XP to Vista then back again

[Gavin Scott]

Hello M'pollas.

I have a licenced XP Home desktop which is super, thanks for asking. I just bought a graphics card for it (to replace the onboard video) which I will install tomorrow.

I'd like to keep XP Home in the long term but I'm curious about viewing Vista with the new aero interface. I have a Vista Ultimate disc and would like to see it running on the pc, but not as a dual installation.

Can I image my entire C drive, archive it somewhere, install and enjoy Vista before deleting the drive and replacing it with the imaged C drive? I would use Ubuntu to access the drive and format etc.

In principle, would this work?

[cdd]

Yes, you need to save what is called a disk image. Of course, the problem is that you have to have a secondary disk as big as the contents of your entire first disk. Your alternative is to save the drive's image over a stack of DVDs.

As far as software to do this goes, Norton Ghost has a bootable system that would allow you to restore your XP install.

[Gavin Scott]

Yes, you need to save what is called a disk image. Of course, the problem is that you have to have a secondary disk as big as the contents of your entire first disk.

As far as software to do this goes, Norton Ghost has a bootable system that would allow you to restore your XP install.

That should be no problem. I have an external 120 GB, and my C drive is 80GB (my D and E are also 80 a piece on the same physical disc). I used the external to perform my first ever back up recently, but I tried to save too much on it and the back up failed. Super tsk.

So, I would go into Ubuntu (using the boot disc) and delete the C drive with Vista, then what?

What does Norton Ghost boot off? Will it be able to cope with an image file with no OS present?

Thanks cdd.

[cdd]

The purpose of a program such as Norton Ghost is so you can do image down and up loading without an operating system - an alternative would be to use a Live CD of Ubuntu. You don't really want to install Ubuntu as an OS since if you're doing that, you might as well install XP.

Theoretically there is no reason why loading Ubuntu and dragging and dropping your entire C drive onto external media shouldn't do as you require, but in practice there are complications with file systems that stop it from being a true "image" backup.

That's why I recommended Norton Ghost instead, which creates a "bootable" CD/DVD which loads a 'lite' version of Windows (actually called a Windows Preinstalled Environment). This bootable environment can load acccess your entire C drive (and doesn't need a hard disk to run), and is specifically designed for full-drive backups.

BTW: why don't you want to dual-boot? You'd only need a small partition on which to install Vista. Your OS drive doesn't have to be C:.

[Gavin Scott]

The purpose of a program such as Norton Ghost is so you can do image down and up loading without an operating system - an alternative would be to use a Live CD of Ubuntu. You don't really want to install Ubuntu as an OS since if you're doing that, you might as well install XP.

Theoretically there is no reason why loading Ubuntu and dragging and dropping your entire C drive onto external media shouldn't do as you require, but in practice there are complications with file systems that stop it from being a true "image" backup.

That's why I recommended Norton Ghost instead, which creates a "bootable" CD/DVD which loads a 'lite' version of Windows (actually called a Windows Preinstalled Environment). This bootable environment can load acccess your entire C drive (and doesn't need a hard disk to run), and is specifically designed for full-drive backups.

BTW: why don't you want to dual-boot? You'd only need a small partition on which to install Vista. Your OS drive doesn't have to be C:.

Yes the Ubuntu "boot" disc doesn't install, it just loads up - sounds like we're talking about the same thing.

I tried the dual boot once before. I did it by installing that spare disc I mentioned, but there seemed to be some hardware conflict with the onboard graphics card, and it made things hang more or less permanently. The solution would have been to remove that drive and install Vista to some spare space on the D, E, K or L drive but I'm embarrassed to say that there's not an ounce of space left. 3/4 of a Terrabyte full.

I know I need to do some housekeeping, but I'm very lazy.

The thing is, if Vista works ok (and the version I have already on my laptop works fine - except it can't handle Aero), then there's every chance I won't switch back. Nearly all of the audio/video software I use is Vista compatible. It would also be a relief to start once again on a clean machine, as my programs list is 3 pages long, with many having been run a couple of times at most.

However, I have almost a year and a half of a warranty left on my PC, and changing the OS might well invalidate it. As they've replaced the motherboard once already, there's just a chance I might have to have it fixed, and I wouldn't want to cause myself problems.

[Pete]

I would certainly avoid dual booting if you want to ditch vista.Vista's book system is completely different and once you remove it involves a load of fannying on to restore the XP system.

[cdd]

However, I have almost a year and a half of a warranty left on my PC, and changing the OS might well invalidate it. As they've replaced the motherboard once already, there's just a chance I might have to have it fixed, and I wouldn't want to cause myself problems.

All OEM computers come with either a recovery disc (naturally you will have lost this), a recovery partition (ugh) or a recovery partition with the capability for making a recovery disc.

As long as you have recovery discs for your computer, there's nothing you can do software-wise that can't be solved by reinstalling Windows with one of those discs. Also recovery disks take only a matter of minutes to load up onto the host, unlike the 1.5 hr Windows installation you have to endure with those infernal dots.

As it happens, recovery discs use exactly the image system you are describing.

[Gavin Scott]

I've lost the disc. At least, I think I have. I have vague memories of seeing it when I opened the box.

Wouldn't a recovery disc just restore XP and not the associated programs and settings I put on there too?

[cdd]

Wouldn't a recovery disc just restore XP and not the associated programs and settings I put on there too?

It would - but I mentioned it in the context of your manufacturer's warranty because if you have used that disc to restore your system they can't complain.

I don't see why they would complain anyway, though. I changed a WinXP laptop to Win2000 ages back and then sent it off for repairs, and they didn't bat an eyelid.

[Gavin Scott]

Wouldn't a recovery disc just restore XP and not the associated programs and settings I put on there too?

It would - but I mentioned it in the context of your manufacturer's warranty because if you have used that disc to restore your system they can't complain.

I don't see why they would complain anyway, though. I changed a WinXP laptop to Win2000 ages back and then sent it off for repairs, and they didn't bat an eyelid.

I have to say I went to considerable lengths to remove private data before they replaced the motherboard, but as it happened the chap came to my house to fix it (even though it was a return-to-base contract) and I saw that I needn't have bothered. He only switched it on to make sure it booted and then left.

I was very close to buying a new 22" monitor (a snip at only £136 from ebuyer), but I'll settle for the graphics card this month and maybe buy the monitor next month.

Thanks for the help. It's kind of what I expected but its always sensible to check.

Just need to find a copy of Norton Ghost and I'm ready to rock n roll.

[Sput]

Also recovery disks take only a matter of minutes to load up onto the host, unlike the 1.5 hr Windows installation you have to endure with those infernal dots.

You're wrong, cdd. They can take ages.