Transferring Windows XP and software to new PC

[Benny]

I want to upgrade my current old P4 to a new dual core MB (P35 perhaps) with
new SATA HD and 2Gb RAM.

I intend buying the box with only the MB and RAM installed as I have a spare
brand new SATA HD to install myself.

I then want to transfer the Windows XP licence over to the new PC or if this
isn't legal then install the old IDE HD with the current XP licence and all
currently installed software on the new PC as is.

My questions are these:

1. What is the best way to get my current XP licence, along with all current
installed software, from the old PC onto the new PC? I am sure people
upgrade their PCs regularly and don't want to have to re-install XP or worse
still have to re-install all the software again. This would of course mean
installing XP so that all current upgrades install as well. I do have
Acronis True Image installed so am thinking I could copy the image onto the
new PC - is this possible?

2. With a new PC, is it possible to simply move the old IDE HD (containing
the operating system and all software) to the new PC and it will simply boot
up OK and all installed software will operate OK as well.

My preference is to make use of the new SATA HD and have all software
transferred from the old IDE HD to the new SATA HD.

regards

Benny

 

[Jan Alter]

I want to upgrade my current old P4 to a new dual core MB (P35 perhaps)
with new SATA HD and 2Gb RAM.

I intend buying the box with only the MB and RAM installed as I have a
spare brand new SATA HD to install myself.

I then want to transfer the Windows XP licence over to the new PC or if
this isn't legal then install the old IDE HD with the current XP licence
and all currently installed software on the new PC as is.

My questions are these:

1. What is the best way to get my current XP licence, along with all
current installed software, from the old PC onto the new PC? I am sure
people upgrade their PCs regularly and don't want to have to re-install XP
or worse still have to re-install all the software again. This would of
course mean installing XP so that all current upgrades install as well. I
do have Acronis True Image installed so am thinking I could copy the image
onto the new PC - is this possible?

2. With a new PC, is it possible to simply move the old IDE HD (containing
the operating system and all software) to the new PC and it will simply
boot up OK and all installed software will operate OK as well.

My preference is to make use of the new SATA HD and have all software
transferred from the old IDE HD to the new SATA HD.

regards

Benny

Hi,

If you were moving a Win '98 system the idea of bouncing the hard drive
from your old machine to the new one might be considered. But because you
are essentially building a new system with XP it ought to be installed
fresh. Some folks will tell you that you can get away with it to do a
'repair install' but it is a 90% probability that there will be hardware
issues that remain unresolved. Doing the fresh install will also eliminate
any errant software issues that were held on your old system.
That also means installing all your programs again.
Once all installed you can attach your old hdd and simply copy the data
to the new one.
Copying the Acronis image to the new PC will not get you happiness. Take
the trouble to do it right.

As to whether you can legally transfer the license from your old machine
to the new one is a matter of whether you have an OEM license that is only
licensed to install XP on the old machine or a retail license, which
absolutely allows a new install onto a new system. Aside from that , if you
have an OEM license then you still might legally be able to get away with it
and get Microsoft to validate a 'legal' install onto your new system.

 

[george41407]

I want to upgrade my current old P4 to a new dual core MB (P35 perhaps) with
new SATA HD and 2Gb RAM.

I intend buying the box with only the MB and RAM installed as I have a spare
brand new SATA HD to install myself.

I then want to transfer the Windows XP licence over to the new PC or if this
isn't legal then install the old IDE HD with the current XP licence and all
currently installed software on the new PC as is.

My questions are these:

1. What is the best way to get my current XP licence, along with all current
installed software, from the old PC onto the new PC? I am sure people
upgrade their PCs regularly and don't want to have to re-install XP or worse
still have to re-install all the software again. This would of course mean
installing XP so that all current upgrades install as well. I do have
Acronis True Image installed so am thinking I could copy the image onto the
new PC - is this possible?

2. With a new PC, is it possible to simply move the old IDE HD (containing
the operating system and all software) to the new PC and it will simply boot
up OK and all installed software will operate OK as well.

My preference is to make use of the new SATA HD and have all software
transferred from the old IDE HD to the new SATA HD.

regards

Benny

This is what I have been told, but it may or may not be true.
I was told that you can not transfer an XP harddrive to another
computer unless it has the same MOBO, CPU, etc.

On the other hand, I still use Win98se and I have transferred my
drives to at least 5 different computers without any problem other
than adding a few drivers.

What I dont understand is why you cant reinstall from the same license
if you no longer use the old computer. I know you dont want to
reinstall everything, but if you have to do it, why cant you use the
same license if you quit using the old computer. It's not like Bill
Gates is standing there (or is he <lol>).

##################################################

 

[John Doe]

1. What is the best way to get my current XP licence, along with all
current installed software, from the old PC onto the new PC? I am
sure people upgrade their PCs regularly and don't want to have to
re-install XP or worse still have to re-install all the software
again. This would of course mean installing XP so that all current
upgrades install as well.

That isn't right. Many upgrades do not benefit by a reinstallation of
Windows. A new mainboard should include a reinstallation.

I'm guessing that one of the reasons you don't want to do a clean
installation of Windows is because you do not have backup copies of
important files from your hard drive. I hope the other suggestion
about copying data from your old hard drive isn't encouraging a bad
practice of not keeping removable media copies of important files.

Make a fresh copy of any important files from your hard drive,
immediately.

I do have Acronis True Image installed so am thinking I could copy
the image onto the new PC - is this possible?

This might not be here and now, but it could help in the long run.
As far as I know, you can make images of Windows XP with Acronis True
Image. If it isn't too difficult, making hidden copies of your
Windows/programs and learning how to keep important data on removable
media (and to restore important files from the removable media copies)
can make a world of difference. That practice (if it isn't too
difficult) can free you from typical restrictions of PC use.
Reinstalling Windows becomes much easier because you can do it right
by making incremental backups of the installation.

My preference is to make use of the new SATA HD and have all
software transferred from the old IDE HD to the new SATA HD.

Sounds like you really really want to avoid the necessary.

Good luck.

 

[Michael Cecil]

This is what I have been told, but it may or may not be true.
I was told that you can not transfer an XP harddrive to another
computer unless it has the same MOBO, CPU, etc.

On the other hand, I still use Win98se and I have transferred my
drives to at least 5 different computers without any problem other
than adding a few drivers.

Same procedure with XP.

What I'd do is install the old hdd in the new computer.
Image it to the SATA drive that will be the master.
Remove the old hdd (this is important).
Boot from the XP CD and do a repair install to keep your settings but
update the drivers.
Probably have to call MS to reactivate.

 

[Bill]

This is what I have been told, but it may or may not be true.
I was told that you can not transfer an XP harddrive to another
computer unless it has the same MOBO, CPU, etc.

Not so, below is a method that I have used to transfer several Win2k
pro and XP Pro HDD's to new computers without a hitch. I ran into
this article a while back and saved it for reference.

Bill


So, you've decided to move your drive with Windows 2000 (or XP) to a
new system, or upgraded your motherboard, and you now get the dreaded
blue screen of death before the operating system gets to the desktop.

All you get is a STOP 0x0000007B error (INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE).
What now???? Well, here's what you need to do...

Well, the first thing you need to do is to get the system working
again, so, put the system back in the original working configuration.
If you changed the motherboard, change it back to the original. If you
moved the drive to a new system, place it in the old one.

Now, for people that understand what they are doing, and how to do it,
here are the "quick" steps:

1 - Extract 'Atapi.sys,' 'Intelide.sys,' 'Pciide.sys,' and
'Pciidex.sys' from '%SystemRoot%\Driver Cache\i386\Driver.cab' (or
SPx.CAB if it exists, where x is the latest service pack)
2 - Copy those four files to the following location:
'%SystemRoot%\System32\Drivers' (do not replace files already there)
3 - Merge the registry file found below (copy the text to notepad and
save as a .reg file), or better, download it here
4 - THAT'S IT! Move it to the new system (or change the motherboard),
and your system should start up.

STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS FOR THOSE THAT NEED IT:

1 - Click START, go to RUN, type in "CMD" (without quotes), hit ENTER
2 - At the command prompt, type in:
"CD %SystemRoot%\Driver Cache\i386" (without quotes) hit ENTER
"dir/w" (without quotes) hit ENTER
If you are running Windows 2000, check for SPx.CAB (where x is the
highest number), in the following steps, use the SPx.CAB instead of
DRIVER.CAB
(If you are asked to OVEBWRITE any file, choose NO)
"expand driver.cab -f:atapi.sys %SystemRoot%\System32\Drivers"
(without quotes) hit ENTER
"expand driver.cab -f:intelide.sys %SystemRoot%\System32\Drivers"
(without quotes) hit ENTER
"expand driver.cab -fciide.sys %SystemRoot%\System32\Drivers"
(without quotes) hit ENTER
"expand driver.cab -fciidex.sys %SystemRoot%\System32\Drivers"
(without quotes) hit ENTER
"exit" (without quotes) hit ENTER
3 - You should now be back at the Desktop, you need to download the
registry file from HERE, save it to someplace you will remember,
preferably your desktop. After it is downloaded, DOUBLE-CLICK on it,
you will be asked if you wish to MERGE the contents with you registry,
CHOOSE YES.
4 - THAT'S IT! Your system is prepared to be moved to another
system/have the motherboard changed.

HERE IS THE REGISTRY FILE (COPY IT INTO NOTEPAD, AND SAVE IT AS A .REG
FILE)

********* START COPY AFTER THIS LINE *************

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\primary_ide_channel]
"ClassGUID"="{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"
"Service"="atapi"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\secondary_ide_channel]
"ClassGUID"="{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"
"Service"="atapi"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\*pnp0600]
"ClassGUID"="{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"
"Service"="atapi"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\*azt0502]
"ClassGUID"="{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"
"Service"="atapi"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\gendisk]
"ClassGUID"="{4D36E967-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"
"Service"="disk"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#cc_0101]
"ClassGUID"="{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"
"Service"="pciide"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_0e11&dev_ae33]
"ClassGUID"="{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"
"Service"="pciide"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_1039&dev_0601]
"ClassGUID"="{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"
"Service"="pciide"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_1039&dev_5513]
"ClassGUID"="{4D36E96A-E325-1!CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"
"Service"="pciide"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_1042&dev_1000]
"ClassGUID"="{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"
"Service"="pciide"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_105a&dev_4d33]
"ClassGUID"="{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"
"Service"="pciide"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_1095&dev_0640]
"ClassGUID"="{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"
"Service"="pciide"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_1095&dev_0646]
"ClassGUID"="{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"
"Service"="pciide"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_1097&dev_0038]
"ClassGUID"="{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"
"Service"="pciide"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_10ad&dev_0001]
"ClassGUID"="{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"
"Service"="pciide"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_10ad&dev_0150]
"ClassGUID"="{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"
"Service"="pciide"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_10b9&dev_5215]
"ClassGUID"="{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"
"Service"="pciide"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_10b9&dev_5219]
"ClassGUID"="{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"
"Service"="pciide"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_10b9&dev_5229]
"ClassGUID"="{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"
"Service"="pciide"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_1106&dev_0571]
"Service"="pciide"
"ClassGUID"="{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_8086&dev_1222]
"ClassGUID"="{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"
"Service"="intelide"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_8086&dev_1230]
"ClassGUID"="{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"
"Service"="intelide"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_8086&dev_2411]
"ClassGUID"="{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"
"Service"="intelide"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_8086&dev_2421]
"ClassGUID"="{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"
"Service"="intelide"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_8086&dev_7010]
"ClassGUID"="{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"
"Service"="intelide"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_8086&dev_7111]
"ClassGUID"="{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"
"Service"="intelide"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_8086&dev_7199]
"ClassGUID"="{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"
"Service"="intelide"
;Add driver for Atapi (requires atapi.sys in drivers directory)
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\atapi]
"ErrorControl"=dword:00000001
"Group"="SCSI miniport"
"Start"=dword:00000000
"Tag"=dword:00000019
"Type"=dword:00000001
"DisplayName"="Standard IDE/ESDI Hard Disk Controller"
"ImagePath"=hex(2):53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,44,00,\
52,00,49,00,56,00,45,00,52,00,53,00,5c,00,61,00,74,00,61,00,70,00,69,00,2e,\
00,73,00,79,00,73,00,00,00
;Add driver for intelide (requires intelide.sys in drivers directory)
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\IntelIde]
"ErrorControl"=dword:00000001
"Group"="System Bus Extender"
"Start"=dword:00000000
"Tag"=dword:00000004
"Type"=dword:00000001
"ImagePath"=hex(2):53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,44,00,\
52,00,49,00,56,00,45,00,52,00,53,00,5c,00,69,00,6e,00,74,00,65,00,6c,00,69,\
00,64,00,65,00,2e,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,00,00

;Add driver for pciide (requires pciide.sys and pciidex.sys in drivers
directory)
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\PCIIde]
"ErrorControl"=dword:00000001
"Group"="System Bus Extender"
"Start"=dword:00000000
"Tag"=dword:00000003
"Type"=dword:00000001
"ImagePath"=hex(2):53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,44,00,\
52,00,49,00,56,00,45,00,52,00,53,00,5c,00,70,00,63,00,69,00,69,00,64,00,65,\
00,2e,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,00,00

 

[george41407]

Same procedure with XP.

What I'd do is install the old hdd in the new computer.
Image it to the SATA drive that will be the master.
Remove the old hdd (this is important).
Boot from the XP CD and do a repair install to keep your settings but
update the drivers.
Probably have to call MS to reactivate.

I pretty much get what you are saying except the SATA drive part.
What the heck is a SATA drive?
I could see making an image to something like a CD or a flash drive.
Then copying the data to the new HD and repair installing.
Maybe I'll better understand when I learn what a SATA is.

 

[Benny]

Thank-you all for your recommendations.
A fresh install of a new XP licence along with new install of all software
seems the only way.
regards
Benny