Problem new pc and old HD image..

I picked up a Dell XPS/Dimension 400/9150 desktop pc. I have a backup image (.pqi) of my original hard drive that i would like to put on the Dell pc. When i re-imaged the Dell and tried to boot i got the error message stating it was missing hal.dll so i did the bootcfg /rebuild and when i rebooted again it started ok until it hit the XP splash screen and i got the BSOD . Since my older pc's HD was IDE and the Dell is SATA i figured thats why i got the BSOD so i changed the SATA setting in the bios to IDE and the system finally booted (but only in IDE mode). Is there any other way to put my image on this SATA drive without all these problems ? I know it would be easier to just start fresh but i have so many programs that i installed a long time ago and i have tweaked it so many times i don't remember what i did LoL

 

Tricky business at best since all of the hardware of the new computer is alien to that image you have deployed.

The only outside chance would be if you can possibly boot to Safe Mode and install the required new drivers.

You will of course have to reactive the system by calling MS and explaining or else it will probably time out in 30 days and lock you out.

 

You are booting to a image of you old computers Hardware.

The best way to fix this is an overlay/repair install, this will cause windows to find new hardware and fix your issues.

You will likely not get any drivers installed in Safe Mode.

However if you can boot to safe mode (likely not) before doing the Repair install go into Device manager and uninstall all devices related to the old computer. Some it may not let you uninstall but do all that you can.

To do a repair install.
1. Boot from windows CD as if to do a regular install.

2. When you get the prompt to Repair Windows using the repair console decline to do so and continue.

3. When Windows notifies that it has found an existing Windows installation it will offer "R" to repair. Chose R (R)epair. From there on it will go thru a normal looking Windows install. But will keep all your settings.

When back up in windows log to Dell.com and get the Motherboard Bios and chipset drivers to for your model.

Mike

 

OK..Here's what i did.
I loaded the backup image to the Dell.
Booted to the Recovery mode on the XP cd.
Ran bootcfg /rebuild.
Booted XP cd and told it to Repair current Windows XP.
It booted right into Windows with my image on it.
I now have to load all of the Dell drivers to make the new hardware work right (thats another night ).
Thanks for your help

 

That certainly sounds encouraging so far Joey. Has it advised you that Activation will be necessary?

 

Nothing yet.... I'll probably play with it more this weekend, see what happens.

 

OK!

You never said what your old computer was! Was it a Dell with similar hardware?

HAL.DLL (H)ardware(A)bstraction(L)ayer is where windows detected hardware is handled.

You may have forced it to boot up, and if you are lucky you may get everything working.

IF you are lucky!

Since you can get into Windows I highly recommend that you remove all hardware in Device manager that was on the old computer like video, sound NIC etc.

Shutdown boot from the Windows CD and do a repair install.

"THEN" go to Dell for updates!

MIKE