Replacing hard drive.

I have a friend wanting to move everything from an old hard drive to a
new hard drive in a NEW computer. Is there a way to move the files and
programs to a new hard drive in a NEW PC and still have it boot up and
run with no BSOD or NTLDR errors? The operating system is Windows
XP Pro and the old hard drive is out of a non-functioning computer.
There are some bookkeeping programs on the old hard drive and he
would like those intact in the new computer and the new computer
working.
Any help greatly appreciated...

 

Programs need to be cleanly installed - they can't be transferred and expected to work properly.

 

I agree with plodr, basically. It is better to re-install programs, if possible.

Google for lots more info.
http://www.google.com/search?q=NTDLR+is+missing&hl=en&num=10&lr=&ft=i&cr=&safe=images

Is the PC a laptop, or a desktop? Some specs on both, may help us.

Bazza

 

It is a desktop. The old hard drive works and is accessible as a second drive.
It was something else that failed in the old computer. The old hard drive is 80 gig and out of a Northgate(Walmart) computer. The new computer is a new build barebones system with a 500 gig hard drive.

 

I'm fairly sure you won't get XP running on a completely different computer. A non-destructive repair/install would be the only possible way that I can think of and it is iffy. If you were to try it would be smart to make an image of the HD as it is now so you would have a backup if things did not work out. See if anyone can come up with other options. I'm just letting you know that XP does not like being moved to another computer and probably won't be able to adjust.

The reason I am posting is to suggest that you give the names of the bookkeeping software and whether your friend has any installation discs and or license keys. It might be better to concentrate on how to install the software on the new HD and transfer his data files to get the programs running on the new installation.

 

There is a way to image a drive to dissimilar hardware. I know of one person who has done this successfully. You would also need all XP drivers available for your hardware.The only problem is that once you do this, you will have to activate XP again and if it is an OEM version, you will not be able to do that.

You would also have to download and install the Windows AIK which is a 1.7GB download or purchase the full version of the software.

http://www.todo-backup.com/support/knowledge-base/migration/restore-image-to-any-pc.htm

 

A windows nondestructive repair is not a problem. I had a case where I
planned to do that and windows did not give me that option so that
concerns me.
I thought XP didn't like being moved but my son says he just moves the
hard drive to another PC and it boots up and runs. I think he's been lucky.

 

EaseUS software caused me a big mess one time so I'm a bit gun shy there.
I have been looking at Spotmau Bootsuite 2012. If it does all it says, it would clone the drive and cover all potential problems of boot up after.
Activating XP again is not a problem. What do I need the Windows AIK
for with Windows XP? I thought it was a Windows 7 program.

 

It is a Windows 7 program but it gives the ability of Todo backup to do the restore offline using WINPE. The free version lets you build a WINPE bootable disk using the Windows AIK. The paid for version includes this WINPE disk. The linux boot disk of Todo free does not have the ability to do the Universal Restore.

Edit: The Windows AIK can be used on a XP computer.

Edit: Okay, I think I know what your question is. I am going to ask it over at the Easeus Forum. Can a Universal Restore be done on a XP computer using the WINPE disk created with the Windows AIK. I believe it can but I am going to confirm it.

 

For my experience on getting info from an old hard drive in the new computer. Make it a slave drive via jumper settings. The drive in the new computer is set to master. Same ribbon with triple connections. One to the M/B and other 2 to each hard drive. New H/D is master and old drive is slave. Then you can search thru the old hard drive for anything you want. Find it, and make a shortcut to access it. Mhop.

 

Easeus has confirmed that using the Windows AIK 3.0 to build a WINPE bootdisk will allow a universal restore from an image of XP to a new computer.

 

Here is what I did and it apparently worked, at least so far... I used the
Easeus todo disk to clone the old drive to the new one. It made an 80
gig partition with everything the old hard drive had on it and it was
accessible as a second drive. I put it in the new computer and it tried
to boot up but didn't. It gave me the screen with the options to try
again, Last good configuration, etc.. So I put in my Windows XP SP3
install disk and it asked if I wanted to repair the existing installation.
I hit R and it reinstalled Windows and worked just fine. I installed the
motherboard drivers and it is currently downloading all the Microsoft
updates. So far so good. It has the original desktop and all the original
icons. The AVG needs the serial number reinstalled but it looks like
everything works....

 

Sounds good. Thanks for letting us know what worked for you.

 

The AVG offered to fix itself or be uninstalled so I chose the repair option.
The Quickbooks had a program to download from their site to fix it. I ran
that program, it popped up a window showing all the numbers needed to
make it worked with a tab to print them out. It then repaired the program.