Will Imaging Give Me a Bootable Copy?

[Andiez]

I am considering purchasing Acronis True Image to copy my files on XP to
another computer. This will give me a backup that is ready to go in case of
a breakdown. Before I try True Image I have a question. Will it allow my
other computer to boot, and if yes, how do I avoid the problem of using a
registered XP on two different computers?

Andie Z

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I am considering purchasing Acronis True Image to copy my files on XP to
another computer. This will give me a backup that is ready to go in case of
a breakdown. Before I try True Image I have a question. Will it allow my
other computer to boot,

Unless the two computers are identical, probably not. Normally you
have to do at least a repair installation after moving such an image
to another computer.

Rarely, but occasionally, if the computers are different enough, a
repair installation isn't sufficient and you have to do a clean
installation.

and if yes, how do I avoid the problem of using a
registered XP on two different computers?

The Windows license is for a single computer. You may not have one
copy (license) installed on two computers at once. There is no legal
way around this, short of buying a second license.

 

[Brian A.]

I am considering purchasing Acronis True Image to copy my files on XP to another
computer. This will give me a backup that is ready to go in case of a breakdown.
Before I try True Image I have a question. Will it allow my other computer to boot,
and if yes, how do I avoid the problem of using a registered XP on two different
computers?

Andie Z

Not truly sure what your intention is so I'll keep the response short covering the
flip side of Ken's response.

If you create an image backup of PC1 in a drive/partition on PC2 that's all it will
be, an image backup of PC1 which would consist of 1 or more .tib files. It does not
effect the operation of PC2 as long as there is plenty of drive space, and if PC1
should ever fail you would use the image backup on PC2 to restore PC1.


--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

 

[Gerry]

Ken

Aren't some OEM copies locked?


--
Regards.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Ken

Aren't some OEM copies locked?

Yes, most pre-installed OEM copies are BIOS-locked to the machines
they are shipped with. That would prevent installing them on another
machine. But as far I know, that wouldn't prevent an image from being
restored on another computer.

Besides, he didn't suggest that this was an OEM copy.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

I am considering purchasing Acronis True Image to copy my files on XP to
another computer. This will give me a backup that is ready to go in case
of a breakdown. Before I try True Image I have a question. Will it allow
my other computer to boot, and if yes, how do I avoid the problem of using
a registered XP on two different computers?

Andie Z

First, there *is* a free trial version of TrueImage, so you can check for
yourself to verify that it meets your requirements without actually spending
the money and perhaps getting the wrong version.

Second, imaging in the way you want, where one image is transferred to
another system, is really only valid if both systems are physically
identical. If they aren't, you're going to have problems depending on the
degree of difference. The system may not boot at all, or various hardware
may not function because incorrect drivers are installed. This may
require a repair install.

Third, you may well experience activation or WGA failures this way, unless I
misunderstand your question. Essentially, it looks like you're asking
about transferring an XP license, at least temporarily. This license
transfer is really only supported with a *retail* license, not an OEM
license.

If the hardware is different, you should install to the backup system and
image it. If you're trying to create a quick-restore image for the event
of hardware failure, but can't rely on the replacement system being
hardware-identical, or even don't know what the hardware will be because
you don't have the system now, you may need to modify your approach, and
TrueImage Home may not be appropriate - you may need another version. And
you may need extra things like Acronis SnapDeploy *and* UniversalDeploy,
which apparently lets you account for hardware differences. I'll suggest
that you download the manuals for these kinds of products and see if they'll
help.

Alternately, if you need a backup system, it might be prudent to just get
it, configure it with the basic apps, and set it aside. Take backups of
your data. In the event you need to use the backup system, you'll only
need to restore the data, and you'll be ready to go in a short time.

HTH
-pk

 

[Andiez]

First, there *is* a free trial version of TrueImage, so you can check for
yourself to verify that it meets your requirements without actually
spending the money and perhaps getting the wrong version.

Second, imaging in the way you want, where one image is transferred to
another system, is really only valid if both systems are physically
identical. If they aren't, you're going to have problems depending on
the degree of difference. The system may not boot at all, or various
hardware may not function because incorrect drivers are installed. This
may require a repair install.

Third, you may well experience activation or WGA failures this way, unless
I misunderstand your question. Essentially, it looks like you're asking
about transferring an XP license, at least temporarily. This license
transfer is really only supported with a *retail* license, not an OEM
license.

If the hardware is different, you should install to the backup system and
image it. If you're trying to create a quick-restore image for the event
of hardware failure, but can't rely on the replacement system being
hardware-identical, or even don't know what the hardware will be because
you don't have the system now, you may need to modify your approach, and
TrueImage Home may not be appropriate - you may need another version.
And you may need extra things like Acronis SnapDeploy *and*
UniversalDeploy, which apparently lets you account for hardware
differences. I'll suggest that you download the manuals for these
kinds of products and see if they'll help.

Alternately, if you need a backup system, it might be prudent to just get
it, configure it with the basic apps, and set it aside. Take backups of
your data. In the event you need to use the backup system, you'll only
need to restore the data, and you'll be ready to go in a short time.

HTH
-pk

I have the second system on my network. I really am looking for a simple
way to transfer or copy my data from system 1 to system 2. Then if I have a
malfunction on system 1, I can just use system 2. I quite often use both at
the same time, but copying from system 1 to system 2 on a daily or even
weekly seems to be a pain. I would like it to be automatic, like my RAID 1
that I have on both systems.

Andie Z

 

[Mark L. Ferguson]

IMO, the Fast Wizard is about the best there is for that.

Save settings and data with the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard (FAST
wizard): Go To: http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/fast.htm