Re: Win98SE to XP

On Tue, 21 Mar 2006 22:40:23 -0500, "Anna" <myname@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:


"Colin Bearfield" <me@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:to6122942sil38jp4lv6ged5a6cci6eelv@xxxxxxxxxx> The old machine is the
laptop, the new machine is the desktop. It may
not come with any O/S but for our purposes suppose that it is XP.

I have not met this precise circumstance before but similar ones I
have met several times.

To cater for the possibility that XP is pre-installed, I should take
an image of the O/S and store it safely.

Attaching the new HDD to the laptop using the external HDD case, I
should then clone the HDD using Ghost having first partitioned it
several times. Now it is setup for a laptop with the old O/S on it.
True, the device drivers won't be for a desktop but that hardly
matters because the vital components don't need them.

Moving the new HDD out of the external HDD case and connecting it to
the desktop, I shall have some form of display on the monitor, the CD
drive will run the upgrade disk, and the O/S will be changed to the XP
and drivers that will run nicely on the desktop.

All the data will be intact but it will be safely backed up just in
case.

Please tell me - am I still heading for catastrophe. My friend earns
his living from computers, I can't afford catastrophe.

Colin

Thanks, Anna, I do value your advice.


Colin:
I take it that since the source HD is in a laptop it's no longer feasible to
remove that HD and install it in the new desktop computer, although it could
easily be done through a simple 2 1/2" - 3 1/2" adapter. So that you're now
interested in employing a (presumably) USB external HD to effect the
transfer.

I could borrow such a gadget from a friend but the guy with the
computer in France is nervous about it. he's a good programmer but
doesn't put his hands on the hardware.


You can install *any* HD in the external enclosure. It need not be the HD
from the new desktop computer. As a matter of fact in this situation it
probably *would* be best to use a different HD rather than the new desktop's
HD. You would then clone the contents of the laptop's HD to the USBEHD,
remove the HD from its enclosure and install it in the new desktop computer.
Then clone the contents of that drive to the new computer's HD and install
an upgrade of the XP OS on that newly-cloned HD.

I could and would do this if it helps.

(I have no idea of what you mean when you state "Attaching the new HDD to
the laptop using the external HDD case, I should then clone the HDD using
Ghost having first partitioned it several times." Why are you talking about
"partitioning" here? A clone is a clone is a clone. There is no need to
partition nor format the destination HD prior to the cloning operation. I'm
reasonably sure you know that so perhaps I misunderstand what you're driving
at).

The external HDD case is what you call the enclosure. Same thing. I
am talking about partitioning at this point because of you. I have
used Acronis True Image but it gobbles up the entire target drive and
I don't want that. You have said that Ghost 2003 will partition to
another partition which is better. Just assuming it is a popular
160Gb HDD I'd make the C: partition about 20Gb and and create several
more. That's the way I like it. In this sense a clone is not aclone,
it depends on the cloning software. BootitNG also clones to a
partition.

I maintain that a HDD is like a tall narrow cupboard without shelves -
everything collects in a heap on the floor. Only with shelves
(partitions) does it become really useful. Have you ever tried cloning
a 200Gb partition? Somebody at a computer show was complaining that
he'd corruped the software. This was the same chap who claimed that
folders were just as good as partitions.

In any event, after the cloning operation to the new HD and the subsequent
XP upgrade, you will in all likelihood need to install whatever drivers are
necessary, presumably obtained from the motherboard's installation CD. But
of course you know that.

There should be no "catastrophe" awaiting you. The process is relatively
straightforward and I see no reason why it shouldn't go without a hitch. You
will, of course, have the original laptop HD still intact as well as a
cloned copy of that laptop's HD on the HD that was installed in the external
enclosure. So you would have reasonable backup security in the event things
go awry.
Anna

Thanks, Anna. I don't want to ruin this guy's livlihood. He's nervous
enough already. That's one reason why he has let the old laptop run
down and down. He wants to avoid risks to it.

very best wishes and fingers crossed.

Colin
.

Relevant Pages

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