src2206

Hello friends

First of all I hope this is right forum to ask this question, otherwise the mods I hope will be kind enough to place it properly .

I have two HDD, and the master is 40GB and the slave is 80GB. The primary contains my Windows installation in C drive and there are two more partitions. In the slave I have FC6 installed and three more partitions. The 40 Gb one is about 75% full, and the 80 GB also is about 80% full.

I have a DVD RW installed.

I am planning to sell my PC with the 40GB HDD [but without the 80GB one and the DVD and CD RWs.. But before doing that I need to take a complete image of my 40GB drive which I shall be transferring to the SATA drive of the new PC that I have planned to buy.

Could some one please guide me how this can be done most effectively?

Please keep in mind that I can not boot in the new PC unless I transfer the whole 40 GB to the new drive of my new PC.

Thank you.

linderman

Hello


you have a couple of sticky points to consider and "work" into your equation


cloning and imaging really works best for the machine which the image or clone came from.

if you are using windows vista >>>> just plain forget about this whole adventure (vista will see this as installing the OS on a completely diff machine)



if you are using win xp then I suggest the following

#1 I strongly suggest you buy a hard drive for use with the new computer; install the new hard drive in the existing system / then use XXclone or drive image your choice to clone or image the complete contents of your booting OS

you will then need to boot the old machine with the clone or image drive / then you will need to run SYSPREP to prepare the drive for transplant into the new machine

if you do not remove all system drivers from the windows OS prior to transplanting the new hard drive, the result will be some nasty BSOD's as the new hardware of the new machine will activate the win xp HAL and send it for a fit of unhappiness

The SYSPREP will force the win xp OS to perform a new hardware initialization when the new machine boots up

here are the cloning guides

http://www.techsupportforum.com/arti...ard-drive.html

http://www.techsupportforum.com/arti...e-another.html


here is the guide to run sysprep


http://www.windowsreinstall.com/inst...oard/winxp.htm

(see solution #5)


the article refers to swapping a motherboard, which is similar in scope to your adventure

src2206

Thank you very much linderman

Sorry, I should have mentioned that I am using Windows XP Pro.

Is it not possible to take the image or backups on DVDs and later boot through those DVDs in the new machine and then restore the whole thing in a new drive?

Basically I do not want to reinstall and re customize all the things that I have so painfully achieved with time. Even a thought of it sends a chilling shiver through my spine.

Please advise.

****EDIT****

I have also heard about a free software named nLite, which makes a backup of the OS as well as all the programs installed on a removable drive. Do you by any chance have any idea about this software?

Thank you.

linderman

there are programs which will image an entire OS drive to DVDs

norton ghost , acronis I belive and also Boot It NG >>> (has a free 30 day trial period >>>> print the manual our before using)

it will take about 6 - 8 dvds to back up a 40 gig drive


the main problem though as I expalined above is this

once you are ready with the new computer & you execute the image restore to the new hard drive in the new machine >>>>> you will immediately need to perform a win xp repair install to remove your old system drivers from the windows system or it will crash

this is no biggie

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XP...install.htm#RI

src2206

Hello linderman

I can't really tell you how grateful I am for the wonderful insight that you have provided. I was completely in dark when I wrote my question and after reading two of your posts things are quite clearer now. Thank you very much.

Could you please clear my few more doubts?

1. I have 1 original XP pro which is without SP2. It came with my Compaq PC, so I think it is an OEM version. So does OEM version provides repair install feature?

2. Does a corporate edition XP CD provide Repair Install feature?

3. Is it a good option to make a slipstream XP CD from my present installation? Though I have no idea how exactly can I make it and what exact feature/advantages does it provide.
I only heard that this will at least save me from installing all the updates that MS so generously provide.

Please understand that there is no way I can check this feature beforehand and I do not remember of doing any repair install ever. Though I used Recovery Console using the without SP2 Xp Pro CD. I never found any repair install feature in it.

Please advise.

linderman

Hello


there is a world of difference between the repair install and recovery console

there is also a world of diff between reinstall and repair install

a reinstall will wipe out all your programs and data

a repair install will not touch your data or programs


read the link I provided above carefully; it will show you how to enter the repair section (its not difficult)

I do believe both of your versions of win xp will allow you to perform a win xp repair

try getting to that screen; then abort you have nothing to lose and plenty of confidence to gain

as for slipstreaming that an easy task


HOW TO ADD SERVICE PACK 2 TO YOUR WINDOWS XP INSTALL CD

ALSO APPLIES TO WINDOWS 2000



General Overview:
Level of Difficulty Scale 1:5 (this task is a 2)

This process is formally called slipstreaming.

***** Print these instructions for easy to follow steps! ******

If you have a Windows XP or 2000 operating install disk that lacks Service Pack One or Service Pack Two there is a method which you can integrate or add the service pack to your existing Windows Operating System Install CD & completely done for free !

We commonly see posters here in TSF struggling with partitioning & installing large hard drives which are limited to the 137gig drive barrier; this barrier was resolved by Microsoft with the release of Service Pack one & above. However there are many people currently still Dependant and using XP install cd's lacking any service pack upgrades.

The process for slipstreaming a Win 2000 CD is the exact same, simply follow this tutorial and substitute the letters XP with 2K and SP-2 gets substituted with SP-4. (the link for sp-4 is at the bottom of this page)

The only hardware needed for this adventure is a CD rom or DVD rom drive with burning (writing) capabilities and a blank disk to make the new OS install disk.

The only software needed for this adventure is a slipstream program and a CD burning program such as Roxio & Nero which are capable of burning .ISO files. (ISO format cd's are needed to enable computer booting from the cd) Not all burning programs can accommodate ISO file formats; check your software documentation.

Here are the 3 tools needed: (download & install them to your computer)

Auto Streamer: http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4444.html

If you need a burning program: http://www.burn4free.com/

Win XP Service Pack Two: http://Microsoft.com/technet/prodtec.../winxpsp2.mspx
Half way down the web page you will see the description heading " Get The Service Pack"
you MUST download the version that states "Download and Deploy Service Pack 2 to Multiple Computers"do not choose the single computer version you need to download the version for multiple computers to be offered the opportunity to download service pack two into a folder!
The single computer version will not let you install to a folder on your computer; rather it will directly integrate service pack two into your current computers windows environment, therefore we will not have the files at our disposal to make a new & improved XP install CD.


Slipstreaming steps:

A) Download all three pieces of this project. Auto Streamer, Burning Program & Service Pack 2

B) I strongly suggest you make a folder in your "C" drive and name it "slipstreaming" (doesn't have to be the "C" drive)
Download Win XP service pack 2 to the folder you named "slipstreaming" (see link above for obtaining SP-2) after the download has completed; open the folder in your "C" drive named "slip streaming" and ensure the service pack got successfully installed there. Write down on a scrap piece of paper the name of the "self extracting cabinet file" usually named xpsp-2

C) Place your existing non-service pack Windows XP install CD into your cd-rom drive. If an auto run feature starts the windows CD simply exit the windows launch by using the usual close or exit commands.

D) Open the auto streaming program: by default the "I want to use my original Windows CD" is ticked or chosen. (this is correct unless you want to try advanced features)

E) Click the next button in the auto streamer program. There are two boxes in this console which the user must participate.
The Windows CD Drive (you can click on the magnifying glass at the right of this box and select which CD or DVD drive has your original Windows XP install CD.) however if you followed step "C" your windows CD should already be showing in the list ?

F) There is an options box named Service Pack File: use this location to point the way to your Service Pack 2 file which you downloaded.
hint: it should be C: slipstreaming folder\ xpsp-2

G: You need not participate in the Temporary folder; the program uses this without any need for interaction from the user.

H: Click the "next" button

I: There are two locations in the console for user intervention:
1) The label or name which you wish to give you new OS install disk: personally I like Winxpsp-2 (you can give your own file name)

2) Location where you want the new .iso file to be written to (again I suggest you make a folder within the slipstreaming folder we made on the "C" drive then point the program to write the .ISO file to this folder.

J: click the start button: if you filled in the interaction boxes correctly then the program will start making the .iso file from which your new install disk will be born.

K: If step "J" was successful then open the folder where you sent the newly made .iso file hint: (it should be C: slipstreaming / in the new folder click on the icon that should be in the new sub-folder the icon should be named winxpsp-2.iso

L: When you click on the new ISO file it should bring up your burning program and start your CD burning process

THAT'S ALL FOLKS READY FOR TESTING !!



The new disk will be ready for booting; this is the disk you will use from now on when installing any clean or new Windows installations
it will behave exactly as you are accustomed with your old windows disk, but will have sp-2 integrated into the cd. Dont forget: you may need to change your system bios to boot from the cd-rom drive as the first boot device in order to boot from your new bootable disk.

if you have any questions or problems; just post in the hard drive section of this forum.



Win 2000 Service Pack 4 Files can be obtained here: http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000...4/default.mspx



any suggestions or comments concerning this tutorial would be greatly appreciated.

src2206

Dear Joe (linderman)

I believe "Thank You" would be a rather poor response for the effort that you have given here.. I only hope that you may understand how grateful I am.

Does it mean that a slipstream CD will provide the feature of repair install too?

I am going through all the inputs that you have given and I am surely going to try up to the steps that you have advised. I shall post the feedback here.

One more thing, I am also looking at a guide of nLite now, if you think that it would be worth I shall be more than happy to post some details or my findings about the program here.

Regards

linderman

yes Nlite works in the same exact way

yes the slipstreamed disk will be able to repair install

src2206

Thank you linderman

After going through your post and the nLite guide it seems that I need to use either Acronis True Image or Ghost [is it the Norton one?].

Could you please recommend which one will be the best? Or do you think there is some other which can work better?

Thank you again.

linderman

I only tried norton ghost a couple of times, I didnt care for it ????

havent used acronis, but I think they have a trial version to check for yourself


I have used Boot It NG and made a back up image that was written to CD's & dvd's>>>>> I like this program because you can partition drives and modify partitions too

its a two for one application

src2206

Hello Liderman

Thank you for the recommendation.

Could you please point me to a guide for BING? I found a number of those at their Home Page but I am not sure which to be most suitable for a complete beginner like me. Unfortunately I do not have much time left to go through all the guides and decide myself .

Regards

linderman

sorry no guides


download Boot It NG and then print the easy to follow manual

http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/bootitng.html


the image to DVD part is super easy

src2206

Thank you very much linderman.

BTW, if possible could you please advise me here: Please recommend a Processor

Regards