Migration of Vista Upgrade installation to new drive
Following an unfixable error with the Vista Backup & Recovery program I've
decided that my first Vista installation has reached the end of its natural
life.
It was an upgrade from XP Home Edition (which came with the PC) to Vista
Home Premium on the original C partition. Not ideal, but now I would like to
start afresh with a clean install.
I have purchased a second faster SATA2 drive, which I have partitioned in
two: G drive with 58.5GB (intended for the new Vista installation), and Z
drive with 238GB to which I will copy all my data before the reinstall. The
drive is formatted as a basic disk and both partitions are NTFS primary
partitions (I found previously that Vista install doesn't accept dynamic
disks for the OS partition).
As my copy of Vista is an upgrade, the reinstall has to be initiated from
within the existing Vista installation for the key to work.
My question - will Vista reinstall cleanly onto the G drive without
problems? I have found that the install commences properly (I quickly
stopped it from proceeding as it was only a test). My concern is that the
migration could fail half way through if the machine reboots and doesn't
know which disk/installation to boot to!
Anybody with experience of this scenario?
Also, if it does install correctly onto the G drive, am I right to assume
that the original C drive partition on the old drive then becomes
inaccessible? (Hence the need to copy files across before the install
attempt).
Re: Migration of Vista Upgrade installation to new drive
Hi Colin,
Actually, it should work just fine. Your C: drive will not become
inaccessible, but you may need to "take ownership" of the files you
currently have stored there in order to access them. Programs currently
installed will not be migrated, so you will have reinstall them from the
original installation media.
Also, C: will still remain the [system] drive, so you cannot later remove it
as it will contain the boot files necessary to load the operating system. Do
not at some point format this drive or you will lose them, necessitating a
startup repair by booting the Vista DVD.
"Colin" <colin@nospam> wrote in message
news:66CE0648-EA0A-4C81-A5DB-629C5E1B219D@microsoft.com...
> Following an unfixable error with the Vista Backup & Recovery program I've
> decided that my first Vista installation has reached the end of its
> natural life.
>
> It was an upgrade from XP Home Edition (which came with the PC) to Vista
> Home Premium on the original C partition. Not ideal, but now I would like
> to start afresh with a clean install.
>
> I have purchased a second faster SATA2 drive, which I have partitioned in
> two: G drive with 58.5GB (intended for the new Vista installation), and Z
> drive with 238GB to which I will copy all my data before the reinstall.
> The drive is formatted as a basic disk and both partitions are NTFS
> primary partitions (I found previously that Vista install doesn't accept
> dynamic disks for the OS partition).
>
> As my copy of Vista is an upgrade, the reinstall has to be initiated from
> within the existing Vista installation for the key to work.
>
> My question - will Vista reinstall cleanly onto the G drive without
> problems? I have found that the install commences properly (I quickly
> stopped it from proceeding as it was only a test). My concern is that the
> migration could fail half way through if the machine reboots and doesn't
> know which disk/installation to boot to!
>
> Anybody with experience of this scenario?
>
> Also, if it does install correctly onto the G drive, am I right to assume
> that the original C drive partition on the old drive then becomes
> inaccessible? (Hence the need to copy files across before the install
> attempt).
>
> Thanks,
Re: Migration of Vista Upgrade installation to new drive
Good Morning, I am Patrick. Getting right to it - If You recall the
primary drive is the 1st one on the Cable. If You put what is now G & Z
as the Master & 1st on the drive Cable, then put what is now C as the
slave and 2nd on the Cable, does the machine not like You? Also I
suggest making the Z drive the "My Documents" partition. I named mine
"E:\Storage". Also as seems to be apparent You can use almost any
sequence of letters, as long as it makes logical sense. I say this
because having drives and sequences logical makes for peace when a
person is tring to accomplish what You are doing. Also You can
re-install to the "C:\" and there is a sequence that will allow you to
install saving all of your old stuff to a directory from which You can
retrieve your old files. Then when You go to install to G, Installation
are happy, you do C:\, You do G:\, You assimulate all files to storage,
re-establish all of your Mail Backup, Pictures, Word, Excel, drivers,
downloads, etc. in "My Documents" on your "Storage" partition. I think
the Vista Upgrade sequence of events will allow this. I hope this makes
sense, because I have done this - I would like to assist You more if You
need it. God's Speed.
Re: Migration of Vista Upgrade installation to new drive
Thanks Rick,
I would like to reformat the old drive if possible. I have done a startup
repair before (when I converted my original drive to a Dynamic Disk and it
subsequently couldn't find the OS on Boot).
The repair from the DVD is straightforward and I wouldn't have a problem
with doing this again. Would it just be a matter of disconnecting the cable
from the old disk, running the startup repair on the new disk, then
reconnecting the old disk? Or would the PC take exception to two lots of
boot files on two drives? Perhaps moving the new drive onto SATA position 0
and the old Disk onto Position 1 would give the new drive precedence?
The other thing I'm a bit concerned about is the same problem I had when I
originally upgraded. Vista disn't like SATA drives if the Intel Matrix
drivers wasn't installed. I had multiple blue screen crashes every time the
PC restarted before I found the solution (which was to start in safe mode,
and then run some freeware to trick the Installer to work long enough to
install the Intel drivers). Has SATA support now been added in the
pre-installation update download?
Colin
"Rick Rogers" <rick@mvps.org> wrote in message
news:ezUS8K$aIHA.6024@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> Hi Colin,
>
> Actually, it should work just fine. Your C: drive will not become
> inaccessible, but you may need to "take ownership" of the files you
> currently have stored there in order to access them. Programs currently
> installed will not be migrated, so you will have reinstall them from the
> original installation media.
>
> Also, C: will still remain the [system] drive, so you cannot later remove
> it as it will contain the boot files necessary to load the operating
> system. Do not at some point format this drive or you will lose them,
> necessitating a startup repair by booting the Vista DVD.
>
> --
> Best of Luck,
>
> Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
> Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
> My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
>
> "Colin" <colin@nospam> wrote in message
> news:66CE0648-EA0A-4C81-A5DB-629C5E1B219D@microsoft.com...
>> Following an unfixable error with the Vista Backup & Recovery program
>> I've decided that my first Vista installation has reached the end of its
>> natural life.
>>
>> It was an upgrade from XP Home Edition (which came with the PC) to Vista
>> Home Premium on the original C partition. Not ideal, but now I would like
>> to start afresh with a clean install.
>>
>> I have purchased a second faster SATA2 drive, which I have partitioned in
>> two: G drive with 58.5GB (intended for the new Vista installation), and Z
>> drive with 238GB to which I will copy all my data before the reinstall.
>> The drive is formatted as a basic disk and both partitions are NTFS
>> primary partitions (I found previously that Vista install doesn't accept
>> dynamic disks for the OS partition).
>>
>> As my copy of Vista is an upgrade, the reinstall has to be initiated from
>> within the existing Vista installation for the key to work.
>>
>> My question - will Vista reinstall cleanly onto the G drive without
>> problems? I have found that the install commences properly (I quickly
>> stopped it from proceeding as it was only a test). My concern is that the
>> migration could fail half way through if the machine reboots and doesn't
>> know which disk/installation to boot to!
>>
>> Anybody with experience of this scenario?
>>
>> Also, if it does install correctly onto the G drive, am I right to assume
>> that the original C drive partition on the old drive then becomes
>> inaccessible? (Hence the need to copy files across before the install
>> attempt).
>>
>> Thanks,
>
Re: Migration of Vista Upgrade installation to new drive
Hi Patrick,
Both my drives are SATA drives, so they don't have Master / Slave settings.
"Patrick C" <Patrick.C.34kle4@no-mx.forums.net> wrote in message
news:Patrick.C.34kle4@no-mx.forums.net...
>
> Good Morning, I am Patrick. Getting right to it - If You recall the
> primary drive is the 1st one on the Cable. If You put what is now G & Z
> as the Master & 1st on the drive Cable, then put what is now C as the
> slave and 2nd on the Cable, does the machine not like You? Also I
> suggest making the Z drive the "My Documents" partition. I named mine
> "E:\Storage". Also as seems to be apparent You can use almost any
> sequence of letters, as long as it makes logical sense. I say this
> because having drives and sequences logical makes for peace when a
> person is tring to accomplish what You are doing. Also You can
> re-install to the "C:\" and there is a sequence that will allow you to
> install saving all of your old stuff to a directory from which You can
> retrieve your old files. Then when You go to install to G, Installation
> are happy, you do C:\, You do G:\, You assimulate all files to storage,
> re-establish all of your Mail Backup, Pictures, Word, Excel, drivers,
> downloads, etc. in "My Documents" on your "Storage" partition. I think
> the Vista Upgrade sequence of events will allow this. I hope this makes
> sense, because I have done this - I would like to assist You more if You
> need it. God's Speed.
>
>
> --
> Patrick C
Re: Migration of Vista Upgrade installation to new drive
Colin - Regardless of the Master / Slave relationship - Does what I have
already done - with my drives which I was trying to convey to you - Make
sense & have You tried it? What is going on with your install now -
02/10/08 1423 PST
"Colin" <colin@nospam> wrote in message
news:86442726-9123-4EC7-8F7E-387E424995C5@microsoft.com...
> Thanks Rick,
>
> I would like to reformat the old drive if possible. I have done a startup
> repair before (when I converted my original drive to a Dynamic Disk and it
> subsequently couldn't find the OS on Boot).
>
> The repair from the DVD is straightforward and I wouldn't have a problem
> with doing this again. Would it just be a matter of disconnecting the
> cable from the old disk, running the startup repair on the new disk, then
> reconnecting the old disk? Or would the PC take exception to two lots of
> boot files on two drives? Perhaps moving the new drive onto SATA position
> 0 and the old Disk onto Position 1 would give the new drive precedence?
>
> The other thing I'm a bit concerned about is the same problem I had when I
> originally upgraded. Vista disn't like SATA drives if the Intel Matrix
> drivers wasn't installed. I had multiple blue screen crashes every time
> the PC restarted before I found the solution (which was to start in safe
> mode, and then run some freeware to trick the Installer to work long
> enough to install the Intel drivers). Has SATA support now been added in
> the pre-installation update download?
>
> Colin
>
> "Rick Rogers" <rick@mvps.org> wrote in message
> news:ezUS8K$aIHA.6024@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>> Hi Colin,
>>
>> Actually, it should work just fine. Your C: drive will not become
>> inaccessible, but you may need to "take ownership" of the files you
>> currently have stored there in order to access them. Programs currently
>> installed will not be migrated, so you will have reinstall them from the
>> original installation media.
>>
>> Also, C: will still remain the [system] drive, so you cannot later remove
>> it as it will contain the boot files necessary to load the operating
>> system. Do not at some point format this drive or you will lose them,
>> necessitating a startup repair by booting the Vista DVD.
>>
>> --
>> Best of Luck,
>>
>> Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
>> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
>> Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
>> My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
>>
>> "Colin" <colin@nospam> wrote in message
>> news:66CE0648-EA0A-4C81-A5DB-629C5E1B219D@microsoft.com...
>>> Following an unfixable error with the Vista Backup & Recovery program
>>> I've decided that my first Vista installation has reached the end of its
>>> natural life.
>>>
>>> It was an upgrade from XP Home Edition (which came with the PC) to Vista
>>> Home Premium on the original C partition. Not ideal, but now I would
>>> like to start afresh with a clean install.
>>>
>>> I have purchased a second faster SATA2 drive, which I have partitioned
>>> in two: G drive with 58.5GB (intended for the new Vista installation),
>>> and Z drive with 238GB to which I will copy all my data before the
>>> reinstall. The drive is formatted as a basic disk and both partitions
>>> are NTFS primary partitions (I found previously that Vista install
>>> doesn't accept dynamic disks for the OS partition).
>>>
>>> As my copy of Vista is an upgrade, the reinstall has to be initiated
>>> from within the existing Vista installation for the key to work.
>>>
>>> My question - will Vista reinstall cleanly onto the G drive without
>>> problems? I have found that the install commences properly (I quickly
>>> stopped it from proceeding as it was only a test). My concern is that
>>> the migration could fail half way through if the machine reboots and
>>> doesn't know which disk/installation to boot to!
>>>
>>> Anybody with experience of this scenario?
>>>
>>> Also, if it does install correctly onto the G drive, am I right to
>>> assume that the original C drive partition on the old drive then becomes
>>> inaccessible? (Hence the need to copy files across before the install
>>> attempt).
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>
Re: Migration of Vista Upgrade installation to new drive
Colin, follow Rick's advice. Your idea of switching boot priority to the
new drive first is very good and you should make the partition you are going
to install Vista on the active partition.
"Colin" <colin@nospam> wrote in message
news:8A602E41-6192-4C96-9E34-26AB7BEEF3B0@microsoft.com...
> Hi Patrick,
>
> Both my drives are SATA drives, so they don't have Master / Slave
> settings.
>
> "Patrick C" <Patrick.C.34kle4@no-mx.forums.net> wrote in message
> news:Patrick.C.34kle4@no-mx.forums.net...
>>
>> Good Morning, I am Patrick. Getting right to it - If You recall the
>> primary drive is the 1st one on the Cable. If You put what is now G & Z
>> as the Master & 1st on the drive Cable, then put what is now C as the
>> slave and 2nd on the Cable, does the machine not like You? Also I
>> suggest making the Z drive the "My Documents" partition. I named mine
>> "E:\Storage". Also as seems to be apparent You can use almost any
>> sequence of letters, as long as it makes logical sense. I say this
>> because having drives and sequences logical makes for peace when a
>> person is tring to accomplish what You are doing. Also You can
>> re-install to the "C:\" and there is a sequence that will allow you to
>> install saving all of your old stuff to a directory from which You can
>> retrieve your old files. Then when You go to install to G, Installation
>> are happy, you do C:\, You do G:\, You assimulate all files to storage,
>> re-establish all of your Mail Backup, Pictures, Word, Excel, drivers,
>> downloads, etc. in "My Documents" on your "Storage" partition. I think
>> the Vista Upgrade sequence of events will allow this. I hope this makes
>> sense, because I have done this - I would like to assist You more if You
>> need it. God's Speed.
>>
>>
>> --
>> Patrick C
>
Migration of Vista Upgrade installation to new drive 
Linear Mode
