Ghosting a hard drive

[Katanand45]

I'm trying to migrate a user from a old desktop to a new laptop. To make the migration as quick, painless and complete as possible I was going to ghost the desktop and then apply that image onto the laptop.

After I restore the image on the laptop and right as the system boots into Windows I get a BOD about windows needing to shut down to protect itself remove any new hardware controllers blah blah blah run CHKDSK /f blah blah blah.

I ran chkdsk /f rebooted same problem. I then restored the orginal image we have for this laptop model and everything works fine, no problems. Is the image of the old computer corrupted or are there other deamons at work here?

 

[perdomot]

That wont work because its two different sets of hardware.

 

[Katanand45]

Originally posted by: perdomot
That wont work because its two different sets of hardware.

Of course I'll need to load the drivers for the laptop. DUH.
I just can't get into windows to do that.

 

[jackschmittusa]

Windows is crashing because of the old drivers. DUH!

Why would you expect a version of Windows that has been optimized and configured for a specific set of hardware to function on a completely different set of hardware?

 

[sutahz]

Its not that its impossible to move a windows install from one hardware set to another, but it appears to be impossible in your situation. For shits and giggles what chipset is this older desktop running and what chipset is this newer laptop running.

I helped a friend upgrade his computer. He went from 650i to P35 and didn't have to reinstall the OS (XP nor Vista).
Is the OS fully updated on the old tower? Probley, so yeah, just have to do a clean install and tranfer data the old fashioned way.

 

[JackMDS]

The problem is the HD boot that can not start, thus it can not read from the Hard Drive to continue.

If it is Vista, Boot from the original CD and choose repair.

That would take care of the HD Boot and than you can configure the rest of the drivers.

Win XP, Boot with the WinXP CD. Skip the first screen that offer Console Repair and continue as though you do a new install.

At the new installl screen it would detect the old installation and would give you an option to press R for Repair.

After 45 Minute WinXP would be reinstalled maintaining the old data and system configuration

You might have residual Ghosts in the device manger and would to reinstall drivers for Screen Network Audio etc

 

[bruceb]

Thats the way. Of course, in some cases, a repair like that will not work 100%
or be totally stable. You need to try it and see. Some techs say on a move like that
a clean install is best. But then you need to reinstall all your apps and migrate all
your personal data files.

 

[Katanand45]

Originally posted by: bruceb
Thats the way. Of course, in some cases, a repair like that will not work 100%
or be totally stable. You need to try it and see. Some techs say on a move like that
a clean install is best. But then you need to reinstall all your apps and migrate all
your personal data files.

Which is what I'm trying to avoid if possible.

 

[jackschmittusa]

Still not recommended, but your best chance of getting that to work is to remove all the drivers from the desktop hd to begin with. You can delete them from "device manager". Shut down the rig and then clone it. Install the cloned drive and do a repair installation as JackMDS described.

You can always restore the drivers to the desktop rig.

 

[Narse]

Originally posted by: Katanand45

Originally posted by: bruceb
Thats the way. Of course, in some cases, a repair like that will not work 100%
or be totally stable. You need to try it and see. Some techs say on a move like that
a clean install is best. But then you need to reinstall all your apps and migrate all
your personal data files.

Which is what I'm trying to avoid if possible.

On the desktop before you ghost to the laptop follow these instructions. mergeIDE

You may also have some HAL compatibility issues but I will leave those steps until after you have tried the mergeIDE.

It is possible to get this to work, the images I make for my company can be used on any hardware that will run XP so what you are trying to do is possible.

 

[Katanand45]

Running a Windows repair from the CD worked.