XP Cloning??

I read somewhere that XP cannot be cloned successfully due to some unusual copyright protection feature that MS has decided to include.

Has anyone had success at booting a cloned copy?

If not, cloning software suppliers are sure being dealt a hard blow. This also makes it rather awkward to restore the system when a hardware failure occurs. I suppose a new install would be the only alternative.

Comments?

BTW, I don't have XP yet.

 

I doubt this post will be here very long because of legal issues.
If you have a legit copy of XP and it is only installed on one machine you wont ever have a problem.
This has been discused several places on here so I'm not going to get into details of hardware changes.

Actually, I did a complete format and re-install this weekend without even a hickup.

 

Thanks for your comments ssmith,

I hadn't considered that someone would take my post to mean anything other than whether or not a bonified owner of XP could restore his system after a hardware failure (or whatever) by using a cloned backup copy (or any other backup copy method for that matter).

You indicate that you have formatted and reinstalled successfully but that doesn't address the question that I posed in regard to restoring from a cloned copy, which is a method preferred by many. (Also quite legal)

 

I have used Windows XP RC1 and currently use Windows XP Pro. In both cases I have successfully cloned (and restored) backup images using both Norton Ghost and Powerquest DriveImage (I prefer DriveImage).

My method of backup is to clone my C: drive onto a large partition on the second hard drive (about twice a month). I also back up my Documents and Settings folder several times a week.

Twice in two months I've had Windows crash on startup (couldn't even boot into safe mode). The only way I could recover was to restore from the last clone image.

 

Thanks jvbutkus,

That's what I wanted to know. That got me thinking I may have misunderstood the information that I was recalling.

Fortunately, after some searching, I was able to locate the source. It is apparently referring specifically to booting a cloned disk made from the original boot drive that subsequently has failed. It is seemingly being stated that ANY hardware change will not be acceptable to XP due to the "Copy Protection" scheme that has been implemented by MS. It would seem to be a problem of reconfiguring the hardware. Here's the link to it, see what you think. It may be worth the read just for the heads up it provides.

Yahoo Discussion Group

 

Update

I just ran across this program called Novastor InstantRecovery and it was recommended by another as being able to make clone copies of XP that are fully bootable.

I still don't have XP but this may be of value to some of you that do.

 

Zephyr - I think someone was comparing apples to oranges to ducks.

The "image" copies like Norton Ghost makes are designed to go on the exact same hardware the Ghost image was made from. Any diffences can for sure cause problems.

The other part seems to be more on the "XP Activation" thing. From what I read, some folks seem to think you have to re-register/activate if you make any hardware changes. In fact, that just ain't so. Nice explanation of XP Activation Requirements that made it all lots clearer to me.

 

Thanks Newt, perhaps I didn't phrase the topic as well as I should have.

What I should have said was, "Make Bootable Clone of XP?? and it would have been clearer.

Yes, I understand what you mean about WPA (thought it was a new deal program when first sighted) and I suppose if you made a bootable clone and tried to use it on another machine that didn't have identical hardware, the program would lay down in the road and block any further traffic until you called the omnipotents that are allowing you to use it.

I understand most of the implications of WPA and still think it stinks but I wasn't trying to grind that axe in this particular post.

My whole intent was to verify that a bonified bootable clone could be produced for emergency backup use. I'll leave the other issue to those who enjoy discussing such. Well, at least until it hits me in the butt some day.

 

My housemate had XP Home Edition. He recently purchased XP Pro for work related reasons, so he gave me his XP.. Yes he gave me the CD-ROM, book -- everything.. It now officially belongs to me. He took XP off his system and put XP Pro on it.. Then I installed XP Home Ed. on my system...
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We were both worried about the "activation process" because he had obviously activated XP when it was on his machine... When I installed it, I activated it, no problem...
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My question is: What is the purpose of doing the online activation? I was expecting something like "Serial number XXXX has already been activated. Please contact customer support.... etc. etc." I didn't expect it to activate.
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ALSO - I have a notebook I'd like to put XP on. Since I NEVER use the notebook and the desktop at the same time, shouldn't I be "legally" allowed to install XP on both?
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(I read somewhere that the owner of software can install it on all the machines (s)he owns as long as the software is never used on more than one machine at the same time.)
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I plan on installing it on the notebook anyway, since I refuse to pay for the same thing twice.. (I don't support illegal copying at all, and I really think this is a legal use of software.)
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That's just my two cents. Thanks for listening

 

just so u know, windows xp home ed. can be cloned. i back up all my software with another cd incase the original gets scratched and won't install correctly. (i have had that happen before) it can be cloned and the only pirate protection that i have noticed is that it has to be regestered within 30 days or it will disable itself. but in regestering u don't have to send ur name or anything else to billy boy. not sure how it registers but that is done on start up after ur install of the product. u dont' have re-regester if u r doing an overwrite of xp home, but i don't suggest doing this becouse it doesn't work out very well. u will have other problems with windows after an overwrite, at least i have.

and don as far as leagle or not the fact is if u paid for it then it is urs to do with as u wish as long as ur not selling it. i have installed my copy of win 98 se on my dads pc for him and i had it on mine at the same time. if billy wants to put up a stink about it then we can fight it out in court.