Fresh install without reinstalling software

[byakuya]

Hi guys!
i need to reinstall Windows on to a new hard disk for various reasons (xp pro). I am wondering wether I can put in my new hard disk and then just transfer all of my old installed software across?

I have quite a few programs installed and it takes hours if not days every time i need to do a fresh install.

Any ideas?

From a backup? or a disk image?

any help is much appreciat

 

[BionicJohn]

You can't just transfer applications, for technical and licensing reasons.

You need to install them so they registered in the windows Registry, and where there are licensing requirements, activated where necessary (e.g. MS Office, Adobe Applications)

But there'll be no problem with your data - just don't forget any email and contacts files.

Liverpool: Capital of Culture 2008
Anfield: Capital of Football since 1892
Iechyd da! John
Glannau Mersi, Lloegr.

 

[vacunita]

While John is mostly correct, there are some applications out there that will migrate Installed Programs from one PC to another including there registry entries, and any other files that may not be installed in the Program directory.

Take a look at Laplink:

http://www.laplink.com/pcmover/articles.html

It may do what you need.

----------------------------------
Phil AKA Vacunita
----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

Behind the Web, Tips and Tricks for Web Development.

http://behindtheweb.blogspot.com/

 

[goombawaho]

If you do not want to reinstall and you're putting a new hard drive in the same machine, you can just image it over (Ghost, Acronis, etc.) and have an exact copy of where you started.

A fresh install will give you a boost in performance by cleaning everything up. So it will pay dividends every day you use it IF you do the fresh install vs. porting the installation over to a new drive.

 

[linney]

When you purchase a new hard drive, that drive manufacturer may supply software to enable you to copy your old hard drive across to the new hard drive.

Because of the change of hardware you may have to Activate XP.

 

[edfair]

Given the conditions I would do a transfer, image, ghost, or manufacturer's transfer, then run an overlay install.

After my last grief with Acronis I would use ghost, which has always worked for me.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[goombawaho]

If you clone a new hard drive to the same motherboard, you will NOT need to activate windows nor would you need to run an overlay install. It will be as if nothing happened at all - if you do it right.

A hard drive change is not enough to trigger a windows activation event. In fact, a fair number of changes is required before an activation is tripped.

http://www.pcuser.com.au/pcuser/hs2.nsf/lookup+1/98857E15258D4BA5CA256B47002997FA

And I quote from that. "If the hardware is substantially different, then reactivation is required. If it is the same or similar, then the software will continue to work. Users who upgrade their PC’s hardware substantially may be asked to reactivate.

 

[byakuya]

Thanks guys!
very helpful. I will try cloning the disk

 

[edfair]

quote goombawaho
"If you clone a new hard drive to the same motherboard, you will NOT need to activate windows nor would you need to run an overlay install. It will be as if nothing happened at all - if you do it right."

from the OP
"i need to reinstall Windows on to a new hard disk for various reasons"

Not to "nit pick" but if the OS really has problems the new drive is going to have the same problems.



Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[goombawaho]

Not to "nit pick" but if the OS really has problems the new drive is going to have the same problems.

If I missed something about the "problems" he was having, then YES - cloning is just going to clone your problem UNLESS it was a drive going bad. But even then, if data/windows files are getting corrupted because of the bad drive, you may clone some of those damaged files. You can't run from your problems sometimes.

The OP had better describe the "various reasons"

 

[dbustamante]

If the hard drive seems to be having "problems" before cloning it try checking the sectors to make sure you don’t a few that are bad. That way if that’s the problem you won’t have to go through the trouble of cloning a hard drive.

 

[cdogg]

==> If the hard drive seems to be having "problems" before cloning it try checking the sectors to make sure you don't a few that are bad.

The problem with that approach is that a failing hard drive might actually bite the dust during the sector test which can be somewhat stressful. Cloning is a rather quick and easy process these days, so i wouldn't be too worried about it being that much trouble.

The larger question in which the OP has yet to respond to, is whether or not cloning the system is really a good idea in this situation. It might be better to start off with a fresh install on a new drive.

~cdogg
"All generalizations are false, including this one." - Mark Twain
[tab][navy]For posting policies, click [/navy]here.