Foiled Again? XP Not Quite Recovered

[Guest Watty]

Here's the short tale of my story.

a. C-drive fails

b. All contents of the c-drive are captured onto an external drive

c. XP is installed on a new drive.

d. unstoppable copier puts contents of external on new drive. Program

Files folders and all else are replaced with the 'old' folders

e. Put new c-drive into machine and boot up

 

Supposedly the new drive should be identical to the original. True or false?

 

In my case, it wasn't, but the desktop looked good. However, few if any

apps from there would fire up. One large non-MS app fires up. Icons are

missing from the tray. Folder contents seem to be in order. All Start

items are available.

[Guest Andrew E.]

RE: Foiled Again? XP Not Quite Recovered

 

Well if C: drive failed,then that would automatically require a new XP

installation,probably on new hd & all other non-essential hardware discon-

nected..How the printer moved OS files around is a mystery,unless its

connected during the xp installation...Also,boot to xp cd to install OS.

 

"Watty" wrote:

> Here's the short tale of my story.

> a. C-drive fails

> b. All contents of the c-drive are captured onto an external drive

> c. XP is installed on a new drive.

> d. unstoppable copier puts contents of external on new drive. Program

> Files folders and all else are replaced with the 'old' folders

> e. Put new c-drive into machine and boot up

>

> Supposedly the new drive should be identical to the original. True or false?

>

> In my case, it wasn't, but the desktop looked good. However, few if any

> apps from there would fire up. One large non-MS app fires up. Icons are

> missing from the tray. Folder contents seem to be in order. All Start

> items are available.

>

[Guest Daave]

Re: Foiled Again? XP Not Quite Recovered

 

"Watty" <notvalid@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message

news:PlAGk.1762$hc1.1732@flpi150.ffdc.sbc.com...

> Here's the short tale of my story.

> a. C-drive fails

> b. All contents of the c-drive are captured onto an external drive

> c. XP is installed on a new drive.

> d. unstoppable copier puts contents of external on new drive. Program

> Files folders and all else are replaced with the 'old' folders

> e. Put new c-drive into machine and boot up

>

> Supposedly the new drive should be identical to the original. True or

> false?

>

> In my case, it wasn't, but the desktop looked good. However, few if

> any apps from there would fire up. One large non-MS app fires up.

> Icons are missing from the tray. Folder contents seem to be in order.

> All Start items are available.

 

Had you imaged the old hard drive and then restored the image to the new

hard drive, then it would have been identical. But it sounds like you

merely copied data, and this doesn't work (generally) for programs. You

will need to reinstall the programs.

 

Do yourself a favor and in the future be sure to regularly use a program

like Acronis True Image. Then you'll never have to worry about losing

your customized system ever again.

[Guest Watty]

Re: Foiled Again? XP Not Quite Recovered

 

Daave wrote:

> "Watty" <notvalid@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message

> news:PlAGk.1762$hc1.1732@flpi150.ffdc.sbc.com...

>> Here's the short tale of my story.

>> a. C-drive fails

>> b. All contents of the c-drive are captured onto an external drive

>> c. XP is installed on a new drive.

>> d. unstoppable copier puts contents of external on new drive. Program

>> Files folders and all else are replaced with the 'old' folders

>> e. Put new c-drive into machine and boot up

>>

>> Supposedly the new drive should be identical to the original. True or

>> false?

>>

>> In my case, it wasn't, but the desktop looked good. However, few if

>> any apps from there would fire up. One large non-MS app fires up.

>> Icons are missing from the tray. Folder contents seem to be in order.

>> All Start items are available.

>

> Had you imaged the old hard drive and then restored the image to the new

> hard drive, then it would have been identical. But it sounds like you

> merely copied data, and this doesn't work (generally) for programs. You

> will need to reinstall the programs.

>

> Do yourself a favor and in the future be sure to regularly use a program

> like Acronis True Image. Then you'll never have to worry about losing

> your customized system ever again.

>

>

I think unstoppable is an image copy. That's what it looked like to me

as it showed copy activity.

 

If it's not, then where do I get Acronis or a free package?

 

Apparently then, I did the right thing in expected the master boot

sector to be created, so the old XP would be used.

[Guest Watty]

Re: Foiled Again? XP Not Quite Recovered

 

Andrew E. wrote:

> Well if C: drive failed,then that would automatically require a new XP

> installation,probably on new hd & all other non-essential hardware discon-

> nected..How the printer moved OS files around is a mystery,unless its

> connected during the xp installation...Also,boot to xp cd to install OS.

>

> "Watty" wrote:

>

>> Here's the short tale of my story.

>> a. C-drive fails

>> b. All contents of the c-drive are captured onto an external drive

>> c. XP is installed on a new drive.

>> d. unstoppable copier puts contents of external on new drive. Program

>> Files folders and all else are replaced with the 'old' folders

>> e. Put new c-drive into machine and boot up

>>

>> Supposedly the new drive should be identical to the original. True or false?

>>

>> In my case, it wasn't, but the desktop looked good. However, few if any

>> apps from there would fire up. One large non-MS app fires up. Icons are

>> missing from the tray. Folder contents seem to be in order. All Start

>> items are available.

>>

Printer?

 

In principle then,what I did should have worked. I think the software is

an image copier. The trick in all this was to create a boot sector, so I

am told.

[Guest Mick Murphy]

Re: Foiled Again? XP Not Quite Recovered

 

Unstoppable copier is for Data recovery from bad files!

Google it!

 

http://www.acronis.com.au/

 

Acronis True Image; you buy it.

--

Mad Mike

 

 

"Watty" wrote:

> Daave wrote:

> > "Watty" <notvalid@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message

> > news:PlAGk.1762$hc1.1732@flpi150.ffdc.sbc.com...

> >> Here's the short tale of my story.

> >> a. C-drive fails

> >> b. All contents of the c-drive are captured onto an external drive

> >> c. XP is installed on a new drive.

> >> d. unstoppable copier puts contents of external on new drive. Program

> >> Files folders and all else are replaced with the 'old' folders

> >> e. Put new c-drive into machine and boot up

> >>

> >> Supposedly the new drive should be identical to the original. True or

> >> false?

> >>

> >> In my case, it wasn't, but the desktop looked good. However, few if

> >> any apps from there would fire up. One large non-MS app fires up.

> >> Icons are missing from the tray. Folder contents seem to be in order.

> >> All Start items are available.

> >

> > Had you imaged the old hard drive and then restored the image to the new

> > hard drive, then it would have been identical. But it sounds like you

> > merely copied data, and this doesn't work (generally) for programs. You

> > will need to reinstall the programs.

> >

> > Do yourself a favor and in the future be sure to regularly use a program

> > like Acronis True Image. Then you'll never have to worry about losing

> > your customized system ever again.

> >

> >

> I think unstoppable is an image copy. That's what it looked like to me

> as it showed copy activity.

>

> If it's not, then where do I get Acronis or a free package?

>

> Apparently then, I did the right thing in expected the master boot

> sector to be created, so the old XP would be used.

>

[Guest Watty]

Re: Foiled Again? XP Not Quite Recovered

 

Mick Murphy wrote:

> Unstoppable copier is for Data recovery from bad files!

> Google it!

>

> http://www.acronis.com.au/

>

> Acronis True Image; you buy it.

But is it an image copy, and not simply a transfer?

[Guest Paul]

Re: Foiled Again? XP Not Quite Recovered

 

Watty wrote:

> Mick Murphy wrote:

>> Unstoppable copier is for Data recovery from bad files!

>> Google it!

>>

>> http://www.acronis.com.au/

>>

>> Acronis True Image; you buy it.

> But is it an image copy, and not simply a transfer?

 

You have forgotten one other useful resource. When you

buy the new hard drive, you can go to the manufacturer's

web site, and download their tools.

 

Say you bought a Seagate drive.

 

Discwizard manual. The logo on the first page of the manual

says "powered by Acronis" :-)

 

http://www.seagate.com/support/discwizard/dw_ug.en.pdf

 

Discwizard program download.

http://www.seagate.com/ww/v/index.jsp?locale=en-US&name=DiscWizard&vgnextoid=d9fd4a3cdde5c010VgnVCM100000dd04090aRCRD

 

I think I see a "clone disk" option in the manual. If

the program was installed on a second computer, and the

old and new drives were connected to that second computer,

then you should be able to clone one drive to the other.

(There are undoubtedly other options, if you're a rocket

scientist.)

 

If you want to perform some repairs to a disk, you can

try this program. Since this is an "in-place" repair, you'd

want to try your best to copy the disk, before running this.

Because there is always a chance, a program like this can

mess up a disk worse than it already is. I really prefer to

work on a copy of a busted thing, because if the repair

goes wrong, I can try again. I learned this many years ago,

when a repair utility ruined a disk for me. Now, the

first thing I try to do, is copy if possible. So even

in that case, a tool like the above could be used to make

that essential copy.

 

http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk_Step_By_Step

 

Paul

[Guest Watty]

Re: Foiled Again? XP Not Quite Recovered

 

Paul wrote:

> Watty wrote:

>> Mick Murphy wrote:

>>> Unstoppable copier is for Data recovery from bad files!

>>> Google it!

>>>

>>> http://www.acronis.com.au/

>>>

>>> Acronis True Image; you buy it.

>

>> But is it an image copy, and not simply a transfer?

>

> You have forgotten one other useful resource. When you

> buy the new hard drive, you can go to the manufacturer's

> web site, and download their tools.

>

> Say you bought a Seagate drive.

>

> Discwizard manual. The logo on the first page of the manual

> says "powered by Acronis" :-)

>

> http://www.seagate.com/support/discwizard/dw_ug.en.pdf

>

> Discwizard program download.

> http://www.seagate.com/ww/v/index.jsp?locale=en-US&name=DiscWizard&vgnextoid=d9fd4a3cdde5c010VgnVCM100000dd04090aRCRD

>

>

> I think I see a "clone disk" option in the manual. If

> the program was installed on a second computer, and the

> old and new drives were connected to that second computer,

> then you should be able to clone one drive to the other.

> (There are undoubtedly other options, if you're a rocket

> scientist.)

>

> If you want to perform some repairs to a disk, you can

> try this program. Since this is an "in-place" repair, you'd

> want to try your best to copy the disk, before running this.

> Because there is always a chance, a program like this can

> mess up a disk worse than it already is. I really prefer to

> work on a copy of a busted thing, because if the repair

> goes wrong, I can try again. I learned this many years ago,

> when a repair utility ruined a disk for me. Now, the

> first thing I try to do, is copy if possible. So even

> in that case, a tool like the above could be used to make

> that essential copy.

>

> http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk_Step_By_Step

>

> Paul

Thanks for the tips. I'll contact WD. I have a 30 day period to get help.

[Guest Watty]

Re: Foiled Again? XP Not Quite Recovered

 

I just noticed something interesting about this re-build from the

restored disk contents. On the Start menu, I see a title that I used in

the install to the new drive. If my unstoppable copier was an image

copy, I would think it would be the old title. ?? Maybe I do need a

different copier program.

[Guest Jim]

Re: Foiled Again? XP Not Quite Recovered

 

 

"Watty" <notvalid@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message

news:3OHGk.2646$ZP4.2383@nlpi067.nbdc.sbc.com...

>I just noticed something interesting about this re-build from the restored

>disk contents. On the Start menu, I see a title that I used in the install

>to the new drive. If my unstoppable copier was an image copy, I would think

>it would be the old title. ?? Maybe I do need a different copier program.

What you need is a good backup program like Acronis True Image.

 

I had a similar experience with my laptop early last spring. The one and

only hard drive died.

 

So, I bought a new one. As it happens, I have a backup to a DVD of the

contents of said hard drive. I also have another computer handy.

I installed the new drive in a USB enclosure and connected the drive to my

other computer.

I got the latest monthly backup DVDs out and created a backup file on a disk

in the other computer.

I then restored the backup to the new laptop disk.

Finally, I installed the new disk into the laptop.

 

In a couple of hours or so, I had my laptop up and running.

Jim

[Guest Ken Blake, MVP]

Re: Foiled Again? XP Not Quite Recovered

 

On Mon, 06 Oct 2008 20:05:11 -0700, Watty <notvalid@sbcglobal.net>

wrote:

> Here's the short tale of my story.

> a. C-drive fails

> b. All contents of the c-drive are captured onto an external drive

 

 

If the drive actually failed, how were you able to do this?

 

> c. XP is installed on a new drive.

> d. unstoppable copier puts contents of external on new drive. Program

> Files folders and all else are replaced with the 'old' folders

> e. Put new c-drive into machine and boot up

>

> Supposedly the new drive should be identical to the original. True or false?

 

 

Since you've said nothing about what software you used to do the

captures/copies, I can't answer that question. But I'll mention that

if you tried to do it with built-in Windows functions, it will never

work properly. Third-party software is required for such functions.

 

 

> In my case, it wasn't, but the desktop looked good. However, few if any

> apps from there would fire up. One large non-MS app fires up. Icons are

> missing from the tray. Folder contents seem to be in order. All Start

> items are available.

 

 

 

Moreover, did you install XP from scratch, them copy your applications

from the backup external drive? If so, that never works for the great

majority of applications. That's because there are pieces of those

applications within the Windows folder (in the registry and elsewhere)

that you lose entirely when you do this.

 

--

Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

Please Reply to the Newsgroup

[Guest Daave]

Re: Foiled Again? XP Not Quite Recovered

 

Ken Blake, MVP wrote:

> On Mon, 06 Oct 2008 20:05:11 -0700, Watty <notvalid@sbcglobal.net>

> wrote:

>

>> Here's the short tale of my story.

>> a. C-drive fails

>> b. All contents of the c-drive are captured onto an external drive

>

>

> If the drive actually failed, how were you able to do this?

 

That's a good question. Does OP mean that the hard drive is shot? (Or on

its way out?) Or does OP mean that although the drive is healthy, the

Windows installation isn't working? What makes this more difficult is OP

is not sticking to the original thread. It looks like he has started six

(!) threads within the last 24 hours. Hard to keep track of all that!

>> c. XP is installed on a new drive.

>> d. unstoppable copier puts contents of external on new drive. Program

>> Files folders and all else are replaced with the 'old' folders

>> e. Put new c-drive into machine and boot up

>>

>> Supposedly the new drive should be identical to the original. True

>> or false?

>

>

> Since you've said nothing about what software you used to do the

> captures/copies, I can't answer that question.

 

Yes, he did. He said that he used some program called "unstoppable

copier."

[hoskerism]

Re: Foiled Again? XP Not Quite Recovered

 

Acronis creates an image of your C: drive, so in theory you should be able to restore your installation to a new drive and away you go...

[Guest Paul]

Re: Foiled Again? XP Not Quite Recovered

 

Watty wrote:

> I just noticed something interesting about this re-build from the

> restored disk contents. On the Start menu, I see a title that I used in

> the install to the new drive. If my unstoppable copier was an image

> copy, I would think it would be the old title. ?? Maybe I do need a

> different copier program.

 

If your new drive is a Western Digital, you can download

their tools for copying a disk.

 

http://support.wdc.com/product/download.asp?groupid=613&sid=1&lang=en

 

"The downloadable Data Lifeguard Tools now comes in both DOS and

Windows versions and was written specifically for the installation

of Western Digital EIDE hard drives. If your computer system already

has a hard drive installed with an operating system of Windows 98SE

or greater, you should use the Windows version of Data Lifeguard for

best results. The DOS version is required if installing a hard drive

in a new system without existing operating system support. If you

plan on copying the contents of a boot drive, Western Digital

recommends using the DOS version of Data Lifeguard Tools."

 

When you go to their download link, they list tools according to what

drive you bought. So that page is just an example.

 

Paul