Move XP from partition #1 to #2?

[Mike]

Hi All,

My install of XP pro is current with all of the available updates from
windows updates and all of my other hardware and software. I'd like to be
able to move this install from partition #1 where it currently exists to
partition #2 so that I can run DOS and some old DOS apps in Partition 1.
I'd like to do this w/o a complete reinstall of all of my apps. I have
Norton Ghost and here is what I have tried so far:
1. backed up all data
2. ghosted the XP drive
3. partitioned the drive with a 2gb fat 16
4. installed dos and the old apps
5. used the xp install disk to install xp so that it will run from partition
2. works fine, boots to either dos or xp
6. made a ghost of the new install of xp
7. used ghost to put my original XP image onto partition #2
8. boot to XP in safe mode

From there XP chokes and will not boot. I think the issue is that the drive
that the system was installed to has move. IS there any way accomplish what
I am trying to do w/o a complete reinstall?

Many thanks!

Mike

 

[CS]

Hi All,

My install of XP pro is current with all of the available updates from
windows updates and all of my other hardware and software. I'd like to be
able to move this install from partition #1 where it currently exists to
partition #2 so that I can run DOS and some old DOS apps in Partition 1.
I'd like to do this w/o a complete reinstall of all of my apps. I have
Norton Ghost and here is what I have tried so far:
1. backed up all data
2. ghosted the XP drive
3. partitioned the drive with a 2gb fat 16
4. installed dos and the old apps
5. used the xp install disk to install xp so that it will run from partition
2. works fine, boots to either dos or xp
6. made a ghost of the new install of xp
7. used ghost to put my original XP image onto partition #2
8. boot to XP in safe mode

From there XP chokes and will not boot. I think the issue is that the drive
that the system was installed to has move. IS there any way accomplish what
I am trying to do w/o a complete reinstall?

Many thanks!

Mike

Sounds like your boot.ini file is pointing to the wrong partition.

Also, to make dual booting DOS and XP easier, you might try a good
boot manager. Go here to take a look at BootIt Next Generation:

www.terabyteunlimited.com

Shareware. Fully function downloadable trial version.

 

[Doug Knox MS-MVP]

The issue is that XP remembers what partition it was installed on, and expects to find itself there. Additionally, the partition you are now trying to run it from is D:, not C:, so any references in the Registry that reference an "explicit" path, are pointing to the wrong location.

The only way that I know of to "move" an XP install from one drive or partition to another is go into the Registry (Start, Run and enter REGEDIT) Go to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\MountedDevices

Delete all values in the right pane, except the Default value.

Next, Edit BOOT.INI and ADD another entry for XP that points to the new location, by drive and partition.

Now, shutdown XP and copy the old partition to its new location and reboot. At the OS choices screen, select the new installation, and it should boot. However, again, there are some programs even on a clean install, that specifically reference the install location by drive letter, not %systemroot%, %windir% and etc. These programs will fail to run. The only way around this is to carefully search through the registry for examples of C:\ and change them to the new drive letter. Additional applications that have already been installed, may or may not work.

I have successfully completed this procedure, but your mileage may vary.