disk image

[roadtrash]

I recently reformated my main drive and reinstalled windows. You know what a pain this is, getting drivers and programs all working right. I spent the better part of a day getting my system and network settings just like I want them. Is there any way to make an image of my drive to make this process easier in the future. I would like to make an image disk that i can use to "plug and play" to set my system up as it is today. It would obviously take multiple disks, but that would sure beat this

Thanks

[Force Flow]

DriveXML (free). I've tried this, but have not yet tried to restore from an image with this.

Acronis TrueImage (Runs about $50, I think)

EZ-Gig, which comes with Apricorn drive enclosures. (the enclosure is about $50 from newegg). This is a good option if you want to get a large drive for external backups.

[RayH]

Drive Image XML works great. But you will need a full copy of Windows and BART PE to make the boot disk for recovery.

[pam123]

Acronis, but you've heard that.

What was you're backup?

We might be able to save you some steps.

[Tregrad]

I hope im not hijacking someones thread but I have kind of the same thing going on here.
I have a emachine and i want to clone or copy or what ever you would do to get all the info and programs off the emachine and put it onto a new custom computer. I have programs on the emachine that i need but dont have the cd's for anymore and i want to keep them. I did use the trial version of acronis to make a clone of the emachine hdd onto the new hdd. I tried to put it into the new (non emachine) pc and it didnt work. I put the new xp cd in the new pc and tried to do a "repair" to no avail.
any ideas on what to do. I am totally new at doing something like this so please explain each step if you will.

thanks

[rjfvillarosa]

Originally Posted by Tregrad I did use the trial version of acronis to make a clone of the emachine hdd onto the new hdd. I tried to put it into the new (non emachine) pc and it didnt work.

It's not going to work for the same reasons you cannot move a harddrive from one machine to another, the motherboard drivers are going to be different and the machine simply will not boot.

[Tregrad]

I was referred to this thread on a diff section. maybe this can help here as well.

Repair Reinstallation of Windows XP (using XP CD)

post 3 is the one that i was told to pay attention to, but I think that is just for moving a hdd and not cloning one. Im not very clear on this whole process as ive never done anything like it before.

here is the whole thread where i was asking about the same thing.and was referred to the above thread.

http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=207589

[rjfvillarosa]

What G. is saying there is that by deleting the drivers for the harddrive controllers hopefully when you move the harddrive to a new machine on boot up Windows will detect new hardware and attempt to install the drivers for it, namely the harddrive controller.
I have actually successfully moved harddrives from one motherboard to another on several occasions, BUT, I think this is because the version of Windows I have been moving was a full retail CD install and not a slimmed down OEM version like what you get on a pre-build like Dell, HP or EMachine. The OEM installs probably dont come with the native drivers for all types of hardware and therefore don't have the drivers required also on a lot of pre-builts the Windows install is tied to the OEM bios of the pre-built.
Which programs do you not have the CD's for?

[Tregrad]

one is a game i play and others are information programs I use for work etc.

besides its a pain it the rear to re-load all the programs etc. when ever ya need to get a new pc. should i show you what is in the emachine device manager? if so i will have to get it later, i have to go to work right now.

thanks for your help.

[rjfvillarosa]

Post a screenshot of your Device Manager in your original thread, we have hijacked roadtrash's thread a little here.

[Tregrad]

ok sorry bout that roadtrash.

rj, I put a screenshot of my device manager in the other thread.
Maybe roadtrash can get some ideas from that thread as well?