Replacing Win2K Boot drive

[imported_ecosoft]

I'm attempting to replace my Win2K boot HD, a 45GB IBM HD with an 80GB WD HD. Using Ghost, or booting system to floppies with tape software and laying down a tape image on the new drive both results in a system that will not complete the boot cycle. Everything load until after you enter Password, then load continues for a bit (just before a desktop appears), when the system flips into a reboot cycle.

Is there any way to replace an existing Win2K installation HD with a new, different HD, short of a complete system reinstall? If not, then I'm finally convinced that Microsoft is the crummiest low life software developer in the business.
Ed

 

[mechBgon]

How about back up the existing Win2000 installation using Microsoft Backup (Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools) and include System State. Install Win2000 fresh and then do a Restore using that backup, see how that works for ya

 

[imported_ecosoft]

Thanks for the Reply Your suggestion seems like a variation of the Tape routine I tried ... I installed Win2K on the bare HD, then installed tape swe, then layed down the tape image including the original system state. Same thing ... sucker would not complete startup. Without including the system state, all apps would need to be reinstalled.

 

[mechBgon]

The new drive's on the same controller as the old one? That's one factor I could see throwing Windows a curve.

 

[imported_ecosoft]

Yes ... the "new"" drive uses the same EIDE mobo controller; however, I disconnect the "old" drive and connect the new at the end of an ATA100 cable. BTW, the new drive, WD800, WILL NOT respond to a Win2K interrupt IF ANY JUMPER is connected to master/slave/cable select! A pecularity of the WD firmware. When I frirst attempted to install Win2K on the bare drive, although the drive was recognized in BIOS, the Win2K install code "said" No Drive Present code 00002000. That baffled me until I Googled an answer ... remove the drive mode jumper and then the OS could "see" it.

So, any ideas about how one can replace an existing Win2K drive without reinstalling every blessed thing?

 

[mechBgon]

Remote Installation Services comes to mind, if you happen to have an Active Directory domain You must have a great deal of software to reinstall, if you're this desparate to avoid reinstalling it...

 

[imported_ecosoft]

Yes, just under 30GB, including data files. I do a lot of Photoshop and SoundForge work, and also have both Office 2003 and Lotus Suites installed, so I am definitely seeking a workable alternative to reinstalling everything. (Just imagine the time-effort needed to "customize-personalize" every app following initial install!)

Are you familair with sysprep, a Win2K prog that allows removal of SID's prior to imaging-Ghosting? Since I do not actually "know" just what-where is hanging the cloned Win2K during initial boot, I'm shooting in the dark here. It's difficult to believe the anyone would create an OS that cannot under any circumstances be "moved" to a different HD!

 

[mechBgon]

I've never used Sysprep as such. I think RIS uses the same sort of approach, though.

You might want to move on to WinXP Professional someday, it has Automated System Recovery. I've used ASR on a test Windows Server 2003 installation, and it reconstituted an entire, set-up Active Directory domain on a completely alien computer. You could not get much more different on the machines' hardware... from Intel/VIA/IDE to AMD/nForce/SCSI. Impressive I had to install the motherboard/NIC drivers, and the domain was back on its feet.

 

[imported_ecosoft]

Thanks for the XP tip ... I just happen to have an XP PRO laying around ... haven't messed with it yet, so perhaps an upgrade is in order here

Have a Merry Christmas
Ed