Is possible to take an image of one drive (or even a whole disc worth of drives) and drop the entire image onto a new, clean disc and everything will work?

Or is all "new hardware detected, software licence expired"?

Thanks!

Also!

Which software for this if possible?

I have drive image 2002 ist kaput for some reasons (maybe service packs or not dvd compatible or some such).

XP by the way.

Acronis True image does this.

The latest version is labelled 'home edition' I think but the previous version (9.0, I think) should also do it fine.

The latest one has some step by step guide and an 'automatic' link to do it with, which is nice.

I have a copy of this program I can upload somewhere if you can't get it easily.

I did this once when I had a boot drive that started sounding like a jackhammer. It worked and the computer booted fine but everything ran super sluggish and I ended up doing a new install anyway. I think I used Norton Ghost but really cannot remember.

i second acronis for sure.

i run a network, and use it for everything. keep an image of all the servers because if they went, i could have them back in 5-10 minutes instead of 5-10 hours. or if some of the geniuses there fuck up their desktops.

in fact, i have always purchased the exact same system for everyone so i can use one image for the whole company. saves a shitload of time, and works perfect.

find the "home edition" one referenced above. version 9 had a problem where it wouldn't recognize usb keyboards and mice that happened to me more often than not.

Awesome, thanks all!

Does acronis true image allow you to browse a compressed image and extract files from it etc?

Drive Image allowed this (when it worked) and it was dead useful.

Do a clean install, your system is probably clogged with rubbish that slows it down and takes up space. After you have installed all your programmes and tweaked everything, get one of those imaging programmes and take a snapshot. Mount the image every two or three months, your computer will thank you.

Adam I wrote:Does acronis true image allow you to browse a compressed image and extract files from it etc?

Drive Image allowed this (when it worked) and it was dead useful.

I believe it does. I will check. (walk-walk-walk-walk-sit-check-stand-walk-walk-walk-slouch)

Yes, yes it does. To check it works nice I copied some random file from an archive onto my current desktop. In acronis terms its called 'explore backup archive'. I think they believe computer use to be similar to TV hit '24'.

'Chloe! I'm exploring the backup archive, I just need some more twiglets!' etc

This is awesome news, thanks.

I simply cannot wait to spend 9 hours installing software and bravely exploring the backup archives trying to locate various validation/activation codes.

It will be exactly like Indiana Jones, only with more swearing and less Nazis.

on the mac side of things, carbon copy cloner does this -- i ran into a couple of small snags w/r/t software activation (some of the native instruments plug-ins 'know' which physical hard drive you're using), but nothing more than about 30 minutes' worth of hassle. highly recommended.