Dead motherboard, New PC, What now?

I had a PC with 2 internal HDDs backed up using Acronis True Image Home to 2 external drives - one USD and the other Firewire. Now the motherboard has died so I am buying a completely new computer. The new computer will have SATA drives, the old one doesn't. Can I use my recovery CD to transfer the image to the new hardware? Or will I have to do a complete reinstall of Windows and programs and then just restore the data? I'm running Windows 7 RC on the old (dead) and new machines.

 

It won't hurt anything to give it a try. Just be very careful of your backup drives so you don't mess them up. I suspect it will work but will need several drivers replaced depending on the new hardware.

A fresh install of Windows would be the best and maybe you will have to do it that way. Let us know.

 

I think I won't risk the image restore method. Probably safer to do a complete clean install of Windows. All my data is safely backed up (in more than one place), so it's really only a matter of reinstalling programs. A bit time-consuming but a couple of nights should see it done.

 

Hello boronia,

Thank you for using Acronis True Image Home 2009

It is recommended to use Acronis Universal Restore to restore the image of a Windows system to a machine with dissimilar hardware.

The Acronis Universal Restore technology provides an efficient solution for restoration of a hardware-independent system by replacing the crucial HAL and hard disk controller drivers. Acronis Universal Restore is an optional program feature. It should be purchased separately and installed from a separate .msi setup file. Acronis Universal Restore can only be installed on a computer where at least one of the following Acronis components is installed:

* Acronis True Image Echo Workstation (local version), Acronis True Image Echo Server for Windows (local version), Acronis True Image Echo Enterprise Server (local version)
* Acronis True Image Agent for Windows
* Acronis Bootable Media Builder

In your case it will be better to reinstall the operating system with all applications from the scratch.

Check the following link for more information concerning Transferring Windows to Dissimilar Hardware

Best regards,
--
Dmitry Nikolaev

 

I agree - just too risky . Yes, each version of Windows gets better at being restored to different hardware but it's still not stable enough IMHO to be trusted with my sensitive data.

At come on, you're asking for trouble with Windows 7 release candidate

Universal restore might change this but I've never tried that option.

Cheers, Rob.

 

So, Universal Restore can now be used with the True Image Home lineup?

 

Yes, I'm sure I read that somewhere when trying to work out the current mammoth list of products.

Cheers, Rob

 

I dont think that is correct.

I read that Acronis Universal Restore program will work, if you also own Acronis True Image Echo. See here:

http://www.acronis.com/enterprise/products/ATIES/universal-restore.html

It would great if Universal restore could be added to ATI 2009.

It is on the ATI Wish list thread.

 

You are indeed correct. It's the "Acronis® True Image Echo™ Workstation" product that has the option - was reading the small office product list:

http://www.acronis.com/smb/

Cheers, Rob.

 

I guess it was wishful thinking...

I use Echo Workstation with UR and wouldn't have it any other way (with the Acronis lineup ). I can't comprehend why one wouldn't need UR (Besides price). MoBo and mass storage controller problems are too common these days to chance it, imho.

 

Hello all,

Thank you for your interest in Acronis Corporate Products

Just to confirm,

Acronis Universal Restore requires a program of the corporate line and can only be installed on a computer where at least one of the following Acronis components is installed:

* Acronis True Image Echo Workstation (local version), Acronis True Image Echo Server for Windows (local version), Acronis True Image Echo Enterprise Server (local version);
* Acronis True Image Agent for Windows;
* Acronis Bootable Media Builder.

Also, officially Acronis software don't support Windows 7, and the proper results are not guaranteed.

Thank you.

--
Oleg Lee

 

Thanks Oleg for confirming this.