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I could be wrong about this but my understanding is that Windows 7 is not tied to the hardware the way Windows used to be and that cloning across machines is supposed to be easier now.
This is correct. Windows 7 is not as tightly tied at the HAL any more, so it doesn't cause as many problem when moving to similar hardware. But, your mileage may vary, and you're still better off staying as identical as possible.
Clonezilla works fine for imaging XP boxes, but there are a couple gotchas.
- As mentioned, the hardware must be identical at the HAL layer
- You should sysprep the base image machine
- It's often helpful to shrink the partition to make sure it's going to fit on target machines
If you're not having to do a lot of customized software, but just want to have a uniform, easy to deploy XP setup, you might want to create some Nlite disks instead. Nlite is a free program that will allow you to create a custom WinXP disk, and integrate things like your VLK key, domain join, drivers, and servicepacks. If done correctly, you can start the install from the disk, point it at a drive, and then walk away for about 45 minutes, returning to a fully completed installation.
Alternately, shift up to Win7 and then you don't have to worry about the HAL anymore.
- As mentioned, the hardware must be identical at the HAL layer
- You should sysprep the base image machine
- It's often helpful to shrink the partition to make sure it's going to fit on target machines
If you're not having to do a lot of customized software, but just want to have a uniform, easy to deploy XP setup, you might want to create some Nlite disks instead. Nlite is a free program that will allow you to create a custom WinXP disk, and integrate things like your VLK key, domain join, drivers, and servicepacks. If done correctly, you can start the install from the disk, point it at a drive, and then walk away for about 45 minutes, returning to a fully completed installation.
Alternately, shift up to Win7 and then you don't have to worry about the HAL anymore.
Can you simply move the hard disk over to the new machine? If the answer is yes, a cloned machine will work fine regardless of how the cloning is done. If the answer is no, the OS needs to be prepared for the move.
We use clonezilla as a emergency backup system when replacing a dodgy hard disk (after we stabilize it with in our top secret process that involves a freezer) or when replicating an loadout across multiple machines which are identical... even then it's not always 100%, but the tool works.
the trouble is in standard (non-virtualized) installations, the Operating system, drivers, etc. becomes very specific to the hardware and will most likely only work within identical hardware. In our experience even variances within production runs of identical make and models may cause cloned machines not to work even when you think it should.
We use clonezilla as a emergency backup system when replacing a dodgy hard disk (after we stabilize it with in our top secret process that involves a freezer) or when replicating an loadout across multiple machines which are identical... even then it's not always 100%, but the tool works.
the trouble is in standard (non-virtualized) installations, the Operating system, drivers, etc. becomes very specific to the hardware and will most likely only work within identical hardware. In our experience even variances within production runs of identical make and models may cause cloned machines not to work even when you think it should.
There are other options as well, such as using Windows Deployment services (which is our current method). While it can be a pain to set up, it works extremely well no matter the hardware you're installing to.
One of the most common failures of trans-hardware cloning is where the AHCI mode differs, including on the same PC. Windows will BSoD STOP 7B on boot.
XP lacks native AHCI support, but modern Vista/7 is easier to fix here. The needed drivers are in fact present, but disabled in the interests of faster booting, so the best fix is to enable these before you image C: for transplant. If you forgot to do that, you can use Bart (AHCI off) or WinPE and Regedit, either by explicit hive binding to HKLM or (Bart on XP installations) using RunScanner, and apply the settings to enable the relevent driver that way. Do that before booting the new PC into a STOP 7B.
The other aspect not mentioned here, is activation status. As the target PC will differ in hardware, prompt activation demands will follow, and you can use this as an opportunity to change the OS product key if applicable. I'm not sure how SysPrep works in a post-activation scenario, or WAIK/WIM for that matter. Useful tools are Nirsoft's 32- and 64-bit ProduKey, which can be used via Bart and RunScanner for XP, and Licenturion's activation details monitor for XP, which can also work through Bart and RunScanner.
If you want to preserve the source PC, you should image C: before SysPrep, and restore that image after harvesting the transplantable form. SysPrep has a lot of side-effects and can barf the system, e.g. if the Windows partition is not set as active at the time (common in Linux/Windows dual-boot with grub as boot manager).
XP lacks native AHCI support, but modern Vista/7 is easier to fix here. The needed drivers are in fact present, but disabled in the interests of faster booting, so the best fix is to enable these before you image C: for transplant. If you forgot to do that, you can use Bart (AHCI off) or WinPE and Regedit, either by explicit hive binding to HKLM or (Bart on XP installations) using RunScanner, and apply the settings to enable the relevent driver that way. Do that before booting the new PC into a STOP 7B.
The other aspect not mentioned here, is activation status. As the target PC will differ in hardware, prompt activation demands will follow, and you can use this as an opportunity to change the OS product key if applicable. I'm not sure how SysPrep works in a post-activation scenario, or WAIK/WIM for that matter. Useful tools are Nirsoft's 32- and 64-bit ProduKey, which can be used via Bart and RunScanner for XP, and Licenturion's activation details monitor for XP, which can also work through Bart and RunScanner.
If you want to preserve the source PC, you should image C: before SysPrep, and restore that image after harvesting the transplantable form. SysPrep has a lot of side-effects and can barf the system, e.g. if the Windows partition is not set as active at the time (common in Linux/Windows dual-boot with grub as boot manager).
If it is a Windows environment why not just use WDS....it is included in 2003 Server R2 and above , it addresses the need above and there is a ton of documentation if you have issues...
Just my thoughts...my personal opinion is that Ghost Enterprise was way better than Acronis ... too bad Symantec didn't continue supporting it ....
Just my thoughts...my personal opinion is that Ghost Enterprise was way better than Acronis ... too bad Symantec didn't continue supporting it ....
I have used NLite, PING (Partimage Is Not Ghost) and Sysprep. NLite allows me to add all the drivers needed for any hardware I may have in the environment, Sysprep allows for GUID changes and new system setup and PING allows for creating and restoring images. You can use a manual method or setup a TFTP or PXE environment and mass image workstations... HTH
Wade
Wade
If I need to clone a working Windows disk, I will use EASEUS ToDo Backup. It seems to be the easiest. If the Windows installation is damaged, then Clonezilla is probably the best solution.
Obviously, after, cloning the damaged Windows installation, I will attempt to repair it and, if successful, will then use ToDo Backup to make a clone.
FOG is another good imaging product for budget conscious environments. http://sourceforge.net/projects/freeghost/
I use ClearOS 5.2 as a Server and I use Clonezilla to install all PC on my network. I used to use disk clone then moved to Partion and now I do partion clone using ftp of ClearOS. the answer whether you can use Clonezilla just for Windows is YES.
1. Install main PC fully with all apps and all updates then when done
2. Pop Clonezilla into the drive and Bobs your uncle.
The question of using the image to put on a PC with different Hardware is: AMD Vs Intel = Problem it does not work. But Intel to Intel yep it it work only that you need to install the drivers for the new machine thats it = tried and tested.
I have a 40 seater Lab and with 20 Dell + 13 HP Small the rest are a mix of Gigabyte, MSI, 2 X Intel boards. So I make an Image then to the next machine different add drivers = reimage the continue till I have all drivers on the last image and that image is rolled out on all machines. Voila......
Need for help? Post on Forum so others can get help from your question.
1. Install main PC fully with all apps and all updates then when done
2. Pop Clonezilla into the drive and Bobs your uncle.
The question of using the image to put on a PC with different Hardware is: AMD Vs Intel = Problem it does not work. But Intel to Intel yep it it work only that you need to install the drivers for the new machine thats it = tried and tested.
I have a 40 seater Lab and with 20 Dell + 13 HP Small the rest are a mix of Gigabyte, MSI, 2 X Intel boards. So I make an Image then to the next machine different add drivers = reimage the continue till I have all drivers on the last image and that image is rolled out on all machines. Voila......
Need for help? Post on Forum so others can get help from your question.
Opinion: While i have yet to extensively explore the capabilities of the open source Linux based software Clonezilla, it has not failed us in cloning/imaging and restoring anything on the magnetic media. We cannot find a filesystem it does not support. It is a rock solid Linux based lean and powerful utility for backups one can count on. I certainly cannot say this for Windows. CZ gets the kingly crown when it comes to DRBL plus speed. It is so powerful as to command respect from users who give it a fair shake. This is because it is Linux in the end. CZ is a bit "limited" in the sense that it is not a multifunctional utility. What i recommend is to get a free Linux utility called YUMI on a USB stick, then install various bootable 'goodies' such as CZ, Systemrescuecd and many others listed on YUMI for totally free to download. The last i tried, CZ supports GRUB and even BSD, Unix, OS X! There are numerous good articles on the net about CZ now, highly recommended to read before cloning.
p.s. someone had said that "But CZ does not come with any warranties"; while it is amazing to hear such comments, it is not too out of order to say that a 400 dollar obese OS not only does not come without warranties but they come with threats of criminal penalties plus you have to agree "not to attempt to seek the source code", among other things. Fact is that Linux machines just do not crash and they do not get attacked and corrupted as compared to some others! In fact, its the single most important reason to use CZ for Windows backup in case the hard drive gets infected and it can be restored healthy in literally no time if you saved its image when it was healthy. i had such misfortune except i restored my hard drive within less than 30 minutes keeping the OS, the updates, all files, the programs, everything minus the infection.
p.s. someone had said that "But CZ does not come with any warranties"; while it is amazing to hear such comments, it is not too out of order to say that a 400 dollar obese OS not only does not come without warranties but they come with threats of criminal penalties plus you have to agree "not to attempt to seek the source code", among other things. Fact is that Linux machines just do not crash and they do not get attacked and corrupted as compared to some others! In fact, its the single most important reason to use CZ for Windows backup in case the hard drive gets infected and it can be restored healthy in literally no time if you saved its image when it was healthy. i had such misfortune except i restored my hard drive within less than 30 minutes keeping the OS, the updates, all files, the programs, everything minus the infection.
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