Installing old OS from disk image to new computer

[John]

After lightning strike, built new machine, then booted old C:\ drive from
damaged computer. Now I'm repairing the damaged machine. I have a disk image
I would like to restore to this repaired machine. Since I am running this
WinXP OS on the new, can I purchase a new WinXP disk and use the repair
function to enable this old disk for the repaired computer?

Thank you
John

PS: After reading the thread in this most excellent newsgroup, (If the
motherboard is changed), I think I have my answer. It will be no big deal if
it doesn't work, need to install OS anyhow, just would be nice ,I have lots
of favorite things on the old disk. Heh, one of the things is SPGT racing
won't run worth a hoot on xp sp2. This old image probably will survive the
sp2 thingy and won't be installed so I can race away.

 

[Xandros]

It is possible that the image will boot on the new system and changes in
hardware will be recognized and corresponding drivers installed. I've seen
that several times. However you might find that the image won't boot and the
message will make reference to a damaged HAL (Hardware Abstraction Layer) in
which case you would need to perform an in place repair install in fix the
HAL.

 

[John]

It is possible that the image will boot on the new system and changes in
hardware will be recognized and corresponding drivers installed. I've seen
that several times. However you might find that the image won't boot and
the message will make reference to a damaged HAL (Hardware Abstraction
Layer) in which case you would need to perform an in place repair install
in fix the HAL.

Thanks Xandros for the reply.

I am fairly certain this old image will boot,since the MB will have the same
chipset as the old one. This isn't the case. What I am doing is putting
another machine online and it needs an OS I can authenticate, hence the
purchase of new XP home OS. I was just curious as to whether I can keep this
drive intact with some of my old apps on it.

John

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

As long it is the same edition and same service pack level as the imaged
system you can perform a repair install. If you are running XP on both
computers using the same product key then you do need to do a repair install
with the new cd and enter the new product key that comes with it.