Knowledge Base

Transferring Windows to Dissimilar Hardware

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• Introduction
  
• Solution
• More information

This article applies to:

• Acronis True Image Echo Server for Windows with Acronis Universal Restore
• Acronis True Image Echo Enterprise Server with Acronis Universal Restore
• Acronis True Image Echo Workstation with Acronis Universal Restore
• Acronis True Image for Microsoft Windows Small Business Server with Acronis Universal Restore

Introduction

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

The supported operating systems are:

• Windows 2000 (Professional edition can be restored using Acronis Universal Restore for Acronis True Image Echo of any edition; Server version can be restored using Acronis Universal Restore for Acronis True Image Echo Server for Windows, Acronis True Image Echo Enterprise Server or Acronis True Image for Microsoft Windows Small Business Server)
• Windows XP (all editions)
• Windows 2003 Server (can be restored using Acronis Universal Restore for Acronis True Image Echo Server for Windows, Acronis True Image Echo Enterprise Server or Acronis True Image for Microsoft Windows Small Business Server)
• Windows Vista (all editions)
• Windows Server 2008 (all editions)

Solution

For detailed guidance on how to transfer the image of a Windows system to a machine with dissimilar hardware, please view the following document:

• Backup to USB, Create Acronis Bootable Media, Restore with Acronis Universal Restore

More information

Acronis Universal Restore does not conflict with Microsoft System Preparation Tool (sysprep). If you got accustomed to using Sysprep, you can use both tools on the same system.

To download Microsoft System Preparation tool, click on your operating system: Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, Windows XP Service Pack 1, Windows XP Service Pack 2, Windows XP Service Pack 3, Windows Server 2003.

In brief, here is how you prepare your disk drive to create a master clone image or to migrate data: Create Acronis standalone version with Rescue Media Builder available in the Tools menu of Acronis True Image. Run sysprep.exe. Microsoft provides you with the option to specify the following keys:

• nosidgen - If you plan to erase all data from the original hard disk and/or do not plan to use both the original and new hard disks in different computers simultaneously, use this option.
• mini - if you plan to migrate your operating system to a computer with different hardware.

Prepare to reboot the computer from Acronis True Image bootable rescue media. Now run the program and create an image of the prepared hard disk. Install a new hard drive into your computer or take the image archive you just made to your new computer. Boot into the Acronis standalone version and restore the image archive to the new hard drive or computer. Reboot the computer. We recommend you to read Microsoft articles regarding the use of sysprep on your operating system, available at the following links: Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003.