[RESOLVED] Can you copy NT to a new drive

[Jason Schultz]

I know that you can copy 95 and 98 to new drive by using 'xcopy c:\*.* /e /h /k /r /c d:' ,but can you use this command in NT or something like it?

Thanks,
[email protected]

[dsolodow]

I don't suggest using the xcopy trick to clone win9x drives. The results can be unpredictable. The exact details of this problem can be found at www.pcguide.com
Using a program like drive image, drive copy or ghost is a much better solution. You can download demos of these from the manufacturers.

[AlienDyne]

Hi.
I'm sorry to dissapoint you both, but you can't copy NT like that.

First of all, forget xcopy. It's not that easy, cause you can't copy the Swap File while being in use (This is for Win9x).

Now for NT:
I've tried Norton Ghost but it just can't do it due to the different File Allocation Table type NT uses (NTFS).
It works perfectly under W3x, W95, W98 etc. but can't do the same under NT.

I've also tried some other programs made for this purpose, with no results.
I don't have the time to search for something else (if exists) so if anyone knows something, that would be great.




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When a good one meets some of the best...
I've died and gone to heaven!

[dsolodow]

First off, ntfs is not a different type of file allocation table, it is a totally different filesystem. Problems with imaging are not likely to be the filesystem, unless it is corrupted.. I've successfully copied nt from one hard drive to another in the same system. I'm not sure what you used or what exact problem you had, but I have succesfully used Drive image for cloning an nt drive.

[stevet]

I'm not sure what I have been doing wrong, but I have xcopy'd Win9x dozens of times using the /h/e/r/c/k switches with no problems whatsoever. It's not important whether the swap file gets copied or not - Windows will just create a new one the first time you boot the new drive.

Just my two cents...

Steve

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Altoplanos Information Systems, Inc.
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho USA
www.altoplanos.net

[AlienDyne]

I know the difference between NTFS and FAT.
I also know that the Swap file isn't so important, but what about all that NT files which just can't be copied?




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When a good one meets some of the best...
I've died and gone to heaven!

[Eagle PC Diagnostech]

Can't you just mirror the drive on to the new one?

[dsolodow]

AlienDyne, what nt files that can't be copied?? There are several that can't be copied while nt is running, because the os locks them, but that's why you boot from a dos disk and use something like drive image. I have used it on my own nt machine, with no problem. The only thing not transferred was the signature disk administrator writes to the drive. No big deal.

[AlienDyne]

Dsolodow,
We use WinNT 4.0 on our main server. It's working 24Hrs a day. Sometime ago I desided to backup the whole HDD, cause it is very importand for us to have it running continuously. I can't exit to DOS cause the programs it contains are used by all of the other terminals. I'm afraid I wont be able to copy NT while using it. Am I correct?
If not what I can do?




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When a good one meets some of the best...
I've died and gone to heaven!

[dsolodow]

Now I see what you're saying... None of the image programs can be run from within nt so far as I know... If it were me, if the machine is that important, mirror the hard drive... Much easier probably...