Cloning - Unique Situation...!!!

Discussion in 'Acronis True Image Product Line' started by sunandoghosh, Oct 4, 2006.

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  1. sunandoghosh

    sunandoghosh Registered Member

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    Cloning - Unique Situation...!!!

    Hi

    ----------------------------------------------------
    SCENARIO:
    ----------------------------------------------------
    Hard Disk One: 60 GB

    Two Partitions:

    Partition One (20GB) : Windows xp professional OS
    PArtition Two (40GB) : DATA files

    Hard Disk Two: 80 GB

    Two Partitions:

    Partition One (30GB) : Windows 2000 server OS
    PArtition Two (50GB) : DATA files
    ----------------------------------------------------
    WHAT IS DESIRED:

    Combine two systems above on same single hard disk of say 140 GB and be presented at time of boot up option as to boot up with which partition (OS)...o_O?
    -----------------------------------------------------
    PROBLEM:

    Disk Cloning requires that either destination hard disk be blank or destination hard disk all data be destroyed before cloning...so how i clone second hard disk (of 80 GB) onto new hard disk (of 140 GB) after already having cloned first hard disk of 60 GB into 140 GB....o_O

    How can I have both 60 Gb and 80 GB systems be cloned and placed together in new hard disk of 140 GB...o_O

    pls suggest some way....

    Thanks and Best Regards

    sunando ghosh

    sunando
    sunandoghosh at gmail dot com
     
  2. sunandoghosh

    sunandoghosh Registered Member

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    I know I am showing my impatience and am extremely sorry but I have got some urgent need and hence request everyone to plz help by sloving above query...!!!!

    Thanks again for ur understanding and help...!!!
     
  3. Xpilot

    Xpilot Registered Member

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    Actually combining both the systems on to one disk with three or four partitions is not too difficult. The tricky bit is to sort out the booting arrangements and this is not really a True Image problem. When I did something simillar a while back I sorted out the dual booting first before combining the drives and then editing the boot INI so that the boot loader pointed to both systems on a single disk 0.

    There are many articles available on how to dual boot 2000 and XP either using Windows tools or third party software. The choice is yours.

    Assuming the 2000 system is on C drive this whole disk, including the MBR, should be cloned or imaged to the new drive. Then create a partion in the unallocated space to which an IMAGE of the whole of the second disk would be restored, this time without an MBR.

    Before you start any of this give your current partitions names such as "2000sys" and "2000data" "XPsys" and "XPdata". There is a need for this as in the various operations the drive letters may change if only on a temporary basis and it is then easy to get confused.


    Xpilot
     
  4. sunandoghosh

    sunandoghosh Registered Member

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    hi thanks so much for ur prompt reply....

    BUT how then will it be possible to ever boot from 2nd operating system which has been restored from an image without MBR...o_O

    Any good software trick to achive that....o_O?

    Can u plz be kind enough to elaborate a little bit on abobe as i am not that much knowledgeable....thanks
     
  5. Xpilot

    Xpilot Registered Member

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    It is not a trick, it is standard Windows dual booting practice. I suggest that a bit of background reading to improve your understanding of what is meant by dual booting and how it is implemented would be in order.

    Xpilot
     
  6. dld

    dld Registered Member

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    You should get yourself Acronis Disk Director Suite. Read the User Guide here, especially Chapter 8:

    Chapter 8. Installing and using several operating systems on a single PC 8.1 Introduction One of the key benefits offered by Acronis OS Selector is the ability to add almost any new operating system to a PC, even if it already has one or more operating systems installed. Using Acronis OS Selector, a user is able to install: • Several different copies of the same OS (e.g. Windows XP); • Different operating systems from the same developers (e.g. Microsoft Windows 98 and Windows XP); • Operating systems from various developers (e.g. a Windows version and a Linux variant). In all cases, Acronis OS Selector eliminates software conflicts that might affect operating system stability and even result in failures. Acronis OS Selector supports and automatically recognizes the following operating systems: • Various DOS environments: MS DOS 5.x–6.x; MS DOS 7.0 (not a separate product but is included in Windows 95); MS DOS 7.1 (not a separate product but is included in Windows 9:cool:; MS DOS 8.0 (not a separate product but is included in Windows Me). All Windows 9x and Windows NT operating systems: Windows 95/95 OSR2/98/Me/NT/2000/XP • The most widespread Linux distributions • The most widespread Unix PC distributions: FreeBSD, Solaris, QNX Below, you will find instructions for some of the most typical situations related to adding a second OS to a PC that already has one installed. Please be aware that peculiarities of some operating systems may place additional limitations and/or require additional actions. We recommend that you look into Appendix B “Particularities of Operating Systems.” Please note that a newly installed operating system will be set as the defaultin the Acronis OS Selector boot menu. If you require another OS to have this status, you will have to adjust the respective operating system properties (see 7.5 «Setting an operating system as the default»).
     
  7. sunandoghosh

    sunandoghosh Registered Member

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    One more request...can u explain why this has to be restored without MBR...o_O
     
  8. Xpilot

    Xpilot Registered Member

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    A HDD under Windows only has one MBR so why try to confuse it with another ?

    Another approach altogether which, though tiresome would get you to the result you require, would be to start again with the new hard drive.
    First install Windows 2000 and set it up as required and add your data partition. Then pop in the Xp CD and start the install. The previous OS will be recognised and you will be asked if you wish to keep it and dual boot with XP answer yes and complete the installation and set up of XP.

    How exactly are you booting to your two different operating systems at the moment and how are the drive letters allocated ? I ask because I may not be starting from the most appropriate point.

    Xpilot
     
  9. sunandoghosh

    sunandoghosh Registered Member

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    Hi buddy thanks again so much for ur patience and continued help...

    Right now i have two separate hard disks where on one hard disk i have windows xp and on another i have windows 2000; these are desktop hard disks and i connect the one i want to depending on which i want to use....

    But now i want to move both onto my laptop single harddisk.....and also single desktop big harddisk.....instead of two....

    reinstalling software with so many applications and then updates is too too much hassle plz suggest some othe way....
     
  10. Xpilot

    Xpilot Registered Member

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    As you do not just want to combine two PC disks into one and install a dual boot environment, but you also want to move your two installations to completely different hardware I am sorry but I have just resigned from my attempts at helping you.

    Unless you are prepared to spend quite a considerable amount on additional software and spend a lot of time learning how to use it; The only only possible solution I can see would be to install the applications and data from square one on the laptop.

    Good luck in your achieving what you want.

    Over and Out.

    Xpilot
     
  11. sunandoghosh

    sunandoghosh Registered Member

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    I am ready but please guide me in a little simpler manner plz.....
     
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