How Move OS XP from Old to New HD?

In article , J.Clarke
writes
On Mon, 05 Jan 2004 07:21:07 GMT
"Nehmo Sergheyev" wrote:

I first started without the old drive connected.
Windows XP began to start but stopped short and produced the Windows
Product Activation box saying there was a problem with WPA, error code
0x80090006 .

Did you go to Microsoft's site and plug that number into the
knowledgebase? If not, try it.


Well I've just had the same thing happen to me as Nehmo, exact same
error code, and if you type it into M$ knowledge base you get an
explanation telling you that it is a product activation error caused
because the o/s can no longer determine whether the license is correct
anymore because the new HD serial no. doesn't produce the correct result
for WPA to accept it. I'm paraphrasing a lot there.

It didn't matter to my system that I only plugged in the new HD after I
had cloned the old, it still gave the error. I have been able to do
this before, but that was with FAT32 and not NTFS. Not sure if that
made any difference.

Just to make sure the disconnection of the old drive had nothing to do
with it, I tried again this time with both drives connected as
described above. The same error developed.

So I returned things back the way they we jumpers old=master,
new=slave ; ATA cable, black end to old , grey middle to new. Now
things work as befo the OS is still on the old HD.

My understanding of Win XP WPA is from http://aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.ht
m
. When I installed XP (up form ME) on this machine, I had already
added a NIC and some RAM. Now I'm trying to add a HD. So the only
change in hardware categories is the HD. That shouldn't be enough to
trigger WPA error.

When product activation triggers it does _not_ give the message you
report.


Well, in this instance, it does seem a WPA cause. And the solution? To
do a repair install, which lost all startup settings, was requiring
certain programs to be re-installed before they would run and even
reported the HD size incorrectly. I have had to put the old drive back
in again. Is there no way that the reference to the WPA code (and its
relation to the old HD) could be edited in some way? Otherwise, my only
solution is going to be to do a complete re-install, just because
Micro$haft think WPA is an ideal solution to software piracy.
--
Peter Ives
Remove ALL_STRESS only before sending me an email

- Nehmo -
I'm using old drive too.

- Rod Speed -
Yeah, thats what I meant to say last time and managed to forget,
that its unlikely to be anything to do with the drive copying. Its
likely the system has become very unstable for other reasons.
Try memtest86 on it to check for memory errors.

- Nehmo -
I temporarily put aside the drive replacement/addition job until I can
get the system running normally. I have to limit changes, so I can
figure out what's to blame. I'll run my usual check-out stuff, and I'll
try memtest86.
http://www.memtest86.com/ ; It can't hurt.

When I do something that ends up disabling the computer, it takes an
emotional toll on me. I don't have a back up - no extra computer, and
the HD isn't backed up either. During this last episode, a few times I
had to start the computer, quickly start Outlook, and get an phone #
before the computer shut down.

(To add to the computer problem, and these things are unrelated to
computers, I had to go to court, which usually goes bad for me, and my
house's water pipes froze. I'm renting, but the landlord doesn't help
with maintenance. Fortunately, once unfrozen, the pipes didn't leak, and
I got a continuance from the judge.)

I believe this shut down (ACPI) problem must be related to trying to
change the drive. I don't know how it happened, though.

- Nehmo -
I found event viewer by looking at Help. I didn't see anything
that looked like a problem, but I don't know what to look for.

- Rod Speed -
Basically entrys with a red X in front of them in the System log.

- Nehmo -
I'm getting to Event Viewer by.
Start All Programs Administrative Tools Event Viewer
There is one recurring red-X item:
The Concord EyeQ Duo 2000 USB Video Capture V1.00 service failed to
start due to the following error:
The system cannot find the file specified.

This attempted start is a remnant form some camera software I installed
and uninstalled. There must be a registry entry somewhere that causes
the system to try and start it. But this can't be the cause of any
recent problems because I uninstalled Concord several weeks ago.

I'm also getting a lot of True Victor failed starts. True Victor is a
part of Zone Alarm, and ZA warns you when TV fails to start. Then you
have the option to start it again. It usually starts properly and works
when started at that point.

- Nehmo -
I haven't restarted a bunch of times since I solved the ACPI
peculiarity - Actually, I now realize that's not completely solved.

After I reset the ACPI power option in the BIOS to Yes (even though it
appeared to be Yes when I first looked at it), I set the power settings
in Desktop Properties to not turn anything off (for the benefit of those
unfamiliar with the process, I'm presenting this in detail).
On Desktop rightclick properties Desktop Properties window Screen
Saver tab Screen Saver set at None press Power button Power
Options Properties window Power schemes = Home/Office Desk All
dropdown setting for Home/Office Desk = Never, that is never turn off
anything and never go to standby

Immediately after the ACPI fix (?), the system seemed to operate
normally. The computer and monitor stayed on all night. However, now I
see it going off after a while of idle time. And I mean "off" as before,
the light on the front of the box goes out, monitor stops getting a
signal, but the processor fan keeps running. I can't turn everything off
and on again by the front button; I have to unplug and re-plug.

- Nehmo -
I went into Windows setup (or I think BIOS means the same
thing) Power Menu ACPI and although it was Yes, I changed it
to No
restarted went back into BIOS and changed it back to Yes. I
think
things are working now. It hasn't shut down again yet.

- Rod Speed -
OK.

- Nehmo -
Now I have to get back to the drive problem.

I've unplugged and re-plugged the ATA ribbon so many times (I used
long
nose pliers) that the pieces of plastic _over_ the end connectors
have
come off. I think the cable is still electrically okay though.

- Rod Speed -
Best to replace it.

- Nehmo -
Now you've got me worried. This drive stuff is so touchy, I think I
shouldn't use anything suspicious. I'll have to go out and buy a ribbon
somewhere. There's no place open around here. I live right in downtown
Kansas City, Kansas, but the downtown is blighted.

- Nehmo -
He wasn't familiar with XXCLONE.
- Rod Speed -
Yeah, its only been released for a few weeks now.
You appeared to be saying that you had used xxclone successfully.
Isnt it working properly now that the acpi problem is fixed ?

- Nehmo -
According to what XXCLONE tells the user, one disk is successfully
copied to the other. After the XXCLONE completes process, it brags that
the new drive is ready and can boot all on its own. I changed to jumpers
to make the new drive master and the old slave, and I changed the
positions of the drives on the cable: new drive=end, old drive=middle. I
left the old drive unplugged for the first boot up.

It took three attempts to boot up. The BIOS provided different screens,
I don't remember exactly, but the last one had three options for
locations of the OS, I think it was disk 0, p (apparently for partition)
1. Then Windows started.

I couldn't get into System Restore. When I tried, a warning popped up
saying the app had encountered a problem and needs to close - this was
before it even opened. Additionally, the shortcut icons for Word
documents were changed to one of the non-descript icons. I think it was
the same as the one Explorer uses for dat files. Clicking on these icons
did cause Word to start, but first it gave a warning that I should run
setup (I guess it means Office setup) and Repair. Then Word would start,
apparently normally.

Although these problems seem fixable, Bret advised me to abandon that HD
copy and try again with Ghost.

I just installed Symantec Ghost Enterprise Edition.


--
*********************
* Nehmo Sergheyev *
*********************

Nehmo Sergheyev wrote in message
...
- Nehmo -

I'm using old drive too.

- Rod Speed -
Yeah, thats what I meant to say last time and managed to forget,
that its unlikely to be anything to do with the drive copying. Its
likely the system has become very unstable for other reasons.
Try memtest86 on it to check for memory errors.

- Nehmo -
I temporarily put aside the drive replacement/addition
job until I can get the system running normally. I have
to limit changes, so I can figure out what's to blame.

Yeah, thats the best approach, resolve the
instability problem before trying to clone the drive.

I'll run my usual check-out stuff, and I'll try memtest86.
http://www.memtest86.com/ ; It can't hurt.

Yep, that does eliminate one possibility if it finds no errors.

When I do something that ends up disabling
the computer, it takes an emotional toll on me.

Yeah, the damned things are still much
more complicated than they should be.

Whoever claimed that computers would simplify
our lives was obviously a stupid journalist who
had never actually used one for anything much |-(

I don't have a back up - no extra computer,

Urk, wouldnt like to be in that situation again.

and the HD isn't backed up either.

Triple urk. I wouldnt operate like that myself.

I'd personally do something about that before doing anything
else. At least write the stuff thats irreplaceable to multiple
CDs, even if I had to run out and buy a burner to do that.

And I'd image the drives to the burner
before changing anything around too.

During this last episode, a few times I had to
start the computer, quickly start Outlook, and
get an phone # before the computer shut down.

Yeah, I can rather vividly remember the last time I was in that
situation. Fortunately it had developed a warmup fault and I
could get it to boot up for a bit by leaving the sun shining on the
motherboard so I could chase up the replacement motherboard
using the phone numbers that were stored on that PC.

Wont ever happen again, I never have just one PC anymore.

(To add to the computer problem, and these things are
unrelated to computers, I had to go to court, which usually
goes bad for me, and my house's water pipes froze. I'm
renting, but the landlord doesn't help with maintenance.

You've been walking on graves again havent you ? |-)

Fortunately, once unfrozen, the pipes didn't leak,

They never freeze around here, and I built the entire house
myself, so its me that gets to do any repairs to it now.

and I got a continuance from the judge.)

I dont end up in court myself.

I believe this shut down (ACPI) problem
must be related to trying to change the drive.

Not likely unless you managed to reset the cmos settings in
the process. Thats usually enablable and disableable in the bios.

I don't know how it happened, though.

Maybe you reset the bios in the process of changing things around.

- Nehmo -
I found event viewer by looking at Help. I didn't see anything
that looked like a problem, but I don't know what to look for.

- Rod Speed -
Basically entrys with a red X in front of them in the System log.

- Nehmo -
I'm getting to Event Viewer by.
Start All Programs Administrative Tools Event Viewer

Thats fine.

There is one recurring red-X item:
The Concord EyeQ Duo 2000 USB Video Capture V1.00
service failed to start due to the following error:
The system cannot find the file specified.

This attempted start is a remnant form some camera
software I installed and uninstalled. There must be a
registry entry somewhere that causes the system to try
and start it. But this can't be the cause of any recent
problems because I uninstalled Concord several weeks ago.

Yeah, its just another quirk thats been lurking for a while.

Worth checking the event viewer, particularly after signficant changes like that.

I'm also getting a lot of True Victor failed starts. True Victor
is a part of Zone Alarm, and ZA warns you when TV fails to
start. Then you have the option to start it again. It usually
starts properly and works when started at that point.

- Nehmo -
I haven't restarted a bunch of times since I solved the ACPI
peculiarity - Actually, I now realize that's not completely solved.

After I reset the ACPI power option in the BIOS to Yes (even though
it appeared to be Yes when I first looked at it), I set the power
settings in Desktop Properties to not turn anything off (for the benefit
of those unfamiliar with the process, I'm presenting this in detail).

On Desktop rightclick properties Desktop Properties window
Screen Saver tab Screen Saver set at None press Power button
Power Options Properties window Power schemes = Home/Office
Desk All dropdown setting for Home/Office Desk = Never, that is
never turn off anything and never go to standby

That shouldnt be necessary.

Immediately after the ACPI fix (?), the system seemed to operate
normally. The computer and monitor stayed on all night. However,
now I see it going off after a while of idle time. And I mean "off"
as before, the light on the front of the box goes out, monitor
stops getting a signal, but the processor fan keeps running.

Thats odd. But it appears to just be turning the monitor off.

I can't turn everything off and
on again by the front button;

What have you told XP to do with
that button ? Thats in Power Options.

I have to unplug and re-plug.

You may have to do a clean install of XP again.
It can get a bit confused when you change the
ACPI in the bios from what it was when installed.

Thats only likely to affect that return from standby tho.

- Nehmo -
I went into Windows setup (or I think BIOS means the same
thing) Power Menu ACPI and although it was Yes, I changed it
to No
restarted went back into BIOS and changed it back to Yes. I
think
things are working now. It hasn't shut down again yet.

- Rod Speed -
OK.

- Nehmo -
Now I have to get back to the drive problem.

I've unplugged and re-plugged the ATA ribbon so many times (I used
long
nose pliers) that the pieces of plastic _over_ the end connectors
have
come off. I think the cable is still electrically okay though.

- Rod Speed -
Best to replace it.

- Nehmo -
Now you've got me worried. This drive stuff is so touchy, I think
I shouldn't use anything suspicious. I'll have to go out and buy a
ribbon somewhere. There's no place open around here. I live right
in downtown Kansas City, Kansas, but the downtown is blighted.

Yeah, seen it on that Trauma series.

- Nehmo -
He wasn't familiar with XXCLONE.
- Rod Speed -
Yeah, its only been released for a few weeks now.
You appeared to be saying that you had used xxclone successfully.
Isnt it working properly now that the acpi problem is fixed ?

- Nehmo -
According to what XXCLONE tells the user, one disk is successfully
copied to the other. After the XXCLONE completes process, it brags
that the new drive is ready and can boot all on its own. I changed
to jumpers to make the new drive master and the old slave, and
I changed the positions of the drives on the cable: new drive=end,
old drive=middle. I left the old drive unplugged for the first boot up.

It took three attempts to boot up. The BIOS provided different
screens, I don't remember exactly, but the last one had three
options for locations of the OS, I think it was disk 0, p
(apparently for partition) 1. Then Windows started.

Yeah, different bios do things differently
on specifying what to boot from.

I couldn't get into System Restore. When I tried, a warning
popped up saying the app had encountered a problem and
needs to close - this was before it even opened. Additionally,
the shortcut icons for Word documents were changed to one
of the non-descript icons. I think it was the same as the one
Explorer uses for dat files. Clicking on these icons did cause
Word to start, but first it gave a warning that I should run
setup (I guess it means Office setup) and Repair. Then
Word would start, apparently normally.

OK, havent gotten around to trying xxclone myself yet,
or that other effect that Larry mentioned, that the order
of the drive numbers as seen in XP can make a difference
to whether a clone without removing the original for the
first boot after clone has been done makes a difference.

Although these problems seem fixable, Bret advised
me to abandon that HD copy and try again with Ghost.

Yeah, its certainly a more known quantity
since its been around for much longer.

I just installed Symantec Ghost Enterprise Edition.

Its a bit of a handful. If you dont find it obvious to
use, try Ghost 2003. Its usually available on kazaa

In article , Rod Speed
writes

Nehmo Sergheyev wrote in message
...
- Nehmo -

I couldn't get into System Restore. When I tried, a warning
popped up saying the app had encountered a problem and
needs to close - this was before it even opened. Additionally,
the shortcut icons for Word documents were changed to one
of the non-descript icons. I think it was the same as the one
Explorer uses for dat files. Clicking on these icons did cause
Word to start, but first it gave a warning that I should run
setup (I guess it means Office setup) and Repair. Then
Word would start, apparently normally.

OK, havent gotten around to trying xxclone myself yet,
or that other effect that Larry mentioned, that the order
of the drive numbers as seen in XP can make a difference
to whether a clone without removing the original for the
first boot after clone has been done makes a difference.

Rod, a question for you:

Lets say a user had used Automated Aystem Recovery to backup all files
to a separate disk then replaced his old HD with a new one only to
discover that he was unable to start windows until he had done a repair
install because of WPA problems.

He does the repair install to find that now he's in a situation where
his computer starts, but certain progs/apps don't run properly and all
his startup progs are no longer there, but he is able to get access to
the disk that has the ASR backup on.

Do you think that using the ASR from within windows would restore his
new hard drive to the same state as his previous old one was? Or is it
possible that the WPA error would rear its ugly head during the next
restart?
--
Peter Ives
Remove ALL_STRESS only before sending me an email

Peter Ives wrote in message
o.uk...
Rod Speed wrote
Nehmo Sergheyev wrote

I couldn't get into System Restore. When I tried, a warning
popped up saying the app had encountered a problem and
needs to close - this was before it even opened. Additionally,
the shortcut icons for Word documents were changed to one
of the non-descript icons. I think it was the same as the one
Explorer uses for dat files. Clicking on these icons did cause
Word to start, but first it gave a warning that I should run
setup (I guess it means Office setup) and Repair. Then
Word would start, apparently normally.

OK, havent gotten around to trying xxclone myself yet,
or that other effect that Larry mentioned, that the order
of the drive numbers as seen in XP can make a difference
to whether a clone without removing the original for the
first boot after clone has been done makes a difference.

Rod, a question for you:

Lets say a user had used Automated Aystem Recovery to
backup all files to a separate disk then replaced his old HD with
a new one only to discover that he was unable to start windows
until he had done a repair install because of WPA problems.

He does the repair install to find that now he's in a situation
where his computer starts, but certain progs/apps don't run
properly and all his startup progs are no longer there,

That shouldnt have happened and I'd
concentrate on looking at why that happened.

but he is able to get access to the disk that has the ASR backup on.

Do you think that using the ASR from within windows would restore
his new hard drive to the same state as his previous old one was?

I'd be very surprised if it could do that, tho I havent actually tried it.

Or is it possible that the WPA error would
rear its ugly head during the next restart?

I doubt it. But again, I havent actually tried it.

I dont use versions that need activation myself.

In article , Rod Speed
writes

Peter Ives wrote in
message
. co.uk...
Rod Speed wrote
Nehmo Sergheyev wrote

snip

Rod, a question for you:

Lets say a user had used Automated Aystem Recovery to
backup all files to a separate disk then replaced his old HD with
a new one only to discover that he was unable to start windows
until he had done a repair install because of WPA problems.

He does the repair install to find that now he's in a situation
where his computer starts, but certain progs/apps don't run
properly and all his startup progs are no longer there,

That shouldnt have happened and I'd
concentrate on looking at why that happened.

Probably didn't quite explain that right. All startup references are no
longer there. The programs are still there, but they are no longer run
at startup.

The other one was that Office wanted to reference the cd before it would
work. As for other progs, didn't have enough time to check.

So I don't see that as a major disaster, just one caused by the repair
install of Windows XP.

but he is able to get access to the disk that has the ASR backup on.

Do you think that using the ASR from within windows would restore
his new hard drive to the same state as his previous old one was?

I'd be very surprised if it could do that, tho I havent actually tried it.

Or is it possible that the WPA error would
rear its ugly head during the next restart?

I doubt it. But again, I havent actually tried it.

I dont use versions that need activation myself.


Not my computer. A downstairs neighbour's that I am having a pig of a
time upgrading his HD on, though getting closer. He lends it to me for
a couple of hours, but that's as much as he can spare before he wants it
back. 8-)

The WPA error is caused in just the same way as for Nehmo. I've checked
on M$ knowledge base and they say it can happen when upgrading a HD.
I'm trying to figure out how to get around it and have the system work
'exactly' as it did before, in the fewest steps.
--
Peter Ives
Remove ALL_STRESS only before sending me an email

Peter Ives wrote in message o.uk...
Rod Speed wrote
Peter Ives wrote
Rod Speed wrote
Nehmo Sergheyev wrote

Rod, a question for you:

Lets say a user had used Automated Aystem Recovery to
backup all files to a separate disk then replaced his old HD with
a new one only to discover that he was unable to start windows
until he had done a repair install because of WPA problems.

He does the repair install to find that now he's in a situation
where his computer starts, but certain progs/apps don't run
properly and all his startup progs are no longer there,

That shouldnt have happened and I'd
concentrate on looking at why that happened.

Probably didn't quite explain that right. All startup
references are no longer there. The programs are
still there, but they are no longer run at startup.

Thats only half of what you originally said.

The other one was that Office wanted
to reference the cd before it would work.

Thats even odder. A repair of XP shouldnt have affected Office.

As for other progs, didn't have enough time to check.

OK, it would be worth checking tho.

So I don't see that as a major disaster, just one
caused by the repair install of Windows XP.

Where did you initiate that ?

but he is able to get access to the disk that has the ASR backup on.

Do you think that using the ASR from within windows would restore
his new hard drive to the same state as his previous old one was?

I'd be very surprised if it could do that, tho I havent actually tried it.

Or is it possible that the WPA error would
rear its ugly head during the next restart?

I doubt it. But again, I havent actually tried it.

I dont use versions that need activation myself.

Not my computer. A downstairs neighbour's that I am having
a pig of a time upgrading his HD on, though getting closer.

Yeah, certainly looks like it.

He lends it to me for a couple of hours, but that's as
much as he can spare before he wants it back. 8-)

I'd give him a good kicking and force him
to get his act into gear if it was me |-)

The WPA error is caused in just the same way as for Nehmo. I've checked
on M$ knowledge base and they say it can happen when upgrading a HD.

Yeah, it certainly can.

I'm trying to figure out how to get around it and have the
system work 'exactly' as it did before, in the fewest steps.

Cant you just reactivate it ?

In article , Rod Speed
writes

snip

He does the repair install to find that now he's in a situation
where his computer starts, but certain progs/apps don't run
properly and all his startup progs are no longer there,

That shouldnt have happened and I'd
concentrate on looking at why that happened.

Probably didn't quite explain that right. All startup
references are no longer there. The programs are
still there, but they are no longer run at startup.

Thats only half of what you originally said.


Like I said, I probably didn't explain it well enough. However, one
other thing is that 'all' M$ updates are going to have to be re-
downloaded.

The other one was that Office wanted
to reference the cd before it would work.

Thats even odder. A repair of XP shouldnt have affected Office.

As for other progs, didn't have enough time to check.

OK, it would be worth checking tho.


If I can get it back off him for long enough 8-)

So I don't see that as a major disaster, just one
caused by the repair install of Windows XP.

Where did you initiate that ?


I had to do it by placing CD in drive at boot up. This was how the M$
knowledge base explained it when, after upgrading the HD, you get the
following WPA error:

Windows Product Activation

A problem is preventing windows from accurately checking the license for
this computer

Error Code: 0x80090006

Type that error code into the M$ knowledge base and see what they say.

snip

He lends it to me for a couple of hours, but that's as
much as he can spare before he wants it back. 8-)

I'd give him a good kicking and force him
to get his act into gear if it was me |-)

Hehe, yeah he's a real pain in the butt. Is forever chatting 'up' on
line various 'ladies' and, believe me, they don't leave him alone for a
minute, eventually wanting to 'meet' up with him and start something
more serious.

The WPA error is caused in just the same way as for Nehmo. I've
checked
on M$ knowledge base and they say it can happen when upgrading a HD.

Yeah, it certainly can.

I'm trying to figure out how to get around it and have the
system work 'exactly' as it did before, in the fewest steps.

Cant you just reactivate it ?


Well, it wouldn't login to windows at all because of WPA and so I 'had'
to do a repair install. How else was I supposed to get windows started.
BTW this is XP Pro, which I thought doesn't require any kind of product
activation as such. Ie. having to either phone up or login online to
register. Is it because his is an OEM version installed specifically
for that machine? I actually used my XP Pro Cd, but put in his XP
serial number when xp asked for it. It didn't seem to mind.
--
Peter Ives
Remove ALL_STRESS only before sending me an email

- Nehmo -
I temporarily put aside the drive replacement/addition
job until I can get the system running normally. I have
to limit changes, so I can figure out what's to blame.

- Rod Speed -
Yeah, thats the best approach, resolve the
instability problem before trying to clone the drive.

- Nehmo -
Somehow the system isn't turning off anymore. I don't know what I did,
if I did anything. I posted in another NG
http://www.ericseven.com?id=1332 , and Rick \"Nutcase\" Rogers
suggested the BIOS battery may be low. Could be. The cold might have had
something to do with it too. Anyway, power management seems to be
working normally now, and I'm ready to try installing the HD again.

- Nehmo -
I'll run my usual check-out stuff, and I'll try memtest86.
http://www.memtest86.com/ ; It can't hurt.

- Rod Speed -
Yep, that does eliminate one possibility if it finds no errors.

- Nehmo -
I downloaded that but it requires a floppy. Believe it or not, I don't
have one here. I could get one, but I can't wait any longer. I ran the
Windows utility, Check Disk (C drive Properties Tools tab Check Now
button), and everything checked out okay.

- Rod Speed -
I'd personally do something about that before doing anything
else. At least write the stuff thats irreplaceable to multiple
CDs, even if I had to run out and buy a burner to do that.

- Nehmo -
I realize caution advocates for a back up, but that would be another
delay.

- Nehmo -
and I got a continuance from the judge.)

- Rod Speed -
I dont end up in court myself.

- Nehmo -
My current court cases (and they may be briefly described as "traffic")
are an indirect consequence of a much larger civil case which I fought
for five years and lost against Missouri's Division of Family Services.
I'm not going to get started on that, but I want to explain that being
in court isn't really my doing.

- Nehmo -
[when the computer was turning itself off and the processor fan was
still running]
I can't turn everything off and
on again by the front button;

- Rod Speed -
What have you told XP to do with
that button ? Thats in Power Options.

- Nehmo -
In Power Options Properties, I have it set to "Shut down". It didn't
have any effect when the system had that problem.

- Nehmo -
I've unplugged and re-plugged the ATA ribbon so many times
(I used long nose pliers) that the pieces of plastic _over_ the
end connectors have come off.

- Rod Speed -
Best to replace it.

- Nehmo -
I bought another $17 (counting tax) one at Office Max, a Bellkin Ultra
ATA Hard Drive Round Cable
http://www.ericseven.com?id=1333
it has the nice feature of "Quick-pull tabs for separating connector and
drive" The old cable is probably still good though.

- Rod Speed -
Yeah, its certainly a more known quantity
since its been around for much longer.

- Nehmo -
I just installed Symantec Ghost Enterprise Edition.

- Rod Speed -
Its a bit of a handful. If you dont find it obvious to
use, try Ghost 2003.

- Nehmo -
Correct, I didn't find Ghost Enterprise Edition obvious to use (I
thought it was the Ghost you everybody was talking about). I have it
installed all right, but it comes in five parts: AI Builder; Ghost
Explorer; Ghost boot Wizard; License Auditing Utility; and Multicast
Server. Ghost Boot Wizard seems to be the one I should use, but Help
doesn't really explain how to get a new HD bootable. XXCLONE, on the
other hand, is obvious to use. A pity it didn't work completely. You
can't have everything :-) I'm at this moment downloading a different
Ghost program via eMule CB3C9D282E4254E3C402A9FC57760BDE ; it's titled
Norton Ghost 2003. I hope it's the real thing.


--
*********************
* Nehmo Sergheyev *
*********************

On Sat, 10 Jan 2004 06:51:02 GMT, "Nehmo Sergheyev"
wrote:

- Nehmo -
I'll run my usual check-out stuff, and I'll try memtest86.
http://www.memtest86.com/ ; It can't hurt.

- Rod Speed -
Yep, that does eliminate one possibility if it finds no errors.

- Nehmo -
I downloaded that but it requires a floppy. Believe it or not, I don't
have one here. I could get one, but I can't wait any longer. I ran the
Windows utility, Check Disk (C drive Properties Tools tab Check Now
button), and everything checked out okay.

No it doesn't, you can do it from a bootable CD somehow.