how can I migrate XP to new computer

[Jon Manley]

Apologies if this is the wrong NG for this query...........

WinXP Pro

I wish to transfer the contents of my HD to an entirely new computer. I
purchased Powerquest Drive Image 7 to reate an image of my old HD so I might
restore it to my new HD and computer.

Having created an image file on CD (9 CDs) and then restoring it to my new
computer, WinXP tries to boot but obviously comes across some sort of
failure because it prompts me to restart every time. I assume this is
because the new computer's internal bits are completely different from the
old computer and, therefore, WinXP keeps 'tripping over'. (The new HD with
restored image works perfectly in old computer.)

I contacted Powerquest tech support who informed me that this product is not
designed for such a task---it is really designed to migrate data as, for
example, with a HD upgrade. I'm a little peeved because in Drive Image's
blurb, there is mention of using this product in case of 'catastrophic
failure'---I can't think of anything more catastrophic that an entire
computer going bang!

Main question is, does anyone know how to migrate all data to new HD and
ensure that it at least boots within a new computer?

thx in advance

 

[MCR]

Jon Manley wrote:
Snipped

Main question is, does anyone know how to migrate all data to new HD and
ensure that it at least boots within a new computer?

thx in advance

Well If you had your original XP Pro CD you could do a repair install...
Let me tell you of my problem O had...

I swapped a mobo over (to get a faster PC), I had upgraded to an Athlon
2800 over a 1200 I had before. When I started WindowsXP, I had the same
problem, probably because the HAL would work because the hardware was
too different. Anyways... I decided to do a repair install. This
seemed superfically to work, however the computer kept hanging and I
kept getting blue screens. Intially I suspected my hardward was faulty,
but even after swapping boards!!! I still had the problem (I was
desperate not to reinstall everything).

Eventually I caved and did a straight reinsall and havent had a problem
since..

 

[Willit]

Keep posting your problem. I would like everyone who
recommends Drive Image to see the issue with it. I would
like the to solve your problem.

 

[Willit]

Your drive maker should have a program on their website to
transfer your data free.

 

[Jon Manley]

Well If you had your original XP Pro CD you could do a repair install...

Let me tell you of my problem O had...

I do have the original XP CD and even a repair failed to work.

Next step is to try the whole process again, but ensure that 'automatically
restart' after system failure is disabled.

Will post again when I've tried the above

 

[kurttrail]

By the act of scrolling this post on your computer, and/or printing or
replying to this post, you agree that I am your everlasting Lord &
Saviour. Breach of this term will result in you burning in hell for
ever and ever! Amen!"

Apologies if this is the wrong NG for this query...........

WinXP Pro

I wish to transfer the contents of my HD to an entirely new computer.
I purchased Powerquest Drive Image 7 to reate an image of my old HD
so I might restore it to my new HD and computer.

Having created an image file on CD (9 CDs) and then restoring it to
my new computer, WinXP tries to boot but obviously comes across some
sort of failure because it prompts me to restart every time. I assume
this is because the new computer's internal bits are completely
different from the old computer and, therefore, WinXP keeps 'tripping
over'. (The new HD with restored image works perfectly in old
computer.)

I contacted Powerquest tech support who informed me that this product
is not designed for such a task---it is really designed to migrate
data as, for example, with a HD upgrade. I'm a little peeved because
in Drive Image's blurb, there is mention of using this product in
case of 'catastrophic failure'---I can't think of anything more
catastrophic that an entire computer going bang!

Main question is, does anyone know how to migrate all data to new HD
and ensure that it at least boots within a new computer?

thx in advance

Yes, that's why they have moved to use their own form of Product
Activation, to limit you to using it on one computer. If you read the
EULA you'll see that you can't transfer your copy without their
permission.

Eric J. Ruff
1359 North Research Way, Bldg. K
PO Box 1911
Orem, Utah 84059-1911

I write the CEO & founder of PowerQuest and tell him where he can shove
his disaster recovery.

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei!"

 

[AMSoftware]

You can't just copy your hard disk with Windows XP, you could with Windows 9.x,
but special files are created which prevent you from doing this. As far as
Microsoft are concerned, they don't like you changing your pc so make it as
difficult as possible for you to do so.

You will always need to reinstall in these circumstances. As for transfering
your data why no use the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard under the System
Tools menu. It does work very well, I've used it many times.

Let me know how you get on

 

[Jon Manley]

Well, it turns out that you can image your HD onto a new computer (Norton
and Powerquest both provide imaging software), but only if they all happen
to be the same chipset mobo/processor. In my case I effectively want to
migrate a HD to a very different new computer.

Old computer = Intel P4, intel chipset mobo
New computer = AMD AthlonXP+, via chipset

The HAL on both computers needs to be the same (which it isn't in my case)
and then you can use sysprep.exe to prep the HD for use in another computer.

I am peeved that I bought Drive Image under the impression that I could
image an XP HD and simply transfer this image to a new system. Nowhere in
Drive Image's blurb does it say that this isn't possible in some cases---so
I've wasted GB£44.

Never mind, seems I'm gonna have to install everything from scratch---wot a
pain!!

PS: The files and settings transfer wizard is all very well, but I have 2
days worth of software to install (which I was obviously hoping to avoid),
some of which has to be configured 'manually'.

 

[Malke]

Well, it turns out that you can image your HD onto a new computer
(Norton and Powerquest both provide imaging software), but only if
they all happen to be the same chipset mobo/processor. In my case I
effectively want to migrate a HD to a very different new computer.

Old computer = Intel P4, intel chipset mobo
New computer = AMD AthlonXP+, via chipset

The HAL on both computers needs to be the same (which it isn't in my
case) and then you can use sysprep.exe to prep the HD for use in
another computer.

I am peeved that I bought Drive Image under the impression that I
could image an XP HD and simply transfer this image to a new system.
Nowhere in Drive Image's blurb does it say that this isn't possible in
some cases---so I've wasted GB£44.

Never mind, seems I'm gonna have to install everything from
scratch---wot a pain!!

PS: The files and settings transfer wizard is all very well, but I
have 2 days worth of software to install (which I was obviously hoping
to avoid), some of which has to be configured 'manually'.

Yes, doing a clean install and spending the time to get everything right
is what you have to do. However, you haven't wasted your money because
after you get everything just so (and make a separate little partition
before you install the operating system for this step), you are going
to make an image with Drive Image and put it on the second partition.
Now you'll be able to quickly restore the box when it gets messed up.
Yes, this will not work for another *different* machine, but some time
down the line, you'll be glad you imaged your Windows partition.

Cheers,

Malke

 

[Jack Gillis]

Yes, doing a clean install and spending the time to get everything
right is what you have to do. However, you haven't wasted your money
because after you get everything just so (and make a separate little
partition before you install the operating system for this step), you
are going to make an image with Drive Image and put it on the second
partition. Now you'll be able to quickly restore the box when it gets
messed up. Yes, this will not work for another *different* machine,
but some time down the line, you'll be glad you imaged your Windows
partition.

Cheers,

Malke

I guess my experience differs a little from yours, Malke.

On 2 machines I have swapped out motherboards. On both, I went from
Intel to AMD. Of course, the machines wouldn't boot when I powered them
up. A repair/install or upgrade update or whatever it is called fixed
that problem and each machine then booted to XP with all programs and
desktop just the same as the were before the MB switch. I lost the MS
updates I had installed but reinstalling them was no big deal.

So what I am saying, I think, is that it is possible in some cases to
use an image of the system to switch to another computer but it does
take a little planning and patience.

Maybe I was just lucky!

Jack

 

[kurttrail]

By the act of scrolling this post on your computer, and/or printing or
replying to this post, you agree that I am your everlasting Lord &
Saviour. Breach of this term will result in you burning in hell for
ever and ever! Amen!"

I guess my experience differs a little from yours, Malke.

On 2 machines I have swapped out motherboards. On both, I went from
Intel to AMD. Of course, the machines wouldn't boot when I powered
them up. A repair/install or upgrade update or whatever it is called
fixed that problem and each machine then booted to XP with all
programs and desktop just the same as the were before the MB switch.
I lost the MS updates I had installed but reinstalling them was no
big deal.

So what I am saying, I think, is that it is possible in some cases to
use an image of the system to switch to another computer but it does
take a little planning and patience.

Maybe I was just lucky!

Jack

Depends on what version of what program you used to make & restore your
image.

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei!"

 

[Jack Gillis]

By the act of scrolling this post on your computer, and/or printing or
replying to this post, you agree that I am your everlasting Lord &
Saviour. Breach of this term will result in you burning in hell for
ever and ever! Amen!"



Depends on what version of what program you used to make & restore
your image.

Yes, of course. I used and should have mentioned Ghost 2003.

Thank you for pointing out the omission.

 

[Malke]

Yes, of course. I used and should have mentioned Ghost 2003.

Thank you for pointing out the omission.

Actually, Jack, I think you're right as regards luck. I've changed out a
motherboard once, done absolutely nothing, and XP booted up and sailed
along. *Once* is the operative word ;-) here! In my many installs of XP
over the years that is the *only* time I had that luck. Other people
have never been able to get away with less than a repair install when
changing out total hardware. It *is* luck, and sometimes the stars are
in the right place and sometimes they're not.

Cheers,

Malke

 

[Gary]

from what i am led to believe, a Drive image can be used on a working XP or
Win2k. The drive image restores the files, and corrects autoamtically for
the OS and for the files.
Alternatively, the drive image can be restored to a clone PC, but the clone
PC must have the same hardware config as the original.