Mounting Image to another PC...?

photoshop · 15 Sep 2008 at 21:27

Hi Guys,

I have just built another HTPC (for 2nd room) which is the EXACT same hardware as the one i have now. Both are identical in every way!

To make it easier, can i create an image from the existing one and mount it to the newly built one?

Biffa · 15 Sep 2008 at 21:33

Ghost

Or put the new disk in with the old machine, and use some partitioning software to image the drive.

Burnsy2023 · 15 Sep 2008 at 21:36

True image really is much better then Ghost now. Does exactly what you want.

photoshop · 16 Sep 2008 at 00:44

Cheers Guys,

I already have ATI. Could i just create an image of my existing setup, burn it to DVD, and then mount it onto the 2nd HTPC?

marc2003 · 16 Sep 2008 at 06:14

you'll need to run sysprep on the machine before creating the image. this is because

a) i assume you want these 2 machines to be able to talk to each other over a network. if you don't run sysprep (which resets the security id), then they won't talk.....
b) you'll need to enter your 2nd legitimate license key on the duplicate machine.

photoshop · 16 Sep 2008 at 08:30

marc2003 said:
you'll need to run sysprep on the machine before creating the image. this is because

a) i assume you want these 2 machines to be able to talk to each other over a network. if you don't run sysprep (which resets the security id), then they won't talk.....

NO. The existing HTPC is linked to my router and shares content with my main PC. This is how the new HTPC will be also. Both will be hardwired into the router. They wount have anything to do with one-another and will work independently as all my content that is being shared with them is on the main pc.

So what do i need to do in ATI to create an image that i can just mount onto the new HTPC...?

marc2003 · 16 Sep 2008 at 08:47

sorry if my above post was misleading. you're still going to have the same issue even if they don't need to direct access to each other. assuming you want to connect to both from your main pc, then you'll have the exact same issue with the identical security id on each machine. basically they cannot function on the same lan without running sysprep first.

bledd · 16 Sep 2008 at 09:14

yup

do what marc said, need to sysprep if they're on the same network

sysprep is easy to use, and part of the xp disc, google up on it

run sysprep, then before the pc restarts, take an image

Burnsy2023 · 16 Sep 2008 at 09:15

marc2003 said:
sorry if my above post was misleading. you're still going to have the same issue even if they don't need to direct access to each other. assuming you want to connect to both from your main pc, then you'll have the exact same issue with the identical security id on each machine. basically they cannot function on the same lan without running sysprep first.

SIDs are pretty much dynamic now. I've done what has been suggested many times and not had any issue, although running sysprep wouldn't do any harm.

marc2003 · 16 Sep 2008 at 09:23

Burnsy2023 said:
SIDs are pretty much dynamic now. I've done what has been suggested many times and not had any issue

ah right. i wasn't aware of this.

Burnsy2023 · 16 Sep 2008 at 10:11

It's was a big problem on NT4, but from 2000 onwards they became dynamic irrc.

bledd · 16 Sep 2008 at 10:18

burnsy is most likely correct then

but you'll want to change the computername at least

Burnsy2023 · 16 Sep 2008 at 10:19

bledd. said:
burnsy is most likely correct then

but you'll want to change the computername at least

Don't get me wrong. Running a sysprep is a good idea, just not required.

wesley · 16 Sep 2008 at 10:38

yeah sysprep is not needed unless they're on domain (server 2000 or above)

Burnsy2023 · 16 Sep 2008 at 10:39

wesley said:
yeah sysprep is not needed unless they're on domain (server 2000 or above)

Although if you rename a machine and redomain it you also regenerate SIDs avoiding the need for a sysprep

bledd · 16 Sep 2008 at 10:53

good to know, will save me some setup time in the future

Terrier_Jimlad · 16 Sep 2008 at 10:54

prefer to run NewSID rather than sysprep if you're only after a new SID/Computer Name ... freebie MsFt tool

photoshop · 16 Sep 2008 at 11:07

So im going to go down the route of not running sysprep (as it is not required) is my original idea of creating an image from the existing one and mounting it on the new one going to work??

As for the new HTPC being identical (which some say might cause an issue), couldnt i just change the "computer name" etc after i have mounted the image on to it (before i hook it up to the router)?

bledd · 16 Sep 2008 at 11:18

that's what we're saying you should do mate

Burnsy2023 · 16 Sep 2008 at 11:57

photoshop said:
So im going to go down the route of not running sysprep (as it is not required) is my original idea of creating an image from the existing one and mounting it on the new one going to work??

Just so we get the lingo clear, you're not mounting an image, you're cloning from one driver to another by imaging.