Old C: Drive to a new PC.....

[coolchris]

Getting a new pc and I want to connect my current C: drive into the new PC, so I have all the OS and setting, programs etc already there.
Now Im wondering if this can be done as its all new hardware..presumably windows notices this. If so, how do I get around this...if at all. Thanks.

 

[roy69]

Sorry m8t this is very hard to do. You will need a clean install of vista on a new machine. The closest you can get it to use the drive out of the old machine is as a data backup. Install all of the programs fresh onto the C Drive. Move your personal settings back on manually. Very time consuming and I would back up all the data onto dvd before removing the old drive.
I dont know if anyone else may know of a backup program or migration program that may work.

 

[coolchris]

Thanks. I know of the Acronis migrate easy, but Ive had a look and it looks like it dont support Vista 64. I already have an Acronis Backup of my c: drive. Maybe I could run the new c: drive, install Acronis onto it, then get the old c: drive backup onto the new drive.
Now dunno whether it will accept it this way as it would probably still have my old hardware id written to it.
OH headaches.

 

[glatzfront]

Interesting challenge, wish I had another computer to try this with Vista! I can migrate XP Pro successfully, Vista may be more difficult?

“Hardware Abstract Layer”, a hal.dll, of which there are several types (check your system32 folder for the ones your OS has). I believe the The hal…..dll(s) has a hardware “memory” and each time the computer starts, it starts with this same dll, this is how Windows remembers.

Depending upon the computer “type” (ACPI, PIC, Multi-processor, a combination of, etc) that the OS is being booted upon determines which “type” dll to use, maybe they could be different from one Vista computer to another, it’s true for XP but I don’t know which “type(s)” Vista will run on?

In addition to the hal…..dll there are other issues to account for before booting an OS on another computer.

Before continuing I would want to know if it is a problem discussing this on the board?????????

 

[yronnen]

You may be able to do it using sysprep. Sysprep is a utility from Microsoft which let IT admins distribute pre-configured systems. When you run sysprep it removes all hardware related settings from your PC and shut down your computer. When you restart your computer you go through all the hardware detection phase as if you were installing from scratch, but all of your apps and settings remain. You can read more about it on the web.

Few things to remember:
1.Back your drive before running sysprep.
2.You OS installation will probably require activation again, and perhaps some other software suits.

Good luck.

 

[coolchris]

You may be able to do it using sysprep. Sysprep is a utility from Microsoft which let IT admins distribute pre-configured systems. When you run sysprep it removes all hardware related settings from your PC and shut down your computer. When you restart your computer you go through all the hardware detection phase as if you were installing from scratch, but all of your apps and settings remain. You can read more about it on the web.

Few things to remember:
1.Back your drive before running sysprep.
2.You OS installation will probably require activation again, and perhaps some other software suits.

Good luck.

Thanks. Ive had a look on MS website and it seems its only for XP.
Hmm seems Im running out of options pretty fast, lol.

 

[yronnen]

You may be able to do it using sysprep. Sysprep is a utility from Microsoft which let IT admins distribute pre-configured systems. When you run sysprep it removes all hardware related settings from your PC and shut down your computer. When you restart your computer you go through all the hardware detection phase as if you were installing from scratch, but all of your apps and settings remain. You can read more about it on the web.

Few things to remember:
1.Back your drive before running sysprep.
2.You OS installation will probably require activation again, and perhaps some other software suits.

Good luck.

Thanks. Ive had a look on MS website and it seems its only for XP.
Hmm seems Im running out of options pretty fast, lol.

Google "vista sysprep" and you'll find all you need.

 

[glatzfront]

Windows Vista Deployment Step-by-Step Guide

This is supposedly hardware independent, Sysprep requires that the computers be similar.

 

[coolchris]

Windows Vista Deployment Step-by-Step Guide

This is supposedly hardware independent, Sysprep requires that the computers be similar.

Thanks Ill take a look. PC not coming while next week anyway.

 

[glatzfront]

Would you mind getting this information before making any changes, also from the new one when it comes if it has an OS installed, just curious?

Type = device manager- click plus mark to expand computer
Mine says "ACPIx86-based PC"

Hall...dll(s) = C\Windows\System32
I have 3: Hal.dll, Halacpi.dll & Halmacpi.dll

 

[coolchris]

The new one will have an OS installed yes, but its Vista32..I would like to transfer my old OS and files, programs etc onto the new drive and is Vista64.
Computer type: ACPI x64-based PC.

One Hal.dll in system32 only.

Any reason for the info? Dunno where we are going with this...

 

[glatzfront]

I didn't know that they called the new hardware independent method Sysprep also!!! DUH

You might find this info helpful, check the left pane also.

What is Sysprep?

 

[glatzfront]

The new one will have an OS installed yes, but its Vista32..I would like to transfer my old OS and files, programs etc onto the new drive and is Vista64.
Computer type: ACPI x64-based PC.

One Hal.dll in system32 only.

Any reason for the info? Dunno where we are going with this...

Thanks

I was just wondering how different, if any, the computer types (from old to new) might be and if this would have any effect on the outcome.

 

[coolchris]

Well Ive tried all this and its just a total pain in the rear, so Im gonna bite the bullet and install all my program from scratch onto the new PC. Im so fed up of seeing Dos and trying to create a PE image and imaging the PC...its quicker just to reinstall all my apps and games. Sod it.

 

[roy69]

It will also be cleaner. After you have done this chris back it all up. You will have a clean system with the registry as clean as can be.

 

[johngalt]

FWIW - I replaced my mobo and kept everything else the same and Vista would to load - even tried Sysprep, and in the end had to format and reinstall. It went a lot better that way.