Author Topic: Copy windows to another machine  (Read 261 times)

Offline Meatwad

  • Plutonium Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 12792
Copy windows to another machine
« on: July 06, 2006, 10:34:04 AM »
I just had windows xp crash and burn on me, so its time for a fresh install. On my new laptop I have a better version of XP, so is there a way I can copy windows from one pc to another instead of installing everything over again?
See Rule 19- Do not place sausage on pizza.
I am No-Sausage-On-Pizza-Wad.
Das Funkillah - I kill hangers, therefore I am a funkiller. Coming to a vulchfest near you.
You cant tie a loop around 400000 lbs of locomotive using a 2 foot rope - Drediock on fat women

Offline Saintaw

  • Platinum Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 6692
      • My blog
Copy windows to another machine
« Reply #1 on: July 06, 2006, 10:40:56 AM »
The hardware is completely different? I wouldn't recommend it.

Did you try a repair/recovery?
Saw
Dirty, nasty furriner.

Offline ChickenHawk

  • Silver Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1010
Copy windows to another machine
« Reply #2 on: July 06, 2006, 11:32:20 AM »
If by some chance you did find some way to copy your OS from your laptop to your desktop and found some way to subvert the XP Windows activation (which checks to make sure you only install XP on one machine) you would still have nothing but trouble with it.

You will save yourself a lot of time and heartache if you just start from scratch and reinstall everything.
Do not attribute to malice what can be easily explained by incompetence, fear, ignorance or stupidity, because there are millions more garden variety idiots walking around in the world than there are blackhearted Machiavellis.

Offline beet1e

  • Persona Non Grata
  • Platinum Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 7848
Copy windows to another machine
« Reply #3 on: July 06, 2006, 12:22:46 PM »
Meatwad - It is possible, but not recommended unless you know exactly what you're doing. It's possible to nuke all the devices defined to Windows, and then have Windows detect them all again on the next boot. I tried this once some years ago, but ended up making a pig's breakfast out of it, and ended up having a "reformat weekend". LOL On your "other" PC, the mobo is probably different, so different mobo drivers etc. - not worth arsing around, so my $0.02 is on a fresh install of the OS. Sorry if that's not what you wanted to hear! ;)

Offline dmf

  • Gold Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2920
Copy windows to another machine
« Reply #4 on: July 06, 2006, 05:06:56 PM »
Just reload it I tried to transfer from one computer to another instead of reloading and lost everything on the computer I was  transfering from :(

Offline Meatwad

  • Plutonium Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 12792
Copy windows to another machine
« Reply #5 on: July 06, 2006, 09:31:12 PM »
I guess I will go from scratch. I have installed windows so many times I have the CD key memorized in my head. Now thats sad
See Rule 19- Do not place sausage on pizza.
I am No-Sausage-On-Pizza-Wad.
Das Funkillah - I kill hangers, therefore I am a funkiller. Coming to a vulchfest near you.
You cant tie a loop around 400000 lbs of locomotive using a 2 foot rope - Drediock on fat women