Link to home
Start Free TrialLog in
Avatar of DFlaschen
DFlaschenFlag for United States of America

asked on

Basic Ghost question: Are images "portable"?

          I have one specific question.

            Please consider the following scenario:

            I have an older desktop computer.  Call it HP-1.
            I Ghost (DriveImage or ASR) HP-1’s C: drive to an image file stored on an External drive.

            HP-1 is STOLEN.

            I buy a brand new Dell-2 desktop PC.

            Can I
                    A.     Restore the image onto the new Dell-2?
                    B.     Or must I acquire another HP-1?

             If the answer is B, and HP-1 can’t be replaced, the image is worthless.
             Is that exactly correct?

Thank you for answering my specific question.
David
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
Avatar of Barthax
Barthax
Flag of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland image

Link to home
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Start Free Trial
You could Send the Image out the the DELL but it might not work because all the Hardware in the 2 machines are diffrent. (It probally wont boot).  You could then Insert your Windows Disc and Reinstall the OS overtop, just copying system files (not replacing the OS).  This should allow your new hardware to change and boot the OS.
SOLUTION
Link to home
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Start Free Trial
Avatar of Caseybea
Caseybea

Ouch-  Barthax points out a valid problem-  the XP license.    You may not be able to get around this without a new license.    

At the very WORST, your scenareo is that you have a useless image for BOOTING or running WINDOWS--  but your DATA is fine.   That's more important anyway.

Here's what to do to get your valued data back (assumes everything you had was on "C:")

a) Go through the ghost restore process.    Do this on your existing hard drive.  Do NOT attempt to boot.
b) Buy new XP license (sorry, Microsoft's rules, not mine).   Remove the drive you restored.
c) Install Windows on a NEW hard drive.      Later, add your second drive, the one with the image on it, as "D:"
d) Start copying data from the restored "D:" to "C:" where you want it