@wgjack wrote:
I have tried switching hard drives between a 4300 and 4600. Windows XP Home is Dell installed on both computers but won't boot when the drives are switched. The drives work fine in their original computers. I don't want to go through all the setup and reinstallation of programs on the 4600 so just wanted to switch hard drives. I assume Windows XP is not loading due to the significant difference in hardware configuration. Is there a fix for this?
Don't do any repair installation and waste your time. It still won't work. Just install the programs on the new computer. The operating system belongs to and is tied to the computer, not the hard drive. That's to prevent illegal cloning of the OS. Use the File and Settings Wizard to transfer personal settings to the other computer. All programs need to be reinstalled.
I didn't think the repair option would work. Its my understanding Dell puts a hidden partition on the hard drive that contains the hardware configuration security file. I installed a slave drive for more storage space and the software that came with it detected a hidden partition on the master (the drive that Dell installed). I know the hidden partition is there, just don't know whats in it. Thought someone may know a way to reset the hardware recognition. If not, guess I will just have to spend the time installing everything on the 4600.
Your assumtion regarding the hidden partition is incorrect. As another poster said it contains the Dell hardware diagnostic software.
There is no reason a repair intallation following the procedures laid out at the site I posted shouldn't work, despite opinions to the contrary. It's a commonly used procedure to correct "no boot do to major hardware change" scenerios. The repair installation should see the new hardware and make the appropriate correctons to allow the system to boot. If the the other option is to reformat the drive and reinstall all your software you have little to lose by trying.
Thanks to all for the replies but now I have 2 "It won't work" and 1 maybe.
I don't mind trying the repair suggestion as long as I don't corrupt my master drive with 4+ years of info on it. The first year I had the 4300, I had to run the repair option almost on a monthly basis as I continually had boot problems with XP. Fortunately, everything remained intact after the repair. I guess all the Windows updates and service packs corrected the problem and I haven't had any boot problems in about 3 years but with XP you never know.
Is there a simple way to clone the master drive so it will boot in case the repair option corrupts the master? The software that came with the hard drive I now use as a slave (Western Digital) was supposed to clone the master but it didn't work. Western Digital said it was due to the hidden partition Dell puts on the hard drive. Info I found on the Dell site referred to the use of SYSPREP on the Microsoft site to correct the problem.
However, instructions for SYSPREP says it wipes out all the Windows updates and they have to be reinstalled. Maybe not a problem for most but I live in a rural area with slow dialup and this would take many, many hours.
So, anyone have any advice on how to clone Dell installed Windows XP without losing anything? Even if it turns out I can't switch drives between the 4300 and 4600, would be nice to have a bootable backup in case the master on the 4300 fails.
rickmktg
2 Intern
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July 5th, 2005 20:00
Nope. You cannot do what you want.
datapod
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July 5th, 2005 22:00
Perform a repair install of Windows XP.
See http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
While this should work and leave your current files intact as with any major operating system change you should backup your irreplaceables.
Mary G
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July 6th, 2005 00:00
wgjack
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July 6th, 2005 01:00
Denny Denham
2 Intern
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July 6th, 2005 01:00
The hidden partition on the 4300's hard drive (~34MB) contains Dell diagnostics, not hardware information.
datapod
2 Intern
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371 Posts
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July 6th, 2005 08:00
Your assumtion regarding the hidden partition is incorrect. As another poster said it contains the Dell hardware diagnostic software.
There is no reason a repair intallation following the procedures laid out at the site I posted shouldn't work, despite opinions to the contrary. It's a commonly used procedure to correct "no boot do to major hardware change" scenerios. The repair installation should see the new hardware and make the appropriate correctons to allow the system to boot. If the the other option is to reformat the drive and reinstall all your software you have little to lose by trying.
Do follow the steps @ http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm carefully paying particular attention to #3 as it is not as intuitive as one might imagine. Again, backup your irreplaceables first!
wgjack
3 Posts
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July 7th, 2005 16:00
I don't mind trying the repair suggestion as long as I don't corrupt my master drive with 4+ years of info on it. The first year I had the 4300, I had to run the repair option almost on a monthly basis as I continually had boot problems with XP. Fortunately, everything remained intact after the repair. I guess all the Windows updates and service packs corrected the problem and I haven't had any boot problems in about 3 years but with XP you never know.
Is there a simple way to clone the master drive so it will boot in case the repair option corrupts the master? The software that came with the hard drive I now use as a slave (Western Digital) was supposed to clone the master but it didn't work. Western Digital said it was due to the hidden partition Dell puts on the hard drive. Info I found on the Dell site referred to the use of SYSPREP on the Microsoft site to correct the problem.
However, instructions for SYSPREP says it wipes out all the Windows updates and they have to be reinstalled. Maybe not a problem for most but I live in a rural area with slow dialup and this would take many, many hours.
So, anyone have any advice on how to clone Dell installed Windows XP without losing anything? Even if it turns out I can't switch drives between the 4300 and 4600, would be nice to have a bootable backup in case the master on the 4300 fails.