1 Topic by Karel V

  • Karel V
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Topic: copy of XP system disk failed

I'am using GParted LiveCD 0.3.4-5 and forced VESA.

I try to copy my old C-disk, containing XP system, to a new C-disk. Therefore, I connect the old C-disk to IDE-2 as slave and connect a larger disk to IDE-1 master. Then I copy using Gparted liveCD.

After doing that, I cannot boot from my new C-disk and I end up with a dead system and a black screen saying GRUB. What goes wrong?

2 Reply by LarryT

  • LarryT
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Re: copy of XP system disk failed

Well, copying a partition, is not the same as copying a working Windows !
BTW, if I well understand you want to boot from your second hard drive, right ?
If what you say is exact, that means that some linux system was installed on the drive you used to copy windows to it !

So be more descriptive, please...

Larry
GParted-project Admin
Former GParted-LiveCD maintainer (2007)

3 Reply by Karel V (edited by Karel V 2007-03-31 09:44:45)

  • Karel V
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Re: copy of XP system disk failed

I have two physical disks. One Disk has two partitions with a working Windows XP installation on the first partition and the second partition used for data. I want to change the two partitions to separate disks with the current disk being my new data disk. So, I changed this disk from IDE1 master to IDE2 slave and mounted a separate disk (larger then the XP partition) on IDE1 master. I used GParted to copy the partition with the XP installation to the empty disk and now I want to boot to the disk with the XP copy, being disk1 in my new configuration.

Karel

4 Reply by johnroberts

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Re: copy of XP system disk failed

Please clarify what exactly do you mean by "copying". If you are actually trying to clone - not copy - a disk or partition, it is a better idea to use special cloning software. Also if you tried to clone and you now have two disks sharing the same SID this is a cause for serious problems. Try and be more specific.

5 Reply by Karel V

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Re: copy of XP system disk failed

I used the copy function of GParted, which copies a complete partition. I expect a clone, but I'am not sure.
I tried to boot with the old disk removed. Also then the system does not boot.

6 Reply by Karel V

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Re: copy of XP system disk failed

The problem is solved now by writing the MBR with a disk repair kit on the new system disk.

I have no SID problems because I deleted the old system partition as soon as the new system disk apeared to work properly.

Thanks for your help with critical questions.

Karel

7 Reply by johnroberts

  • johnroberts
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Re: copy of XP system disk failed

Probably Larry is much more familiar with GParted's internals, but XP is infamous about its MBR sensitivity (hence many Linux distros in dual-boot config over XP have been reported to brake the XP mode...due to changes in the MBR). I don't know if using a more straightforward cloning tool - either commercial (Acronis, Ghost) or open source (Clonezilla) - would be the preferred solution...
If you would like to tinker a bit, try the Clonezilla-GParted LiveCD (just play it safe and work with some spare disk or something... ;-) ).
In any way, better to rename this thread adding  "-fixed" to the title end and also please mention the tool you used to fix the MBR...

Greets