Is there a Microsoft 'recommended' approach to swap BOOT disk on VISTA?

[Richard Urban]

I second that. Every old DOS type copy or image program I have tried does
NOT work with the new iteration of the NTFS file system.

TrueImage HOME just works. You can't want any more than that.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

 

[John Barnes]

I also recommend Acronis for this. I have used it and it works as
previously stated. If your version of Copy Commander doesn't state Vista
ready (last few weeks and 32 bit only) I would either upgrade to the Vista
version or get Acronis. Works on both 32 and 64 bit versions.

 

[cquirke (MVP Windows shell/user)]

On Mon, 2 Jul 2007 17:50:04 -0400, "Richard Urban"

Yes! Instant death for a hard drive swap IS ridiculous. And it does occur.
Talking about it here doesn't do much good. All we can do is explain why it
happens.

We weren't even doing that, before.

I disagree; if we find something that sucks, we should hilight it.

Yes, MS not do anything if we complain, but they sure won't do
anything if we *don't* complain, and an informed public is more likely
to vote with their wallet. Maybe with more users and attention,
alternatives will improve by the time MS makes things even worse.

As it is, if Vista's terms and conditions were flat-out unacceptable,
we'd have a hard time switching away.

------------------ ----- ---- --- -- - - - -

The rights you save may be your own

 

[cquirke (MVP Windows shell/user)]

On Mon, 2 Jul 2007 20:26:11 -0400, "Richard Urban"

I second that. Every old DOS type copy or image program I have tried does
NOT work with the new iteration of the NTFS file system.

Does BING work?

TrueImage HOME just works. You can't want any more than that.

Is it free? ;-)

------------ ----- ---- --- -- - - - -

The most accurate diagnostic instrument
in medicine is the Retrospectoscope

 

[John Barnes]

Just what is the big deal about re-activating. Even if you have to
telephone activate it is no big deal and your license is still good.

 

[markharris2000]

John, you are correct. The re-activation process SHOULD be easy. But
it is NOT. I have found out with first hand experience that the MS
phone squad who handle re-activations have a very narrow script to get
to the re-activation code. They have a zillion ways to come to the
conclusion that the caller is merely PIRATING the copy of Vista,
knowlingly or unknowingly. I know. I swapped two motherboards not that
long ago (april07) and the re-activation process was a nightmare. The
second time, I needed to call back 5 times before I could find an
operator that understood that a motherboard swap was not 'installing
the license on more than one machine'. They are trained to follow a
script, to the letter. I understand that. BUT their script simply did
not allow for hardware swaps. It was a concept none of them understood
as I found out in the first 4 calls. Their script keep telling them
that the caller was trying to activate the Vista license on more than
one computer, so they wanted to transfer me to some sales channel to
buy a new copy. Finally I found an operator that understood swapping
hardware and she skipped a bunch of script steps, enabling her to re-
activate my license.

Painful...

 

[John Barnes]

Given that Vista phones home frequently and if a copy of Vista is installed
on two machines, it would not be long before the old activation would cause
that system to to begin shutting down (been there during beta), therefore
there is no reason for them not to activate. If it is OEM, then their
script does tie to the MOBO and it is more dicey getting them to understand
that it is a replacement based on the exception and not one based on wanting
a newer more up to date board. Sorry you had such a hassle, but many also
have reported no problem.

 

[markharris2000]

So, I put a few hours aside last night to do the swap. cabled the new
drive to a spare SATA connector, fired up Vista and installed True
Image 10. Rebooted and then ran True Image, I saw all the drives and I
went through the CLONE process.... First Manually, then Automatically.
Each time, the drive appears to be copied, the MBR appears to be
transfered, and yet when I remove the original C: and replace with the
new cloned drive, I get a screen at powerup saying that it Can Not
Start Windows Vista and wants be to go through the REPAIR process from
my original CD.

What step am I missing? The CLONED disk should just fire up and run,
requiring an activation, but should just run.

Anyone have experience with this process or something I missed?

 

[John Barnes]

If you plugged it into the same SATA connector as your original drive, is it
in the same relative partition on the drive?

 

[markharris2000]

Hi John, the original drive had a single Primary partition, and the
new cloned drive should have the same config. I guess I need to
reboot with the Windows Anytime Upgrade CD I have to see what to do
next? See if it can repair/fix it?

Stumped...

 

[markharris2000]

Ok, Success!!!

I ended up using True Image 10 to CLONE in the Automatic mode.
Replaced the old drive with the new drive (on the drive-0 SATA
connector) and stored the old drive away.

The trick was this: AFTER I ran the Acronis True Image 10 software, I
still needed to boot from my Windows Vista (Anytime Upgrade) CD and
then tell it to REPAIR the installation. It immediately detected a
startup configuration problem and fixed it instantaneously. After
that, a reboot was all that was needed.

Acronis really should advise of this last step SOMEWHERE in the
process.

Anyway, it works perfect now.

 

[markharris2000]

Oh yeah, I needed to RE-activate Vista, and had to speak with a human
to get the activation completed. They asked only twice how many
computers the license was running on, but I stayed firm in my
explanation and they finally gave in and generated the new code for
me...

 

[John Barnes]

Glad to hear your persistence paid off for you. Enjoy your new system.

 

[markharris2000]

By the way, I am still waiting 2 days later to hear from Acronis
technical support team with their explaination about the required
REPAIR step. I will post anything they tell me if/when I hear from
them...