Acronis partition image

[dabbler]

I wish to dual-boot Linux and WinXP Pro on a second (desktop) computer where Linux is already installed. I do not have a WinXP install CD and cannot use the OEM drive image on a hidden partition of a first (laptop)computer with XP Pro installed because I want to install it to the third partition on the desktop (after Linux and Linux Swap). So I "restored" an Acronis partition image of the laptop C drive to this third partition and made it Active, but it does not appear in the Grub menu (Linux boots OK). I assume Windows cannot be booted because the MBR was not included. The alternative is to start afresh, abandon Linux and Clone the XP drive to the desktop first partition, but that would mean losing an established Linux 10.04 system.

Two questions:

1. Is it possible to make this partition on the desktop bootable?

2. If that's possible, what will need to be done to the Grub bootloader?

[Alan2273]

Explaining how to alter the boot record in GRUB is complicated.

If you read and follow this tutorial you will be able to include XP in the GRUB menu, but whether it will boot to the disk image is uncertain.

/>http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/grub.html

[MANEMAN]

Hi there, and welcome to the forum.

You would it would seem, to describe it in "Trade Terms" - "To have made one almighty cock-up."

"dabbler": - The alternative is to start afresh

You seem to have answered your own question. - Yes ?

Format the drive and start afresh.

Make sure before you start fiddling around, to have all the facts, and all the answers to a "rescue plan" well within your grasp before starting to experiment. (I.E. - Be well read.)

John.

[dabbler]

Thanks Alan2273, I too don't think the boot image will boot, and I have been advised that it is "not permitted" (though It is a legal OEM version of Windows).

Maneman, thanks for the welcome and colorful description of the problem! But it is not really that bad-all I have to do is to delete the partition with the "restored" image on the desktop and I still have the Linux system. As my 5-year old laptop may soon give up the ghost I am looking for a way to keep my WinXP system and data but it seems I can't without obtaining a (legal) WinXP CD from which to install afresh.

[Seshomaru Samma]

Hi dabbler

I googled "add acronis xp image grub"

A lot of information came up, this onelooks promising , the youtube video might also be useful

[dabbler]

Hi dabbler

I googled "add acronis xp image grub"

A lot of information came up, this onelooks promising , the youtube video might also be useful

Thanks, Seshomaru, for your information. But I am trying to boot a restored image (not an ISO) to a third partition on a Hard drive, not a DVD. And as I already have Linux 10.04 installed on the first partition, I think I need Grub2, not Grub4DOS. I have to accept that it is not possible. I could not find a link to the video. Do you think it might help?

[MANEMAN]

I'm back again.

Apart from your problems of booting, you will also run into problems of shifting the XP operating system to a dissimilar environment. (Different Motherboard, different CPU)

It can be done with stuff like Acronis Universal Restore.

Here are a couple of links if you wish to carry on.

/>http://kb.acronis.com/content/2149

/>https://www.regnow.com/softsell/nph-softsell.cgi?item=17447-12&ss_long_order=true

/>http://michaelstevenstech.com/moving_xp.html

What I am suggesting here is that from what your post has said, you are trying to take a disk image made on one machine, and transfer it to another, and that your problems may be a little deeper than just booting. :(

John.

[dabbler]

I'm back again.

Apart from your problems of booting, you will also run into problems of shifting the XP operating system to a dissimilar environment. (Different Motherboard, different CPU)

It can be done with stuff like Acronis Universal Restore.

Here are a couple of links if you wish to carry on.

/>http://kb.acronis.com/content/2149

/>https://www.regnow.com/softsell/nph-softsell.cgi?item=17447-12&ss_long_order=true

/>http://michaelstevenstech.com/moving_xp.html

What I am suggesting here is that from what your post has said, you are trying to take a disk image made on one machine, and transfer it to another, and that your problems may be a little deeper than just booting. :(

John.

Hi John,

You are spot on! I'm glad you're back. I am trying to preserve the system on my laptop (Win XP Profesional) on a desktop because the laptop will die soon and I do not want to get a new hard drive for it. I am aware of the legal issues, but view them like this (from a post I made to a Linux forum):

"My EULA(2004) states:

1.2 SOFTWARE as a Component of the COMPUTER - Transfer.

This license may not be shared, transferred to or used

concurrently on different computers.

A recent revised and simplified EULA (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/eula/pro.mspx) states:

4.TRANSFER-Internal. You may move the Product to a different Workstation Computer. After the transfer, you must completely remove the Product from the former Workstation Computer.

(This may of course refer to an installation CD, as you are suggesting)

Of course I will seek clarification/permission if required, but I believe I am observing the spirit of the agreement."

Thank you for the links which are very helpful. I only have Acronis True Image 8, but Acronis Universal Restore needs ver.10 Home. I will look into upgrading Acronis and read more about Macrium which sounds interesting.

So far I have not been able to boot the restored Windows partition. At present I can 'see' all the files on it via Linux, but can only read saved documents. So it is just a bit better than the original Acronis partition image which could only be viewed on the backup drive by booting from the Acronis CD or from within XP.

Your interest and advice is most appreciated!

Michael

[MANEMAN]

Hi Michael.

If you intend to go forward with this, I would suggest that you get XP up-and-running in a single boot situation first.

Setting the partition that it is on as "Primary/Active".

Forget dual booting with anything else for the time being, as you will have enough problems on your hands without worrying about if there is a boot fault.

Once you have it booting up and running well, - then is the time to think about dual boot.

I have done this many times now, (Shifting an operating system to a dissimilar machine) but there can be problems when you get to the contact Microsoft to - "Activate" an OEM system stage of the operation.

I managed to work around this, and convinced myself of the legality of it, as I had purchased a computer along with an operating system which was for personal use only.

As a forum we cannot condone, or offer any advice which may be illegal

In the past I have used Acronis Universal Restore with success. Also something called UIU (Universal Imaging Utility):
/>http://www.uiu4you.com/

The transfer can be done without 3rd party software also. ( I haven't done it though. )

Here are some more links on that very subject:

/>http://www.macrium.com/blog/2008/07/15/HowToTransferWindowsXPToDifferentHardware.aspx

/>http://www.windowsitpro.com/article/tips/jsi-tip-4839-how-do-i-move-windows-xp-to-different-hardware-.aspx

I will just offer this little snippet from Macrium:

"Microsoft doesn’t like this. You will almost certainly have to re-activate Windows after the swap. If you’re using an OEM version of Windows this may not be allowed. If this is the case then you’re stuck. I’m afraid you will have to start from scratch with a fresh copy of Windows. If you’re using a retail or volume licensed version then you should be able to re-activate without problems."

John.

P.S. - Get Drivers backed up ! ( http://www.boozet.org/dd.htm ) FREE SOFTWARE !

[dabbler]

Hi Michael.

If you intend to go forward with this, I would suggest that you get XP up-and-running in a single boot situation first.

Setting the partition that it is on as "Primary/Active".

Forget dual booting with anything else for the time being, as you will have enough problems on your hands without worrying about if there is a boot fault.

.......

I will just offer this little snippet from Macrium:

"Microsoft doesn’t like this. You will almost certainly have to re-activate Windows after the swap. If you’re using an OEM version of Windows this may not be allowed. If this is the case then you’re stuck. I’m afraid you will have to start from scratch with a fresh copy of Windows. If you’re using a retail or volume licensed version then you should be able to re-activate without problems."

...

Very good advice, Maneman-thank you! I have now cloned the XP system as a single OS on the first primary partition on an empty drive. The partition was marked active but will not boot, displaying STOP: error 0x0000007b on each attempt.

So I'm considering whether its worth trying as its likely that I will not get permission from Microsoft because I have an OEM version. But I might have another go after backing up drivers and using UIU (Free trial). If I get as far as a message asking me to activate I'll have to take the plunge and ask for it.

[MANEMAN]

Thank you for the reply.

I hope all goes well for you.

John.

[andsome]

Hi Michael.

If you intend to go forward with this, I would suggest that you get XP up-and-running in a single boot situation first.

Setting the partition that it is on as "Primary/Active".

Forget dual booting with anything else for the time being, as you will have enough problems on your hands without worrying about if there is a boot fault.

.......

I will just offer this little snippet from Macrium:

"Microsoft doesn't like this. You will almost certainly have to re-activate Windows after the swap. If you're using an OEM version of Windows this may not be allowed. If this is the case then you're stuck. I'm afraid you will have to start from scratch with a fresh copy of Windows. If you're using a retail or volume licensed version then you should be able to re-activate without problems."

...

Very good advice, Maneman-thank you! I have now cloned the XP system as a single OS on the first primary partition on an empty drive. The partition was marked active but will not boot, displaying STOP: error 0x0000007b on each attempt.

So I'm considering whether its worth trying as its likely that I will not get permission from Microsoft because I have an OEM version. But I might have another go after backing up drivers and using UIU (Free trial). If I get as far as a message asking me to activate I'll have to take the plunge and ask for it.

Did you make a boot disk after installing Acronis?

[dabbler]

Did you make a boot disk after installing Acronis?

No, I not make a boot disk after installing Acronis (some years ago) because until now I have used it only to make partition backups on an external disk. To date I have not had to restore a partition on the original laptop computer, but now I am trying to save a clone on a different (desktop) computer (as I expect the laptop will soon fail). To clone the system I booted from the Acronis installation CD.

[andsome]

I have no trouble installing a back up from Acronis. I made a boot disc from the Acronis program, and piut that into the CD tray and boot up from it. I then tell it which of my back ups to install, and it deletes evrything from the C Drive and installs my mirror image. I have also used this method when a new hard drive had been installed into the computer. I know of no other way of installing your back up, but will stand corrected if someone knows differently.:)

[MANEMAN]

andsome said: Did you make a boot disk after installing Acronis?

Can you explain how that question is useful to someone trying to disk image the XP operating System and restore it in dissimilar working conditions andsome ?

Did you nod off through the rest of the thread where we covered "Universal Restore, "UIU", and Registry fixes ?

You're a ruddy beaut you are andsome. :P ;)

:lol: :lol: :lol:

John.

[andsome]

andsome said: Did you make a boot disk after installing Acronis?

Can you explain how that question is useful to someone trying to disk image the XP operating System and restore it in dissimilar working conditions andsome ?

Did you nod off through the rest of the thread where we covered "Universal Restore, "UIU", and Registry fixes ?

You're a ruddy beaut you are andsome. :P ;)

:lol: :lol: :lol:

John.

Just trying my humble best using what I have picked up on here.

[MANEMAN]

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Now you're starting to sound like Uriah Heep from Dickens - "David Copperfield" - andsome. :)

We are so very 'umble.

Charles Dickens

No wonder you didn't get any mackerel !

John. ;)

[dabbler]

Thank you for the reply.

I hope all goes well for you.

John.

Thank for the encouragement. I have decided to try Acronis Universal Restore in the form of Acronis True Image Home 2010 with Plus Pack. Of course it may be fruitless if I succeed in transfer but cannot reactivate! Will probably be a bit of time before I post again.

[MANEMAN]

Good for you.

I have never had Universal Restore fail yet, and you will always have a very useful piece of software in your toolbox.

Cross the bridge of "Activation" when you come to it, and let us know how it has gone before you do anything rash like wiping/formatting the drive because of activation problems.

John.

[dabbler]

Good for you.

I have never had Universal Restore fail yet, and you will always have a very useful piece of software in your toolbox.

Cross the bridge of "Activation" when you come to it, and let us know how it has gone before you do anything rash like wiping/formatting the drive because of activation problems.

John.

I started afresh after purchasing Acronis True Image Home with Plus Pack ("Universal Restore") latest build (7046). Used it to Recover the C: drive partition image to an empty 500GB SATA drive on a desktop computer. This began with booting from a Bootable CD-ROM created by the program. Drivers for the new hardware downloaded from the M/B and Chipset manufacturer were provided for use during the Restore on a separate USB drive. I have no way of knowing if they were used.

The operation completed succesfully but Windows XP Pro would not boot normally. Selecting Safe Mode it booted OK and found new hardware, but drivers for Multimedia Audio Controller and VGA graphics on the USB stick were not suitable (AGP drivers provided on USB during copy).There were no problems with Display.

All folders and files are accessible in Safe Mode, and all Devices OK in Device Manager except Multimedia Audio Controller (ignored).

Booting Windows normally ends in STOP: 0x000000C2.

Booting Windows with bootlog failed-STOP: 0x00000024 (no bootlog obtained)

Ran chkdsk from NTFSforDOS- no problems.

In safe Mode uninstalled antivirus program (AVG).

Same result with boot.

P.S. I have just learned from Acronis Support that I should download an ISO image to create another Bootable Disk and then a try a Restore again, but I will wait for suggestions.

[dabbler]

Further to my post #20, some of the (bracketed) error messages have changed, possibly as a result of uninstalling the antivirus program.

Normal Windows boot and Safe Mode boot now both result in:

BAD_POOL_CALLER STOP:0x000000C2(0x00000007,0x00000CD4,0x00720067,0xF7ADA4A8)

There is no apparent problem with ntfs.sys (0x00000024 appeared earlier)

I believe C2/7 = invalid software interrupt

C2/CD24 = uncertain

C2/67 = config initialisation failed

C2/A8 = uncertain

Unable to uninstall other possibly troublesome programs in Safe Mode.

System Event log error (attached) lists drivers which did not load. (Bootup stops at Mup.sys).

No new dump files found on the target disk.

The computer Name was not changed (see Event log) because I was not presented with the option to change the name or the SID number during recovery though I was expecting it.

Therefore I intend to start afresh with a new Acronis Bootable (multiparameter) disk which may provide more drivers during Recovery unless anyone has other advice to offer.

[MANEMAN]

Hi Michael.

I cant say that I have ever had any of the problems that you are experiencing when shifting XP to dissimilar hardware using Universal Restore. It has always gone over like a breeze.

In the past I have done a "Disk Image" - Restored using the Universal Restore facility, and lazily never tried to include any drivers at all in the restore package. Installing drivers from previous backups made with either "DriverMax" or "Double Driver", or individual drivers as required after the restore has been successful.

I am at a loss to be able to tell you what your next step should be which is a bit embarrasing because I am the one who suggested using Acronis Universal Restore in the first place.

You have got to the stage where you can see everything in "Safe Mode" but it wont boot normally. So near yet so far away. - Bummer !

In your last post here you say. - "Unable to uninstall other possibly troublesome programs in Safe Mode".

It is doubtful whether it is a program that is actually causing your non-boot situation. But hey ! At this stage what do I know ?

Inability to uninstall in Safe Mode is because the Windows Installer Service is not started.

Click this link to read about, and cure that situation: http://forums.windowsforum.org/index.php?showtopic=45595

To save you swapping back and forth between threads here is the direct download link for that small .exe
/>http://www.windowsitpro.com/content/content/83387/SafeMSI.zip

If you drop that onto the desktop or perhaps into Program files of your existing operating system before you make a "Disk Image", upon restore you should find the facility ready and usable in Safe Mode in it's new environment.

.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.

I'm sorry that I am late answering your post. I am not constantly attached to the computer. (My wife would disagree :) )

And it does give the folks here a rest from the usual sarcastic,cynical crap I post in-between anything vaguely resembling computer help.

John.

EDIT: If upon unzipping the "SafeMSI.exe" it starts to kick off any Anti-Virus or Anti- Malware programs. This should be viewed as just a "False Positive" This .exe is in no way malevolent.

[dabbler]

Hi Michael.

I cant say that I have ever had any of the problems that you are experiencing when shifting XP to dissimilar hardware using Universal Restore. It has always gone over like a breeze.

In the past I have done a "Disk Image" - Restored using the Universal Restore facility, and lazily never tried to include any drivers at all in the restore package. Installing drivers from previous backups made with either "DriverMax" or "Double Driver", or individual drivers as required after the restore has been successful.

Thanks for the SafeMSI.exe file. It has been useful but hasn't changed anything yet.

I am stuck where I was at the previous post, but I have these thoughts to put up for comment.

The currently restored XP system was "Recovered" as the whole drive (3 partitions) to an empty but much larger hard disk, equivalent to a clone. Partition sizes were set slightly bigger than the originals.

I have not used "Clone" from Acronis True Image Home 2010 Plus Pack as it seemed to be the same as System Backup. The method recommended by Acronis for dissimilar hardware at http://kb.acronis.com/content/5410 is to Backup the drive (I did it to a USB disk), then to Recover using "Universal Restore". The result is still as it was in post #21 except that it now boots reliably into Safe Mode without any error message (that was from an earlier Restore attempt).

You must have used a different Acronis product with Universal Restore when you did not provide drivers during the process. So how did you install them afterwards? At hardware detection? Or by checking in Control Panel/Device Manager?

It seems to me that the present situation is not very different to a BSOD STOP message due to many other causes in working Windows XP systems. Do you think further troubleshooting of the STOP message is worthwhile?