Guest voipfc Posted July 19, 2007 Posted July 19, 2007 I am getting a new computer and I plan to transfer the old computer to it without having to reinstall all the programs again. Can Acronis True Image with its Universal Restore option do the job well enough? Are there any good experiences with it? Having to reinstall all the programs again will be a huge problem. There is also the issue of the Windows XP license. The old machine will also be in use and I want to avoid problems with Windows Updates. Will it be possible to replace the license key on the new machine with its original license after the copy? - voipfc
Guest Uncle Grumpy Posted July 19, 2007 Posted July 19, 2007 Re: Acronis Universal Restore voipfc <voipfc@googlemail.com> wrote: >I am getting a new computer and I plan to transfer the old computer to >it without having to reinstall all the programs again. I would use Acronis to clone your existing drive to the one in the new computer. Then I would do a repair install of that installation. If you continue to use the old computer, you'd be in violation of the EULA for your copy of Windows.
Guest Merlin Posted July 19, 2007 Posted July 19, 2007 Re: Acronis Universal Restore "voipfc" <voipfc@googlemail.com> wrote in message news:1184806077.300997.258470@g12g2000prg.googlegroups.com... > > I am getting a new computer and I plan to transfer the old computer to > it without having to reinstall all the programs again. > > Can Acronis True Image with its Universal Restore option do the job > well enough? > > Are there any good experiences with it? > > Having to reinstall all the programs again will be a huge problem. > > There is also the issue of the Windows XP license. The old machine > will also be in use and I want to avoid problems with Windows Updates. > Will it be possible to replace the license key on the new machine with > its original license after the copy? > > - voipfc > Not only would you have to do a repair install as Uncle Grumpy has mentioned but unless both machine have pretty much identical hardware you will neeed to replace all your device drivers as well.
Guest Pegasus \(MVP\) Posted July 19, 2007 Posted July 19, 2007 Re: Acronis Universal Restore "voipfc" <voipfc@googlemail.com> wrote in message news:1184806077.300997.258470@g12g2000prg.googlegroups.com... > > I am getting a new computer and I plan to transfer the old computer to > it without having to reinstall all the programs again. > > Can Acronis True Image with its Universal Restore option do the job > well enough? > > Are there any good experiences with it? > > Having to reinstall all the programs again will be a huge problem. > > There is also the issue of the Windows XP license. The old machine > will also be in use and I want to avoid problems with Windows Updates. > Will it be possible to replace the license key on the new machine with > its original license after the copy? > > - voipfc > It seems some of the other respondents are not familiar with Universal restore. Yes, Acronis Universal Restore can do the job pretty well. During its restoration process it forces a hardware scan in much the same way as an original installation of Windows does. Make sure to have your various hardware drivers handy. The product key is an entirely different matter. You will probably have to ring Microsoft and explain that you're retiring one PC and using Windows on a different machine. They will give you a new product key but only if you have a retail licence. AFAIK, OEM licence are tied to the physical machine.
Guest voipfc Posted July 19, 2007 Posted July 19, 2007 Re: Acronis Universal Restore On Jul 19, 9:03 am, "Pegasus \(MVP\)" <I....@fly.com> wrote: > "voipfc" <voi...@googlemail.com> wrote in message > > news:1184806077.300997.258470@g12g2000prg.googlegroups.com... > > > > > > > I am getting a new computer and I plan to transfer the old computer to > > it without having to reinstall all the programs again. > > > Can Acronis True Image with its Universal Restore option do the job > > well enough? > > > Are there any good experiences with it? > > > Having to reinstall all the programs again will be a huge problem. > > > There is also the issue of the Windows XP license. The old machine > > will also be in use and I want to avoid problems with Windows Updates. > > Will it be possible to replace the license key on the new machine with > > its original license after the copy? > > > - voipfc > > It seems some of the other respondents are not familiar > with Universal restore. > > Yes, Acronis Universal Restore can do the job pretty well. > During its restoration process it forces a hardware scan in > much the same way as an original installation of Windows > does. Make sure to have your various hardware drivers > handy. > > The product key is an entirely different matter. You will > probably have to ring Microsoft and explain that you're > retiring one PC and using Windows on a different machine. > They will give you a new product key but only if you have > a retail licence. AFAIK, OEM licence are tied to the > physical machine. This is what I am worried about as the old one is not being retired. It will be used for a different purpose or as a spare machine once the transfer is accomplished safely. The new machine has its own license as well and I'd like to reset it back once the transfer is successful. Isn't there a way of achieving that? I thought there was some SID or something that could be reset. Aren't there some tools that can extract the key before the transfer and apply it after? - voipfc
Guest Pegasus \(MVP\) Posted July 19, 2007 Posted July 19, 2007 Re: Acronis Universal Restore "voipfc" <voipfc@googlemail.com> wrote in message news:1184869859.516521.81810@w3g2000hsg.googlegroups.com... > On Jul 19, 9:03 am, "Pegasus \(MVP\)" <I....@fly.com> wrote: >> "voipfc" <voi...@googlemail.com> wrote in message >> >> news:1184806077.300997.258470@g12g2000prg.googlegroups.com... >> >> >> >> >> >> > I am getting a new computer and I plan to transfer the old computer to >> > it without having to reinstall all the programs again. >> >> > Can Acronis True Image with its Universal Restore option do the job >> > well enough? >> >> > Are there any good experiences with it? >> >> > Having to reinstall all the programs again will be a huge problem. >> >> > There is also the issue of the Windows XP license. The old machine >> > will also be in use and I want to avoid problems with Windows Updates. >> > Will it be possible to replace the license key on the new machine with >> > its original license after the copy? >> >> > - voipfc >> >> It seems some of the other respondents are not familiar >> with Universal restore. >> >> Yes, Acronis Universal Restore can do the job pretty well. >> During its restoration process it forces a hardware scan in >> much the same way as an original installation of Windows >> does. Make sure to have your various hardware drivers >> handy. >> >> The product key is an entirely different matter. You will >> probably have to ring Microsoft and explain that you're >> retiring one PC and using Windows on a different machine. >> They will give you a new product key but only if you have >> a retail licence. AFAIK, OEM licence are tied to the >> physical machine. > > This is what I am worried about as the old one is not being retired. > It will be used for a different purpose or as a spare machine once the > transfer is accomplished safely. > > The new machine has its own license as well and I'd like to reset it > back once the transfer is successful. > Isn't there a way of achieving that? I thought there was some SID or > something that could be reset. > > Aren't there some tools that can extract the key before the transfer > and apply it after? > > - voipfc > > You could use KeyUpdateTool.exe (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=50346&clcid=0x409), but only AFTER the cloning, not before. If you don't know the existing Windows product key on the target machine then it's high time for you to create a list of all product keys in your business. You have a lot of money invested in your software licences and not having such a list is negligent. Use jellybean (http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml) or Aida32 (http://www.aumha.org/freeware/freeware.php#aida32) to extract your existing keys.
Guest voipfc Posted July 24, 2007 Posted July 24, 2007 Re: Acronis Universal Restore On Jul 19, 7:55 pm, "Pegasus \(MVP\)" <I....@fly.com> wrote: > "voipfc" <voi...@googlemail.com> wrote in message > > news:1184869859.516521.81810@w3g2000hsg.googlegroups.com... > > > > > On Jul 19, 9:03 am, "Pegasus \(MVP\)" <I....@fly.com> wrote: > >> "voipfc" <voi...@googlemail.com> wrote in message > > >>news:1184806077.300997.258470@g12g2000prg.googlegroups.com... > > >> > I am getting a new computer and I plan to transfer the old computer to > >> > it without having to reinstall all the programs again. > > >> > Can Acronis True Image with its Universal Restore option do the job > >> > well enough? > > >> > Are there any good experiences with it? > > >> > Having to reinstall all the programs again will be a huge problem. > > >> > There is also the issue of the Windows XP license. The old machine > >> > will also be in use and I want to avoid problems with Windows Updates. > >> > Will it be possible to replace the license key on the new machine with > >> > its original license after the copy? > > >> > - voipfc > > >> It seems some of the other respondents are not familiar > >> with Universal restore. > > >> Yes, Acronis Universal Restore can do the job pretty well. > >> During its restoration process it forces a hardware scan in > >> much the same way as an original installation of Windows > >> does. Make sure to have your various hardware drivers > >> handy. > > >> The product key is an entirely different matter. You will > >> probably have to ring Microsoft and explain that you're > >> retiring one PC and using Windows on a different machine. > >> They will give you a new product key but only if you have > >> a retail licence. AFAIK, OEM licence are tied to the > >> physical machine. > > > This is what I am worried about as the old one is not being retired. > > It will be used for a different purpose or as a spare machine once the > > transfer is accomplished safely. > > > The new machine has its own license as well and I'd like to reset it > > back once the transfer is successful. > > Isn't there a way of achieving that? I thought there was some SID or > > something that could be reset. > > > Aren't there some tools that can extract the key before the transfer > > and apply it after? > > > - voipfc > > You could use KeyUpdateTool.exe > (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=50346&clcid=0x409), > but only AFTER the cloning, not before. > > If you don't know the existing Windows product key on the > target machine then it's high time for you to create a list of all > product keys in your business. You have a lot of money invested > in your software licences and not having such a list is negligent. > Use jellybean (http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml) > or Aida32 (http://www.aumha.org/freeware/freeware.php#aida32) > to extract your existing keys. I have just tried it on an HP xw4400. I point Acronis Universal Restore to the COMPAQ directory that contains the drivers, as well as a graphics card I added. The whole restore process went smoothly without any hitches or prompting for drivers. However when I restart I receive the error \%windows%\system32\hal.dll cannot be found or is corrupted. I did not include the MBR restore option as the machines are different. The HD is SATA system as well, but I would presume that the transfer process found all the necessary files from the COMPAQ driver directory Any help at this stage? I have the feeling that There are a few questions
Guest Pegasus \(MVP\) Posted July 24, 2007 Posted July 24, 2007 Re: Acronis Universal Restore "voipfc" <voipfc@googlemail.com> wrote in message news:1185273127.328153.216760@m3g2000hsh.googlegroups.com... > On Jul 19, 7:55 pm, "Pegasus \(MVP\)" <I....@fly.com> wrote: >> "voipfc" <voi...@googlemail.com> wrote in message >> >> news:1184869859.516521.81810@w3g2000hsg.googlegroups.com... >> >> >> >> > On Jul 19, 9:03 am, "Pegasus \(MVP\)" <I....@fly.com> wrote: >> >> "voipfc" <voi...@googlemail.com> wrote in message >> >> >>news:1184806077.300997.258470@g12g2000prg.googlegroups.com... >> >> >> > I am getting a new computer and I plan to transfer the old computer >> >> > to >> >> > it without having to reinstall all the programs again. >> >> >> > Can Acronis True Image with its Universal Restore option do the job >> >> > well enough? >> >> >> > Are there any good experiences with it? >> >> >> > Having to reinstall all the programs again will be a huge problem. >> >> >> > There is also the issue of the Windows XP license. The old machine >> >> > will also be in use and I want to avoid problems with Windows >> >> > Updates. >> >> > Will it be possible to replace the license key on the new machine >> >> > with >> >> > its original license after the copy? >> >> >> > - voipfc >> >> >> It seems some of the other respondents are not familiar >> >> with Universal restore. >> >> >> Yes, Acronis Universal Restore can do the job pretty well. >> >> During its restoration process it forces a hardware scan in >> >> much the same way as an original installation of Windows >> >> does. Make sure to have your various hardware drivers >> >> handy. >> >> >> The product key is an entirely different matter. You will >> >> probably have to ring Microsoft and explain that you're >> >> retiring one PC and using Windows on a different machine. >> >> They will give you a new product key but only if you have >> >> a retail licence. AFAIK, OEM licence are tied to the >> >> physical machine. >> >> > This is what I am worried about as the old one is not being retired. >> > It will be used for a different purpose or as a spare machine once the >> > transfer is accomplished safely. >> >> > The new machine has its own license as well and I'd like to reset it >> > back once the transfer is successful. >> > Isn't there a way of achieving that? I thought there was some SID or >> > something that could be reset. >> >> > Aren't there some tools that can extract the key before the transfer >> > and apply it after? >> >> > - voipfc >> >> You could use KeyUpdateTool.exe >> (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=50346&clcid=0x409), >> but only AFTER the cloning, not before. >> >> If you don't know the existing Windows product key on the >> target machine then it's high time for you to create a list of all >> product keys in your business. You have a lot of money invested >> in your software licences and not having such a list is negligent. >> Use jellybean (http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml) >> or Aida32 (http://www.aumha.org/freeware/freeware.php#aida32) >> to extract your existing keys. > > I have just tried it on an HP xw4400. I point Acronis Universal > Restore to the COMPAQ directory that contains the drivers, as well as > a graphics card I added. > > The whole restore process went smoothly without any hitches or > prompting for drivers. However when I restart I receive the error > > > \%windows%\system32\hal.dll cannot be found or is corrupted. > > I did not include the MBR restore option as the machines are > different. The HD is SATA system as well, but I would presume that the > transfer process found all the necessary files from the COMPAQ driver > directory > > Any help at this stage? > > I have the feeling that > > There are a few questions > Try this: - Format a floppy disk on some other WinXP/2000 PC. - Copy these files from the \i386 folder of your WinXP CD to A:\ ntldr ntdetect.com - Create a file a:\boot.ini with these lines [boot loader] timeout=3 default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS [operating systems] multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="1 Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="2 Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINDOWS="3 Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="4 Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(2)\WINDOWS="5 Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(3)\WINDOWS="6 Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn - Boot the machine with this floppy. Try all 6 boot options and report which one (if any) works.
Guest voipfc Posted July 27, 2007 Posted July 27, 2007 Re: Acronis Universal Restore On Jul 24, 12:44 pm, "Pegasus \(MVP\)" <I....@fly.com> wrote: > "voipfc" <voi...@googlemail.com> wrote in message > > news:1185273127.328153.216760@m3g2000hsh.googlegroups.com... > > > > > On Jul 19, 7:55 pm, "Pegasus \(MVP\)" <I....@fly.com> wrote: > >> "voipfc" <voi...@googlemail.com> wrote in message > > >>news:1184869859.516521.81810@w3g2000hsg.googlegroups.com... > > >> > On Jul 19, 9:03 am, "Pegasus \(MVP\)" <I....@fly.com> wrote: > >> >> "voipfc" <voi...@googlemail.com> wrote in message > > >> >>news:1184806077.300997.258470@g12g2000prg.googlegroups.com... > > >> >> > I am getting a new computer and I plan to transfer the old computer > >> >> > to > >> >> > it without having to reinstall all the programs again. > > >> >> > Can Acronis True Image with its Universal Restore option do the job > >> >> > well enough? > > >> >> > Are there any good experiences with it? > > >> >> > Having to reinstall all the programs again will be a huge problem. > > >> >> > There is also the issue of the Windows XP license. The old machine > >> >> > will also be in use and I want to avoid problems with Windows > >> >> > Updates. > >> >> > Will it be possible to replace the license key on the new machine > >> >> > with > >> >> > its original license after the copy? > > >> >> > - voipfc > > >> >> It seems some of the other respondents are not familiar > >> >> with Universal restore. > > >> >> Yes, Acronis Universal Restore can do the job pretty well. > >> >> During its restoration process it forces a hardware scan in > >> >> much the same way as an original installation of Windows > >> >> does. Make sure to have your various hardware drivers > >> >> handy. > > >> >> The product key is an entirely different matter. You will > >> >> probably have to ring Microsoft and explain that you're > >> >> retiring one PC and using Windows on a different machine. > >> >> They will give you a new product key but only if you have > >> >> a retail licence. AFAIK, OEM licence are tied to the > >> >> physical machine. > > >> > This is what I am worried about as the old one is not being retired. > >> > It will be used for a different purpose or as a spare machine once the > >> > transfer is accomplished safely. > > >> > The new machine has its own license as well and I'd like to reset it > >> > back once the transfer is successful. > >> > Isn't there a way of achieving that? I thought there was some SID or > >> > something that could be reset. > > >> > Aren't there some tools that can extract the key before the transfer > >> > and apply it after? > > >> > - voipfc > > >> You could use KeyUpdateTool.exe > >> (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=50346&clcid=0x409), > >> but only AFTER the cloning, not before. > > >> If you don't know the existing Windows product key on the > >> target machine then it's high time for you to create a list of all > >> product keys in your business. You have a lot of money invested > >> in your software licences and not having such a list is negligent. > >> Use jellybean (http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml) > >> or Aida32 (http://www.aumha.org/freeware/freeware.php#aida32) > >> to extract your existing keys. > > > I have just tried it on an HP xw4400. I point Acronis Universal > > Restore to the COMPAQ directory that contains the drivers, as well as > > a graphics card I added. > > > The whole restore process went smoothly without any hitches or > > prompting for drivers. However when I restart I receive the error > > > \%windows%\system32\hal.dll cannot be found or is corrupted. > > > I did not include the MBR restore option as the machines are > > different. The HD is SATA system as well, but I would presume that the > > transfer process found all the necessary files from the COMPAQ driver > > directory > > > Any help at this stage? > > > I have the feeling that > > > There are a few questions > > Try this: > - Format a floppy disk on some other WinXP/2000 PC. > - Copy these files from the \i386 folder of your WinXP CD to A:\ > ntldr > ntdetect.com > - Create a file a:\boot.ini with these lines > [boot loader] > timeout=3 > default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS > [operating systems] > multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="1 Microsoft Windows XP > Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn > multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="2 Microsoft Windows XP > Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn > multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINDOWS="3 Microsoft Windows XP > Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn > multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="4 Microsoft Windows XP > Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn > multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(2)\WINDOWS="5 Microsoft Windows XP > Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn > multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(3)\WINDOWS="6 Microsoft Windows XP > Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn > - Boot the machine with this floppy. Try all 6 boot options > and report which one (if any) works. I tried the option and it was the first option. It turns out that the recovery partition and the main windows partition are different on the new system. It is what I suspected and if my 3 year old BartPE had SATA compatible drivers I probably would have been able to fix it right away. In the case of the Key recovery two machines of the exact model reported the same license keys which were different from those pasted on the side of the case. Hmm.
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