making Cloned HD bootable, under Xp

[alfie2]

This is for those who askes: why after using HD cloning software, I can not boot to WinXp.
{the new drive boots to WindowXp Welcome screen and hangs(Stops there)}
This occurs, because Winxp looks for boot info in your OLD HD.
Note: Your cloning will boot, if your OLD HD still has WinXp on it, however,
if you reformat the old HD after cloning or you remove the old HD from the System then hanging happens. Also, if you do a "Repair Install", the cloned HD will boot, but some of your softwares might not work anymore.

Following assumes you have old HD as 'C: ' and new HD as 'E: ' and you wanted keep the old HD as Slave[ it will work if you remove the old HD too, after cloning], if your new HD drive-letter is('F: ', 'G: ' ...), replace the 'E:' with your drive-letter.

Change the System/Boot Drive Letter from your old HD(drive C: ) to your NEW HD (drive E: )
(Note: WinXp will not allow you to change current boot drive( C: ) letter in 'Disk Management')

Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall your operating system. Modify the registry at your own risk.

1. MAKE A FULL SYSTEM BACKUP of your computer and system state. Also create a Restore point before you begin this.
2. Log on as an Administrator.
3. Run Regedit (Start -> Run ->type 'regedit')
4. Go to the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\MountedDevices
( click on 'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE' ->'SYSTEM' ->'MountedDevices'
enlarge the view area of "Name" by clicking and dragging on the boundary between 'Name' and 'Type, if you can not see "\DosDevices\xxx" fully.
5. Find the drive letter you want to change to (new). Look for "\DosDevices\C:".
6. Right-click \DosDevices\C:, and then click Rename.
7. Rename it to an unused drive letter "\DosDevices\Z:", for example. This frees up drive letter C.
8. Find the drive letter you want changed. in this example,look for "\DosDevices\E:".
9. Right-click \DosDevices\E:, and then click Rename.
10. Rename the (new)drive letter from "\DosDevices\E:" to "\DosDevices\C:".
11. Click the value for \DosDevices\Z:, rightclick Rename, and then name it to "\DosDevices\E:".
12. Restart the computer with the Maxblast 4 CD or Floppy in(or whatever disk cloning software you are using).
13. Do your disk cloning(this could take hours, depends on drvie size)
14. Restart computer with the new Master/Slave setting you selected.
15. reformat or clear your old disk.
Feel free to comment if there is errors or omission. I wanted to write this, 'cause, it was frustrating to discover WinXp will not boot after spending hours on cloning.