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Change srvr hardware without re-install?

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by hbartlet

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I have an NT V4 SP6a PDC which also runs two database applications (using Pervasive SQL and SQL Anywhere). I am replacing the hardware with a more powerful unit so the SCSI controller, NIC and video drivers are different. Is there any way to move tothe new server without reinstalling everything?

Ghosting/imaging works in the physical sense but the system won't boot since the wrong disk drivers are configured. Any suggestions? I think if I can get around the disk obstacle the rest will be a matter of installing drivers for the NIC and video.

If I can't cut corners then the only choice I can see would be to install NT as a BDC, re-install all the software (a challenge since much of it was installed years ago and I may not have everything needed), copy the databases, and then promote the BDC to be a PDC to complete the operation. Is there an easier way?

TIA... -Henry

5 replies

by hd.rudolph

Hi Henry,

you don't need to reinstall your whole system. Just add the driver for your new SCSI-Controller to your old system. Shutdown your server and add the new Controller. Because the driver is already installed, the System should startup correctly. Ignore the Error-Messages at the startup (the system can't find the old Controller and can't load the driver). For changing the videocard just start in VGA-Modus, add the new videodriver and restart. The change of the NIC should be no problem.

hd

by ttrinh

Henry,

Using NT, you can install several "instances" of NT servers on the same PC. If you want to absolutely move your current NT to the new machine, here are a few general guide lines:

1- install a brand new version of NT on the new mmachine.Important, use some thing else for the system folder "C:\winnt". You must reserve this name for the old NT system you will be moving from the old machine. Just use winnt2 for the new NT system.

2-Restore/ or copy over your old c:\winnt folder to the new machine.

3- modify the c:\boot.ini to allow the choice to boot to old system.

4-boot to old system (in safe mode)using menu choice at bootup, and install drivers for video, SCSI etc..

Upto now you can reboot to your old system with new components working, but your old apps will still not work. Now try to copy contents of old program files to the new one, or any folder where you installed your old programs. The old registry is still in c:\winnt so all old programs are still registered correctly.

Obviously, there are many steps, involving several important details, if you miss one, it will not work.(especially details related to your old programs, all the folders related to it for example.(its DLLs may have been installed elsewhere than c:\winnt\system32 etc).

These are only general guidelines as stated earlier, if you need more details feel free to contact me.

Good luck

by hbartlet

Thanks for the tips. Luckily there was an easier way.

1. I loaded the SCSI device driver of the new system into the old system using the SCSI control panel.
2. I then created an image of the old system's disks using DriveImage from PowerQuest.3. Next I restored the image onto the new machine's disks (both machines have two SCSI drives, only real differences are new motherboard upgrade from PII to PIII with new onboard video, NIC and SCSI controller).
4. Finally, I booted the new system in VGA mode, replaced the old video driver, deleted the old SCSI and NIC drivers, and installed the new NIC driver.

The new system now works great!

-Henry

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