I want to copy another computers hard disk to mine HOW??

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jim
  • Start date Start date
J

Jim

I want to copy another computers hard disk to one where a new hard
drive was just installed.

Then I want to change the OS and MS Office product keys to mine.

Is this possible. I do IT maintenance for some companies and when a
hard disk is replaced, currently I have to install the OS with product
key, install the mfg. supplied drivers, install MS Office with product
key, install all other apps used by the user.

In the same office are several computers that are the same hardware
and exact same software - except for product keys, IP address, user
name and passwords. If think it would be much faster to do a hard
disk copy, then make those changes.....

I also think a badly virus and spyware infected system could be
repaired the same way much faster....
 
I want to copy another computers hard disk to one where a new hard
drive was just installed.

Then I want to change the OS and MS Office product keys to mine.

Is this possible. I do IT maintenance for some companies and when a
hard disk is replaced, currently I have to install the OS with product
key, install the mfg. supplied drivers, install MS Office with product
key, install all other apps used by the user.

In the same office are several computers that are the same hardware
and exact same software - except for product keys, IP address, user
name and passwords. If think it would be much faster to do a hard
disk copy, then make those changes.....

I also think a badly virus and spyware infected system could be
repaired the same way much faster....
Click to expand...


Read up on Disk cloneing/imaging partiularly programs like Symantechs
Ghost, Acronis Trueimage, Drive Image which used to be owned by Power
Quest but is now a Symantech product.

All of these product will give you what you want to a degree but you
also need to read up on disk cloneing in general especially as you are
dealing with networked machines. You may also want to read up on using
tools like sys prep (for Mircosoft OS installations) for building
images which will require certain inputs from either a prebuilt
answers file or from manual input form the installer.

If you are dealing with large office organisations you can by volume
licences for MS apps like office which allow the use of the same Key
for all installls.
 
Andy Lee said:
Read up on Disk cloneing/imaging partiularly programs like Symantechs
Ghost, Acronis Trueimage, Drive Image which used to be owned by Power
Quest but is now a Symantech product.
Click to expand...


Will Windows XP recognize that it's no longer in the same system
although the list of hardware types may be identical? That is, does it
recognize that the MAC address or other serial nos. of the motherboard
and peripherals which would preclude swapping HDs from on system
to another?

*TimDaniels*
 
Will Windows XP recognize that it's no longer in the same system
although the list of hardware types may be identical? That is, does it
recognize that the MAC address or other serial nos. of the motherboard
and peripherals which would preclude swapping HDs from on system
to another?

*TimDaniels*
Click to expand...

Well we use the XP Corparate software so it's not a problem for us but
obviously if you use the OEM disk it can be an issue
 
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