to wipe and start
over.  Finally got it through my head that I need some advice.

Here's how I go about the process:
I use the OEM CD to format the HDD with NTFS and install the OS.
I install, from CD, some DELL drivers so I have networking.
Use Microsoft Update (MU) to get WinXP Pro up to the same level it was when
I did the backup on the original HDD.
Used FAST to bring all his files and settings back.
Select a few apps from the backup and restore them.

It's after a reboot that I have several errors.

What is the preferred/better method to do this?

Many thanks in advance!!
--
Mike Webb
Platte River Whooping Crane Maintenance Trust, Inc.
a conservation non-profit (501 (c)(3)) organization
Wood River, NE

It has been posted before, in this newsgroup, that when using FAST
under XP SP3, you can have problems,

FAST takes a copy of the settings / data at the time your use it.
Since the PC is a DELL, the laptop might have had a customized DELL
version of XP. You must use the original "recovery" method or DELL's
version of the OEM CD.

 

[Mike in Nebraska]

I am using the Dell OEM CD.

OS: WinXP Pro w/SP3
Computer: Dell Latitude D830 laptop

This is the boss's laptop. Just upgraded his RAM and bought a bigger HDD.
Ran the Files and Settings Transfer wizard (FAST), then did a full backup.

I've now wiped his new HDD 3 times now so I can start over -- I keep
getting
application errors, windows errors, etc. when restoring things. Bad enough
that after a few hours of pulling my hair out, I decide to wipe and start
over. Finally got it through my head that I need some advice.

Here's how I go about the process:
I use the OEM CD to format the HDD with NTFS and install the OS.
I install, from CD, some DELL drivers so I have networking.
Use Microsoft Update (MU) to get WinXP Pro up to the same level it was
when
I did the backup on the original HDD.
Used FAST to bring all his files and settings back.
Select a few apps from the backup and restore them.

It's after a reboot that I have several errors.

What is the preferred/better method to do this?

Many thanks in advance!!
--
Mike Webb
Platte River Whooping Crane Maintenance Trust, Inc.
a conservation non-profit (501 (c)(3)) organization
Wood River, NE

It has been posted before, in this newsgroup, that when using FAST
under XP SP3, you can have problems,

FAST takes a copy of the settings / data at the time your use it.
Since the PC is a DELL, the laptop might have had a customized DELL
version of XP. You must use the original "recovery" method or DELL's
version of the OEM CD.

 

[Mike in Nebraska]

I'll give it a try, thanks.

since you restored to
a new disk with different
specs/parameters than that
of the original disk,

you should simply do a
"repair installation" with a
windows cd to synchronize
the o.s. to its new disk
parameters.

--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces

"share the nirvana" - dbZen

 

[DL]

Assuming you are starting from scratch, boot from winxp cd, install as per
clean install.
Install drivers from Dell
Visit MS update, install only critical updates and NOT driver updates.
Reboot to test basic PC operation
Visit Dell site to check whether there are any important driver updates
required.
Again reboot and test basic operation.
Once done install Office - do NOT use fast or any backups to recover
anything!!!
MS Update again for any further critical updates
Then test PC & Office
Does it all run correctly? if so it is your backup restore & Fast that is
causing your problems
FAST nearly allways causes problems with Office 2007

An alternative is to use an app like Acronis TI to take an Image of the
origonal disk, then replace the HD and restore that Image, Acronis can be
set to Image to the full size of the new disk

 

[Mike in Nebraska]

Great advice. I'd heard earlier about FAST and Office 2007, so I haven't
installed it yet. I'll try your suggested install steps and see how it
goes.

Mike

 

[DL]

I've yet to see any hd only change that necessitated a win repair
installation, other than moving from ide to sata which in some circumstances
does, but then thats because of the sata controler and not the hd