Migrating XP Home SP2 from one system to another.

[Ronjie]

Hello,

This is going to be extensive, but I figure better to have more information than not enough.

I have a Dell Dimension 8200 with:

1.8 CPU
512MB Ram
80G IDE H/D

Running Windows XP Home with SP2.

Recently I was given a Dimension 4700 with:

2.8 CPU
1.5 G Ram
160 G SATA H/D

I'm trying to move everything from the 8200 to the 4700. I intend to dispose of the 8200, so there's no problem about using the same copy of XP or the applications on it.

I tried using a copy I had of Norton Ghost 2003 updated to the latest version I could get online, in an ethernet peer to peer, master / slave setup.

Ghost stops after about an hour and disconnects with various errors. Very frustrating.

I'm having financial issues right now, so I can't afford to keep buying software for just a one time transfer.

Can anyone either help me with getting Ghost to work properly or recommend a free program that will allow me to do this? I've already run Sysprep on the 8200 so I hope someone can help me soon.

Thanx!

Ron V.

P.S. Either respond here or at ronv904@hotmail.com if you can. Thanx! RV

 

[goombawaho]

It's NOT going to work because the hardware is different. Neither is any other software that I know of. That's because cloning/imaging/ghosting software is meant to create an image of a PC's operating system which reflects all aspects of it - hardware, programs, drivers, OS.

When you have a different PC, everything is different. Now, some minor changes like network card and video card drivers can be overcome, but not something with such differences as you have.

Even if you got it to work, Windows would say "hey, I'm in a new computer" and force a re-registration/activation event with microsoft and they would deny you because they "know" that the mobo is different and you have an OEM license which can't be transferred to a different PC/mobo.

And you are wrong about using the same copy of windows - technically/legally, the license of XP must "die" with the 8200 when you dispose of it and you must use a new license or the one that came with the 4700.

 

[wolluf]

Ok - running sysprep was probably a mistake - you're almost certainly going to have to run a repair reinstall to get it to boot in new machine & sysprep will probably just complicate that process. If you have Ghost, rather than do it over network, just connect old drive to new machine and do it all locally - much more reliable. Do run chkdsk on the source drive beforehand to make sure the filestore is all ok - ghost can get upset if corruptions present (it does have some switches to ignore some disk problems).

Assuming you get the clone to work - if you're very lucky it will boot - otherwise:-

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315341

and it will need reactivating even if/when it does boot, before it will let you log on. Assuming you use the key from the old machine, you will probably have to go through a series of questions from Microsoft (it may just activate, but probably need to ring them). Just say its a new motherboard as old faulty/dead and you should be ok - as you're disposing of old anyway - so effectively its true.

 

[linney]

Are you talking about a Retail version of XP, which as you say is transferable to another machine but may need contact with Microsoft to negotiate Activation problems? Or an OEM version of XP which is not transferable between machines?

Ignoring the Licensing problems, if any, you will have to install Windows on your new machine, and install all your programs and updates.

HOW TO: Partition and Format a Hard Disk in Windows XP (Q313348)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q313/3/48.asp

Read the paragraph,
"How to Partition and Format Your Hard Disk by Using Windows XP Setup."


For more help (shows enlargeable screenshots) go here.

http://www.petri.co.il/install_windows_xp_pro.htm

http://www.blackviper.com/Articles/OS/InstallXPPro/installxppro1.htm

Your files and current settings may be transferred by using XP's Files and Settings Transfer Wizard.

FILE & SETTINGS TRANSFER

http://aumha.org/win5/a/fast.htm

293118 - HOW TO: Use Files and Settings Transfer Wizard in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;293118&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH#2

306186 - HOW TO: Use the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard By Using the Windows XP CD-ROM

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;306186

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/expert/crawford_november12.mspx

 

[goombawaho]

If he has a Dell machine (as he stated) it would have to be an OEM license of XP. Right?!?!

Isn't this whole situation a result of going about things incorrectly?? I mean he has two PCs and thus, likely, two licenses of Windows XP. So, why not just load the "new" PC from scratch with its license and then transfer data from the old PC.

This is the most logical way to do things, but programs can't be transferred this way. This would only be a problem if there are bootleg software titles installed or software for which he can't access the install CDs any longer.

Cloning or ghosting is used for disaster recovery purposes for an individual computer or for staging/rolling out multiple computers that are nearly the same in terms of hardware.

 

[stduc]

IMHO it's just not worth the effort. 1/2 the stuff you have on your old machine is just rubbish anyway. XP is rarely stable when and if you can get it to boot on new hardware.

FWIW

My technique is to set up the new machine and run a few tests. Then network to the old machine & use the file and settings transfer wizard. Re-install the apps I actually use and share the data folders over the LAN.

Copy stuff over, over a few days/weeks, then make an archive of the old machine on a removable USB drive (just in case) and then wipe and flog the old PC. If it's an OEM license and available I use the 'restore to factory default' option the original CD.

However I don't have anything on my PC that is going to get me in trouble if someone does a sector search. So a delete, empty recycle bin, erase favourites, cookies, history etc and a defrag is IMHO secure enough. But if paranoid you could use the drive manufacturers zero fill utility if available to erase the drive before re-installing to the condition you bought the PC in.

[navy]When I married "Miss Right" I didn't realise her first name was 'always'. LOL[/navy]

 

[tlcscousin]

I have had no issues using ghost to move XP to new hardware. Ghost the drive on the old machine (both drives in one machine ghost old drive to new drive)put ghosted drive in new machine and do a repair install on the new machine. This would however mean getting a valid XP home OEM cd to do the repair install and using key off new machine.

 

[goombawaho]

I've seen quite a few repair installations that ran terrible after they were done - even on the same machine. Like 10% as fast as the original functioning install. Not sure why that sometimes happens, but a potential "hangover" from a repair install.

 

[wolluf]

goombawaho - I've run this process on a regular basis, and as long as the repair works (I've explained ways round if it doesn't in another post) the resulting system has always worked as well or usually better (because of hardware improvements) than the original.

Although I agree with the sentiment that a fresh install is better, a lot of my customers don't! They like things to stay the same as far as possible.

 

[BadBigBen]

That is where this comes in to play:

How to change Motherboards without reinstalling XP...
faq602-6735

done it quite a few times, with no problem what so ever...

Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."