Trying to clone XP HOME to another hard drive - Won't boot!!

dff3 · Jul 19, 2003, 12:36 AM

I have now tried using:Partition Magic, Ghost, XCopy, XXCopy, WDC Utilities. I have tried cloning in dos, XP and Win2003 server. No luck. I have googled til I dropped and have found no one who has been successful in cloning XP HOME - lots of tricks but no success. No doubt due to a Billyboy paranoia about someone actually upgrading his system while using XP.

1. I tried using "restore from image" within XP "from the partition" in the WDC 128 GB drive to the WDC 36 GB Raptor.

2. I tried "from partition to partition" from within XP.

3. I tried both from dos -- never attempting to boot the new drive with the old drive still attached.

The problem is that XP does see the new drive and takes me up to the desktop at which time it hiccups on an activation error and stops. If I try to go into safe mode and add the activation, it also goes right up to the desktop and appears to just about go onto the desktop and then recycles endlessly at the blue pre-desktop.

The only positive suggestion left seems to by using "Sysprep" but it has not responded as the instructions have suggested. It seems that you can clone all of the 9X Windows OSs and possibly Win2k but you can't the XP operating system.

1. Has anyone out there ever succeeded on XP Home?
2. Has anyone out there been successful with Sysprep?
3. If so -- can you help with simple step-by-step instructions on using sysprep --- or anything else that really works!!

Insanity can't be far off....

HsuGotaQ · Jul 19, 2003, 12:51 AM

Here are a couple of pointers that might help you.

1. I would suggest using Norton/Symantec Ghost version 2002/7.0 and up.

2. Depending on which version of ghost your using. I'd suggest you dump the partition image (your C: partition) to a FAT32 formated partition (dump as a file, not partition to partition) then send it to the other drive.

3. If your thinking of creating a dual boot system this way, forget about it if your not using something like Boot Magic to hide the partitions that are not needed during boot.

4. Obviously, make sure your boot disk actually works (MS Dos or PC Dos boot disk)

5. Respect the way your disks are partitioned. (If you got active software in a D: partition, there must be that partition when you load Windows)

PangingJr · Jul 19, 2003, 01:13 AM

what's version of norton ghost?

dff3 · Jul 19, 2003, 02:18 AM

I used Norton 2003.

PangingJr · Jul 19, 2003, 02:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dff3
I used Norton 2003.

i need my tools and i'll try to get anything you want (it to be) from the WDC 128 GB drive to the WDC 36 GB Raptor. well i never used the Raptor before but let try it.

you need 4-5 empty floppies
within windows.. create a ghost boot disks, create PQ-Magic rescue disks and one win98/me boot disk
and when you have all that ready and i'll try to give you 1-2-3 steps

dff3 · Jul 19, 2003, 03:13 AM

Panging -

I have everything.

PangingJr · Jul 19, 2003, 03:18 AM

pls check your PM

Jul 19, 2003, 12:36 AM	#1
dff3 DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 16 Rep Power: 0	Trying to clone XP HOME to another hard drive - Won't boot!! I have now tried using:Partition Magic, Ghost, XCopy, XXCopy, WDC Utilities. I have tried cloning in dos, XP and Win2003 server. No luck. I have googled til I dropped and have found no one who has been successful in cloning XP HOME - lots of tricks but no success. No doubt due to a Billyboy paranoia about someone actually upgrading his system while using XP. 1. I tried using "restore from image" within XP "from the partition" in the WDC 128 GB drive to the WDC 36 GB Raptor. 2. I tried "from partition to partition" from within XP. 3. I tried both from dos -- never attempting to boot the new drive with the old drive still attached. The problem is that XP does see the new drive and takes me up to the desktop at which time it hiccups on an activation error and stops. If I try to go into safe mode and add the activation, it also goes right up to the desktop and appears to just about go onto the desktop and then recycles endlessly at the blue pre-desktop. The only positive suggestion left seems to by using "Sysprep" but it has not responded as the instructions have suggested. It seems that you can clone all of the 9X Windows OSs and possibly Win2k but you can't the XP operating system. 1. Has anyone out there ever succeeded on XP Home? 2. Has anyone out there been successful with Sysprep? 3. If so -- can you help with simple step-by-step instructions on using sysprep --- or anything else that really works!! Insanity can't be far off.... __________________ AMD 2500 mobile @3200 /w SLK-900 DFI LanParty NFII 1024 Buffalo @220 ATI 9700 PRO NEC 3500A DVD 16x Pioneer DVD slot, 2 X WD Raptor 36 GIG 1 X WD 200 GB 1 X MAXTOR 160 GB

Jul 19, 2003, 02:18 AM	Thread Starter #4
dff3 DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 16 Rep Power: 0	I used Norton 2003. __________________ AMD 2500 mobile @3200 /w SLK-900 DFI LanParty NFII 1024 Buffalo @220 ATI 9700 PRO NEC 3500A DVD 16x Pioneer DVD slot, 2 X WD Raptor 36 GIG 1 X WD 200 GB 1 X MAXTOR 160 GB

Jul 19, 2003, 03:13 AM	Thread Starter #6
dff3 DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 16 Rep Power: 0	Panging - I have everything. __________________ AMD 2500 mobile @3200 /w SLK-900 DFI LanParty NFII 1024 Buffalo @220 ATI 9700 PRO NEC 3500A DVD 16x Pioneer DVD slot, 2 X WD Raptor 36 GIG 1 X WD 200 GB 1 X MAXTOR 160 GB

Jul 19, 2003, 12:51 AM	#2
HsuGotaQ Hydrogenated Dumbass Join Date: May 2002 Location: Canuckland Posts: 755 Rep Power: 0	Here are a couple of pointers that might help you. 1. I would suggest using Norton/Symantec Ghost version 2002/7.0 and up. 2. Depending on which version of ghost your using. I'd suggest you dump the partition image (your C: partition) to a FAT32 formated partition (dump as a file, not partition to partition) then send it to the other drive. 3. If your thinking of creating a dual boot system this way, forget about it if your not using something like Boot Magic to hide the partitions that are not needed during boot. 4. Obviously, make sure your boot disk actually works (MS Dos or PC Dos boot disk) 5. Respect the way your disks are partitioned. (If you got active software in a D: partition, there must be that partition when you load Windows)

Jul 19, 2003, 01:13 AM	#3
PangingJr Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 5,989 Rep Power: 71	what's version of norton ghost?

Jul 19, 2003, 03:18 AM	#7
PangingJr Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 5,989 Rep Power: 71	pls check your PM