Copying windows installation

DingleBerry · 1 Mar 2007 at 14:22

I'm trying to move my windows installation from one hd to another. I installed windows on a third drive (just to confuse me) and used that to copy \windows \program files and \documents and settings and all the gubbins at the root of the drive.

When I try to boot off the new drive it it gets to the point where it would ask you which user you want and just stops. I'm guessing this is probably down to the fact that when I was copying \documents and settings something like "machine id code" didn't copy properly. Thinking about it that probably means in true windows style instead of skipping that file it just gave up and stopped completely.

Is there a program I can use to focibly copy those machine id code files? I'll make sure i've got all of the rest of the files there this evening...see if that works. I'd rather avoid reinstalling windows on this new drive as I don't have broadband so I have to take it to work which is a pain.

I can't use drive mirroring software as theres loads of files I want to keep on each drive.

shr3k · 1 Mar 2007 at 16:53

Windows

you could copy everything over and then start the wondows installation on that drive and click repair?

It'll update the machine codes ect and leave everything intact.

If you don't have the installation cd try moving the wholee hdd in see if it works. If it does use a program like swapmagic.

The problem still remains. When windows finds the new hardware it will try and get you to revalidate the software. So repair may be your best option or just doing it the hard way! lol

Hope it helps,

Shr3k

EirePlane · 1 Mar 2007 at 17:09

that wont work because windows wont be able to move files that ar currently in use and those would include the most system critical ones.

you would have to use something like xxclone to copy it to the other drive and make it bootable, then just delete the old partition

DingleBerry · 1 Mar 2007 at 17:48

Bear in mind that the HD is in the same computer so no hardware has changed (other than the HD of course). Also I booted from a third HD so none of the software should have been in use. The fact it copied a windows directory without complaint is proof of that.

Repair might be an idea unless I can force those machine codes to copy. I've got all the disks.

eXor · 1 Mar 2007 at 20:50

Why not use imaging software to make an exact image of the partition? Sector by sector copying is much faster than file by file copying and there will be no question of a file refusing to copy or copying incorrectly.

DingleBerry · 2 Mar 2007 at 10:16

I have data on the drive i'm copying to which gets in the way. I had another go last night and it still refuses to play ball so I ordered an external hd to store my important data on so I can do a proper bit for bit copy.

I'm copying from a western digital drive to a maxtor so eiter maxblast or lifeguard will let me do what I want.