Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Nickbat on 14 February 2012, 00:00:15
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I really need to upgrade my C drive as it is now becoming a bit audible as it thrashes around.
So, my question is: how easy is it to replace the system drive on an XP (SP2) system? Bear in mind I don't really want the hassle of having Microsoft telling me that I have unauthorised software (which can happen when you change hardware).
Yes, I know I could upgrade to Windows 7, but Windows 8 is coming out this year, so why bother?
Yes, I know I really should reinstall all my software to have a clean system, but I don't have the time and as this is a home/work machine with downloaded updates aplenty, I could do without the hassle.
I have a D drive for data and a 1TB SATA drive with docking station knocking around, so ghosting and back-up is not a problem (though I need to get XP to recognise 1TB, which I understand is possible). I may go down the route of an SSD, having read a recent thread on here.
The bottom line is whether anyone can recommend a good (preferably "free") ghosting software package that can quickly and painlessly allow me to upgrade my C drive - with step-by-step instructions if poss. ;)
Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
Ta. :y :y :y
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Ghost is my weapon of choice when cloning disks, a step by step guide on how to use it can be found >HERE< (http://ghost.radified.com/ghost_1b.htm)
Feel free to PM me if you need any further assistance ;)
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Ghost is my weapon of choice when cloning disks, a step by step guide on how to use it can be found >HERE< (http://ghost.radified.com/ghost_1b.htm)
Feel free to PM me if you need any further assistance ;)
Cheers, Martian! :y
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Ghost is my weapon of choice when cloning disks, a step by step guide on how to use it can be found >HERE< (http://ghost.radified.com/ghost_1b.htm)
Feel free to PM me if you need any further assistance ;)
Out of interest, have you tried CloneZilla? I did, recently, and it's really rather good - clone to/from disk, local image, SSHFS network image etc.
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Ghost is my weapon of choice when cloning disks, a step by step guide on how to use it can be found >HERE< (http://ghost.radified.com/ghost_1b.htm)
Feel free to PM me if you need any further assistance ;)
Great advice Martian, you really are out of this world ;D ;D
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Out of interest, have you tried CloneZilla? I did, recently, and it's really rather good - clone to/from disk, local image, SSHFS network image etc.
I've only ever used Ghost Aaron, but a couple of questions for you.....
1. Does CloneZilla allow you to image on to a different sized disk and adjust accordingly?
2. Does CloneZilla allow you to change the SID so the same image can be used on more than one machine that is on the same network?
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Out of interest, have you tried CloneZilla? I did, recently, and it's really rather good - clone to/from disk, local image, SSHFS network image etc.http://images.omegaowners.com/forum/smf2000/Smileys/oofstd/thumbsup.gif
I've only ever used Ghost Aaron, but a couple of questions for you.....
1. Does CloneZilla allow you to image on to a different sized disk and adjust accordingly?
2. Does CloneZilla allow you to change the SID so the same image can be used on more than one machine that is on the same network?
Looks like it supports ntfsclone and winroll so, whilst I've never used it, I imagine the answer is probably yes. Will bear that in mind next time I need such a tool.
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Out of interest, have you tried CloneZilla? I did, recently, and it's really rather good - clone to/from disk, local image, SSHFS network image etc.
I've only ever used Ghost Aaron, but a couple of questions for you.....
1. Does CloneZilla allow you to image on to a different sized disk and adjust accordingly?
2. Does CloneZilla allow you to change the SID so the same image can be used on more than one machine that is on the same network?
Good questions .. to which I have no answer :-[
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Nickbat, you can use the tools mentioned above, but in my opinion
if you have the windows cd and license key handy, the machine will be better and faster
after a fresh install.. and all unused files will be erased.. :y
ps: did I ever say that I like to use parachutes ;D :D
pps: Nickbat, dont be lazy ;D
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I got a bit narked with Ghost - yet another decent product that Symantec/Veritas have managed to screw up. Got fed up with .gho files not restoring, and in a couple of cases, Ghostwalker wouldn't even open them, leaving me stuffed.
Currently use the (now legal) Hirens boot cd, which uses Acronis. I've found this to be 100% reliable so far (using it as primary cloning tool for about a year)
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New drive not required, a rebuild will speed it up. A replacement disk probably won't by much.
And all XP users should be on SP3 by now.
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New drive not required, a rebuild will speed it up. A replacement disk probably won't by much.
And all XP users should be on SP3 by now.
.. unless the noises the OP has referred to are terminal, not the normal consequences of an aged file system... ;)
If it were me, I'd rebuild it, certainly. If I didn't have the time and it's a work machine more than a couple of years old (i.e. I rely on it to put food on the table, and it makes me money) I would just buy another machine and transfer my work to it as and when I have the time.
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I got a bit narked with Ghost - yet another decent product that Symantec/Veritas have managed to screw up. Got fed up with .gho files not restoring, and in a couple of cases, Ghostwalker wouldn't even open them, leaving me stuffed.
Currently use the (now legal) Hirens boot cd, which uses Acronis. I've found this to be 100% reliable so far (using it as primary cloning tool for about a year)
This was exactly my experience, what's worse is work still think ghost is the way forward, which is a nightmare now it's so barked. Ghostwalker - how did they manage to screw it up so badly!!? Acronis for the past few years on the other hand has never missed a beat.
Only thing I'd say is that if you go the SSD route, even on a SATA2 system you will see a drastic improvement depending on your use. It's nice getting to windows in ten seconds or so on what was a few year old machine at home. Much faster than the quad core Xeons wtih 16gb of ram at work still on SCSI too!
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I got a bit narked with Ghost - yet another decent product that Symantec/Veritas have managed to screw up. Got fed up with .gho files not restoring, and in a couple of cases, Ghostwalker wouldn't even open them, leaving me stuffed.
Currently use the (now legal) Hirens boot cd, which uses Acronis. I've found this to be 100% reliable so far (using it as primary cloning tool for about a year)
I wouldn't expect Ghostwalker to open the image files, it's normally used for changing the SID ;)
I know what you mean about Symantec/Veritas norsing it up though, that's why I stick with the Corporate version (works in true DOS).
Hirens is a good shout for the OP I suspect, can't think why I didn't think of it (probably because I'm so used to it being illegal up until recently).
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Switch to Zorin (Linux distribution based on Ubuntu) I have and I am loving it. No faffing around with codecs, drivers ,etc. It just works straight out of the box. It's fast, stable and more resistant to viruses. The best, and most crutical, bit is that the technophobic wife can use it which is the biggest bonus as we no longer have to dual boot (I used to run Debian/Win7)
Edit: Oh, and to add it is free! (Just like my windows distro was but this is free and legal ::))
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Switch to Zorin (Linux distribution based on Ubuntu) I have and I am loving it. No faffing around with codecs, drivers ,etc. It just works straight out of the box. It's fast, stable and more resistant to viruses. The best, and most crutical, bit is that the technophobic wife can use it which is the biggest bonus as we no longer have to dual boot (I used to run Debian/Win7)
Edit: Oh, and to add it is free! (Just like my windows distro was but this is free and legal ::))
Shhhh.......Jaime will start getting twitchy in a minute ;D ;D
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Switch to Zorin (Linux distribution based on Ubuntu) I have and I am loving it. No faffing around with codecs, drivers ,etc. It just works straight out of the box. It's fast, stable and more resistant to viruses. The best, and most crutical, bit is that the technophobic wife can use it which is the biggest bonus as we no longer have to dual boot (I used to run Debian/Win7)
Edit: Oh, and to add it is free! (Just like my windows distro was but this is free and legal ::))
Shhhh.......Jaime will start getting twitchy in a minute ;D ;D
Don't worry, he'll probably get started on a rant about how anyone who is using Ubuntu is probably the result of a lobotomy gone wrong, and miss that part entirely ;) ;D
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I got a bit narked with Ghost - yet another decent product that Symantec/Veritas have managed to screw up. Got fed up with .gho files not restoring, and in a couple of cases, Ghostwalker wouldn't even open them, leaving me stuffed.
Currently use the (now legal) Hirens boot cd, which uses Acronis. I've found this to be 100% reliable so far (using it as primary cloning tool for about a year)
I wouldn't expect Ghostwalker to open the image files, it's normally used for changing the SID ;)
I know what you mean about Symantec/Veritas norsing it up though, that's why I stick with the Corporate version (works in true DOS).
Hirens is a good shout for the OP I suspect, can't think why I didn't think of it (probably because I'm so used to it being illegal up until recently).
Correct, I meant Ghost Explorer of course. I agree, Corporate is the only version, but USB and Network destinations were slow. Still unreliable.
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Switch to Zorin (Linux distribution based on Ubuntu) I have and I am loving it. No faffing around with codecs, drivers ,etc. It just works straight out of the box. It's fast, stable and more resistant to viruses. The best, and most crutical, bit is that the technophobic wife can use it which is the biggest bonus as we no longer have to dual boot (I used to run Debian/Win7)
Edit: Oh, and to add it is free! (Just like my windows distro was but this is free and legal ::))
Shhhh.......Jaime will start getting twitchy in a minute ;D ;D
Well I didn't say HOW I got the free Windows distro, which I found on the web as well by the way :y
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Switch to Zorin (Linux distribution based on Ubuntu) I have and I am loving it. No faffing around with codecs, drivers ,etc. It just works straight out of the box. It's fast, stable and more resistant to viruses. The best, and most crutical, bit is that the technophobic wife can use it which is the biggest bonus as we no longer have to dual boot (I used to run Debian/Win7)
Edit: Oh, and to add it is free! (Just like my windows distro was but this is free and legal ::))
Shhhh.......Jaime will start getting twitchy in a minute ;D ;D
Plenty of ways of getting a legal Windows licence for free, without any cost to end user ;). Some do have restrictions (eg, MSDN), some don't (eg HUP).
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Switch to Zorin (Linux distribution based on Ubuntu) I have and I am loving it. No faffing around with codecs, drivers ,etc. It just works straight out of the box. It's fast, stable and more resistant to viruses. The best, and most crutical, bit is that the technophobic wife can use it which is the biggest bonus as we no longer have to dual boot (I used to run Debian/Win7)
Edit: Oh, and to add it is free! (Just like my windows distro was but this is free and legal ::))
Shhhh.......Jaime will start getting twitchy in a minute ;D ;D
Don't worry, he'll probably get started on a rant about how anyone who is using Ubuntu is probably the result of a lobotomy gone wrong, and miss that part entirely ;) ;D
Biggest heap of kak going. Gives even Linux a bad name. If you want a free, not-quite-ready Debian based distro, use, errr, Debian ;D.
If you want something edging towards being stable, and don't mind the extortionate cost, try Redhat, which is probably the most stable (along with its clones, like Oracle).
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I tried Debian and.got it working. Needed some tweaking but got there in the end. The problem is it doesn't work out the box. As I am going to be away for 6 months this year and the wife has a habit of breaking anything technical Zorin has everything I need. Plus I reckon that with a little yelp she can reinstall it to a level where she can use it by herself. So if she kills the hard drive with her negatively charged ions I can easily talk her through reinstalling. With Windows you have to reinstall that, then itunes, then java then this then that zzzzzzzz
So while I agree on debian/redhat and I may well do that when I come back and really get in to hacking but for now the wife is happy and I am confident that I won't get that panicked email on day 3 of 180 saying the computer is knackered! ;D
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With Windows you have to reinstall that, then itunes, then java then this then that zzzzzzzz
So not only did Apple manage to screw you for twice the money for an outdated product, they then force you to install their crapware on top as well ;D ;D
So while I agree on debian/redhat and I may well do that when I come back and really get in to hacking but for now the wife is happy and I am confident that I won't get that panicked email on day 3 of 180 saying the computer is knackered! ;D
How's she gonna mail you if she's screwed the machine then? ;D
PS
If that does happen and you want to make sure she ain't getting ripped for £50 an hour for a reinstall, give her my number and I'll sort it for you.
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With Windows you have to reinstall that, then itunes, then java then this then that zzzzzzzz
So not only did Apple manage to screw you for twice the money for an outdated product, they then force you to install their crapware on top as well ;D ;D
So while I agree on debian/redhat and I may well do that when I come back and really get in to hacking but for now the wife is happy and I am confident that I won't get that panicked email on day 3 of 180 saying the computer is knackered! ;D
How's she gonna mail you if she's screwed the machine then? ;D
PS
If that does happen and you want to make sure she ain't getting ripped for £50 an hour for a reinstall, give her my number and I'll sort it for you.
Maybe shes got one of those new fangled gizmo's that does email as well ::)
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With Windows you have to reinstall that, then itunes, then java then this then that zzzzzzzz
So not only did Apple manage to screw you for twice the money for an outdated product, they then force you to install their crapware on top as well ;D ;D
So while I agree on debian/redhat and I may well do that when I come back and really get in to hacking but for now the wife is happy and I am confident that I won't get that panicked email on day 3 of 180 saying the computer is knackered! ;D
How's she gonna mail you if she's screwed the machine then? ;D
PS
If that does happen and you want to make sure she ain't getting ripped for £50 an hour for a reinstall, give her my number and I'll sort it for you.
Maybe shes got one of those new fangled gizmo's that does email as well ::)
Nah she'd probably use one of the computers at work before a trip or she'll use one of the neighbours. Either way they would both require fixing afterwards ;D ;D