Migrating my current HD into a new machine and preserving programs. Possible?

[jeanclaude]

So here is my situation. Any suggestions and/or advice would be appreciated.

I am about to move to a new office – different department, different subnet and unfortunately different computer. I asked to take my machine with me (easiest solution) but it was not feasible.

My computer is hooked up to our local intranet and I have access to a number of on-line hard drives. I also have to log in at the startup using my ID number.

That said, I have installed and purchased a number of programs on this computer, plus modifications, plus all of my data and files – is there anyway that I could make a copy of my HD and toss it in my new computer once I change offices? Both are Win XP machines and Dell desktops if that is important.

Ideally I would like to have my old desktop follow me. It would save a lot of time. If I could bring a cloned copy and simply swap hard drives it would make life much easier but I know that is full of inherent technical problems.

Can anyone suggest a solution? And the IT guys in both places are territorial and not inclined to do any more than they have to. The solution I have been given is to suck it up and reinstall everything. This may be my only choice but I thought I’d inquire first.

Cheers.

 

[Blain]

At worst you'd have to use Fix HDC to delete the HD controller.
But if the machines are close enough in specs, you may be able to just slap in your old HD and boot right up.

One thing you could do for a "just in case" scenario is to clone your HD to a spare before you pull the original.
If drives have been running in one position for a long time, moving them may knock dust loose from the internal filter and the dust may cause platter damage.

 

[jeanclaude]

> if the machines are close enough in specs, you may be able to just slap in your old HD and boot right up.

I tried a test run already with my home machine, another Dell, and it failed. It booted normally through the XP welcome screen and then a fatal error screen flashed by so quickly I almost missed it and everything shut down.

I pulled the cloned HD and put it back in my office machine. It reads/writes - no worries.

 

[piasabird]

Dell may put proprietary versions of windows on their systems.

Well you could try booting into safe mode maybe. Then you could try a repair install using the original install disk. Sometimes you can install the chipset drivers and that will fix a lot of problems.

Of course Microsoft will tell you this may be illegal use of their software license.

 

[hulkhelton]

you can use the newest acronis, and it will do a sysprep restore which lets you restore to any computer. i "know" someone who has 1 license of windows 7 and keeps it updated and then makes a backup with acronis and restores it to all of her computers...

 

[lmccrary]

Whenever an opportunity to do a complete install presents itself, I take it. Yes, it is more work, but it gives you a chance to fix issues or to make changes that a system image can't provide. This all assumes you have the program disks and such.

 

[Blain]

> if the machines are close enough in specs, you may be able to just slap in your old HD and boot right up.

I tried a test run already with my home machine, another Dell, and it failed. It booted normally through the XP welcome screen and then a fatal error screen flashed by so quickly I almost missed it and everything shut down.

I pulled the cloned HD and put it back in my office machine. It reads/writes - no worries.

You'll need to run Fix HDC to move the old HD into a different system.

BTW, Was your home machine the same model as the office machines?

 

[mfenn]

You'll need to run Fix HDC to move the old HD into a different system.

BTW, Was your home machine the same model as the office machines?

Yeah, them both just being "Dell" is probably not close enough. If they are both the same model and generation of Dell Optiplex (or whatever), then you will very likely be able to just swap the drives. Otherwise, you'll need to do the Fix HDC thing or use something like Acronis's "Universal Restore" functionality.

Also, does the OP work for a university? That's the only type of organization that I could imagine being so dysfunctional as to both have multiple separate IT departments and let users install whatever programs they want on their desktop.