Hard Drive Swap

[Alan Brown]

I just changed over a Hard Drive from an computer that has suddenly decided
not to work to a newer one. However, now it is giving me the
INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE error. I don't need to know what it means, nor
someone to point me to the KB articles. I need someone to tell me how I can
fix this. As far as I can tell, the old motherboard is dead, so I cannot use
it. I have run the Windows 2000 CD-Based Recovery Process, but it still
shows the error. If Registry Edits can help, I have got access to an
non-windows registry editor. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I just changed over a Hard Drive from an computer that has suddenly decided
not to work to a newer one. However, now it is giving me the
INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE error. I don't need to know what it means, nor
someone to point me to the KB articles. I need someone to tell me how I can
fix this. As far as I can tell, the old motherboard is dead, so I cannot use
it. I have run the Windows 2000 CD-Based Recovery Process, but it still
shows the error. If Registry Edits can help, I have got access to an
non-windows registry editor. Any help would be appreciated.

Unfortunately there is no shortcut here: Moving a Windows 2000
installation to different hardware is an unsupported operation that
can possibly be fixed by taking a number of steps that are detailed -
you guessed it - in a number of KB articles. You now have two
choices:

a) Wade through the KB articles below, or
b) Do a clean installation of Windows 2000

How to Move a Windows Installation to Different Hardware
http://support.microsoft.com/directory/article.asp?ID=KB;EN-US;Q249694

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade of Windows 2000
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q292175.ASP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;824125

 

[Alan Brown]

Well Then, I guess I dont have much of an option then....

Ive decided to go for a In-Place Upgrade. Im Ghost-ing the drive beforehand,
just in case....
Thanks for the help.

 

[Geoffw]

replace the MB with the same model and use the same setup

very fair chance it will just boot up

If you go for a new MB do a complete new install with a new
or different HD, don't try to do an in place as from my
experience you will have many small probs - do the best
thing first up. Then hook your old drive to reover the data

Geoff

 

[Alan Brown]

However, when working with limited equipment, and being told the urgency of
said reapir, you dont have that many options... You cant replace with the
same model MB, and there is no way you can format. Nor can you recover data
using a second HDD, as some of it is registry settings and user profiles for
a domain.

In the end I ran CD-Bassed Setup and chose the Install -> Repair option. All
that needed doing after that was Re-Setting the Network settings and
re-activating Office xp. Simple!

 

[Geoffw]

Glad it worked out

I thought you advised that the old MB was dead ?
data files do not necessarily = setup files - copy straight
off old HD on new

format direct from CD in new setup

repair from CD would have been first suggestion but you
advised that old MB was dead

registry, which may also have been a part of the problem can
be backed up with regback.exe (?) a utility on the CD

I have many times booted into a drive copied a user profile
from the admin account, created the same profile on a new
install and copied info back into it - works fine

Very easy to say but when under stress remeber the
hitchhikers guide

all the best

Geoff