Its been a looong time since I posted as I dont deal with windows computers to regularly. I have a computer running xp pro SP2 at work. I have a better computer at home with xp pro sp2 that I am replacing with an iMac. So I want to bring my windows computer to work and copy the hard drive from the older computer to the new one. The hard drive is getting near the end of its life on the older machine I think so I dont want to just swap the hard drives. Whats the easiest way to clone the old hard drive and put it on my other computer? I am talking OS and all so I have the exact same settings and everything from the old work machine.
Thanks
Unless the hardware on the two machines is identical, you may have some difficulty with drivers. Generally people that use disk imaging software like Acronis, use it to back up the same computer. You might be better off just copying the data you want to transfer and leave the O/S alone.
Bill
Bill is right. It's easy enough to clone a hard drive, but when the image is placed on a different computer you can expect nothing but problems. Even on the same computer, changing out the motherboard with a different model or brand is enough to force the user to reinstall Windows.
Simply swapping the hard drive would not resolve this problem.
For the cloning to be successful between two computers, they would need to have a nearly identical setup; especially the motherboard. My favorite software for cloning and creating images is Acronis True Image (http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/). You'll pay considerably less if you order from NewEgg (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832200004).