migrating XP Pro to Windows 7 32 Bit

its the partition option that was chosen and not the disk-the graphics alter between the two modes???

On Partition mode (the one I selected) there is a picture of the disk as you would usually see it when navigating the directory- eg. My Computer/C:

the other is a darker graphic of the disk within Acronis when you are selecting what type of backup is desired:

Please will someone explain the differences?-

There are other questions about how this will work-

Will the original file structure be preserved even though Windows 7 is installed?-
I did read somewhere that the drive is mounted and becomes a virtual hard disk (.vhd file) from which the XP machine is accessed thru Windows 7....

Right now I envisage the whole system being re-produced on Windows 7 as it has been on Windows XP-

Is this correct?

Nobody know anything about this then?-

To go from XP to Windows 7 - to mount the image (.vhd) from the (.tib) original backup into a virtual disk within the Windows 7 environment - Is this the ways its done with Acronis True Image?

Are there any other ways?-As in when Windows 7 boots up is it possible to have all the files and folders preserved as they were on XP on Windows 7 without mounting the image of the backup and using a virtual disk? - This is quite important so I would value a reply!-

Or are the people that reply support staff who are not working today?-

Fraz,

A disk image (where you see the disk name rather than the C:.... partition) makes a complete image of all the used sectors of your disk including the MBR and any hidden partitions. A partition image (where you see the disk letter options) only images the used partitions of the sectors of the partition selected.

A partition only set of images will in most cases not boot until you've run either Microsofts or a 3rd party disk utility.

Now, I don't think you are going to achieve what you hope to accomplish with True Image. If you restore either a partition or complete disk image you will install Windows XP on your Windows 7 system and your W7 will be wiped. You can make a files and folders backup and restore them to your Windows 7 machine, however all programs will need to be reinstalled if they (as most do) use the Windows registry.

So data can be moved but programs will not run. that is a Windows limitation.

There is some software by Laplink which claims to make the correct registry adjustments, but as there can be differences in where products install their details in registry (True Image for example) you may still need to reinstall some programs.

I am not support staff. But from my experience the plus pack allows you do move the same OS to a different HW. It gives you the option to replace important drivers that are required for the start of the same OS at the new HW platform.

In respect of migration from XP to Win 7 32 Bit there was no option when I did this. Only a re-install was possible. But this was some time ago when I did this. There is Microsoft Windows Easy Transfer to help you a little bit with your migration. But I did not use it even if I had TB of software and data to move.

What was very helpful for me was to have a dual boot system for a while - XP and Win 7. So I could look up things in my old XP. And it gave me time to migrate because I could do it slowly step by step because I could switch between the OS. It was no problem to set up my systems so that they access both the same data (I even have this for XP and Win 7 32 and Win 7 64 with no problems). Of course you have to organize your partitions/data in a way that this is possible.

Hi John, Its great to get some feedback. From what you've said its best for me to do the disk option save rather than the partition drive letter image.

The good news is I've backed XP up using the partition drive letter image (not best option!-arghh!!!)_
The bad news is after Windows 7 was installed I tried to recover the backup then Windows 7 wouldn't boot - like you mentioned I wiped it ----that upset me a bit!-

Using a files n folders backup is a better idea but having to re-install the programs again is the ultimate pain-in-the-*unmentionables*-
I'm currently trying to recover the initial XP backup to restore the computer to how it was before I started. If this works then that's progress. I'll let you know later on

As best I can understand your objective here it is to end up with Win 7 but with all of your existing XP apps and data files integrated into it. If that is correct then it can't to the best of my knowledge be done, not using Acronis anyway. However there are two approaches that you could consider using - an XP/Win 7 dual boot as already suggested, or run your XP system in a virtual machine in Win 7, for which you could use either VMware Player or VirtualBox. I certainly would not recommend Microsoft's XP Mode - it's buggy and poorly supported. If you expect to need to have lots of access to the XP system then the virtual machine approach would be best, though it does require far more memory resources than a dual boot if you want to avoid the system becoming rather sluggish.

If you do decide to change your plan to either of the above then Acronis isn't going to play any significant part other than backups to cover for any disasters you may run into.

This is an ambitious project and one I would normally enjoy being involved in, but time constraints make that rather unlikely at present. However I will watch this thread with interest and help if I can as I've had a fair bit of experience with both approaches - I use them myself!

Was Earthling Hello-Hi!

The thing is that I thought it would be possible to do this [my mistake], going from XP to 7 - If not or if its too much trouble, I'll abandon the idea and just keep the two machines on XP. I'm planning another PC with 7 or 8 anyway with 64 bit keeping the 32 bit and 64 bit separate from each other.

The good news as above is I've backed up the XP system with lots of programs on etc...so all is not lost as the PC is useable and recoverable.

On the newer Windows 7 and 8 is it possible to change over easily with identical setup? - so if this XP PC was a 7 PC and I wished to go from 7 ----to----8 would this be ez..........

To get a proper appreciation of what is involved in migrating from XP to Win 7 have a read HERE.  You will see that there is no easy way simply to upgrade XP to 7 without reinstalling both Windows and all of your software.  It's a different story with 7 though, as you can run an upgrade version of 8 which does - or at least is supposed to do - exactly what you are currently trying to do with XP.  Most experienced users don't recommend it though and advise a clean install of 8 as being the better in the long run.

Hi again,

I can see now the best way to go about things. There are no shortcuts and its best to treat each computer independently, backing up each, in turn.

Fingers crossed the XP machine is being restored now to how it was before I started but with the bonus of having it all archived which consolidates the installation.

OK-On a different note, regarding networking-how can I get my XP computers to join the network with Windows 7 computers on-On Windows 7 its quite easy to do this but XP its a bit trickier, I've already tried this but I need to have another go----sorry for this being off-topic-but you may be able to save me more time and mistakes----

btw I've got all the hardware connections in place----its just software configuration if that's possible to do!-

First thing is to leave the homegroup, as XP can't use it. I use the following settings which allow access to network printers and to any shared folder on any networked computer without a password. If you want to use passwords just tweak the settings -

Win 7

Open Network and Sharing Center > Advanced Sharing Settings > Home or Work

Turn on network discovery

Turn on file and printer sharing

Turn on Public folder sharing

Ignore media streaming for now

Use 128-bit encryption

Turn off password protected sharing

under Homegroup select Use user accounts and passwords

XP

Open the Properties of your network adapter -

tick Client for Microsoft Networks

tick File and printer sharing ...

tick QoS packet scheduler

tick Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)

Thanks-------------

Within XP the network group is called MS HOME or similar -

Presumably then Windows 7 can join the same network as XP? - So its getting Windows 7 to revolve around XP-

All the settings you've described I've seen in the control panel so that won't be too much of a problem¬!

Yes, sorry, forgot that bit - you do need to join each system to a common workgroup, MSHOME or whatever you want to call it.

Hi,

The good news is that the initial XP backup has worked and undone the problem that occurred in attempting to get this PC over to Windows 7-
Annoyingly there are some software titles that need re-authorising via CD/DVD drive but I'd rather that than a non working backup.
Thanks Acronis!-

There is no need to have the XP PC on Windows 7 if I can join the Windows 7 computer to the XP ones via network. Still a little way to go to see if I can incorporate the XP with 7 via my other software over LAN to access the 32 bit & and 64 bit - A lot clearer now though-----

Your LAN connection will only enable Win 7 to see shared files and use any shared printers on the XP system. Sadly it won't enable 7 to use applications installed on the XP system.

Hi,

As per usual the was an error on the Wind 7 computer setting up a network "MUSIC TECH LAN" is the name of the group - MS HOME is what XP wants to call the group - Does this matter?-
Pretty much all the settings have been made and the 7 PC had the XP disc in to get some files-

I hear what you say about not being able to get this to work XP-7 LAN - and if its a no no then I'll not waste any more time on it-But if the network is established then I see no reason why it can't work - but you may well know better than me!!!!

Each system on the LAN has to belong to the same workgroup. You can name the workgroup whatever you want but you need to do this on each system.

As anyone who has ever used a LAN will confirm, you can only access files and printers on another system. You cannot run apps installed on them. What you can do though is use a remote control app like Teamviewer to control another machine, viewing its screen in a window on your own machine and you don't even need a LAN for that, Just an internet connection.

was Earthling is correct: a LAN connection won't by itself enable you to launch apps on a remote PC. You can do it with apps that allow you to take control of the remote PC, such as Windows' own Remote Desktop or Remote Assistance. I use LogMeIn to do it.

Networking XP PCs, or networking Win7 PCs, is much simpler than networking XP PCs with Win7 PCs. I recall when I did it a couple of years ago that it required several non-intuitive wrinkles even though I had plenty of network setup experience. I found an on-line tutorial that helped, since XP-Win7 networks are a special case.

Hi,
I won't bother trying to do both XP & 7 - I'll just stick to 7 upwards-----
The main idea is for a music hobby-there is some software that requires Windows 7 (earlier version works on xp)-from there I can access instruments installed on another PC via a software application over LAN)-

I've got no network experience-just at home-whereby I've got the BT Homehub-connected to a 16 way router--- (minus one way indirect lightening strike-and a frazzled ex-homehub LOL)---CAT 5e points installed so there is network access----- another 8 way router----

If KVM (Keyboard video mouse) is needed I'll look into that----- ???-Is that what you were talking about?-remote controlling a PC in another room?

If a server is needed (headless?) for storage/backup then that can be added for keeping everything as organised as possible.
Again no experience with this which is why its a bit daunting sometimes because its ad lib sometimes till you discover whats what....

I am about to do the "upgrade" from XP to Windows 7. I will first use Acronis to make an image, so that if all fails, I can at least go back to XP.

I purchased the family pack, and think I have used all 3 licenses, on 3 different machines. So, here's the question:

How do I migrate the license from Windows XP on this machine to Windows 7 on the same machine?

Where is the license stored? If somewhere under My Documents, that is on a completely different drive, which won't get wiped by the Windows 7 install. (Which is why I no longer put ANY data on the drive with the OS. . . ..)

Thanks,
Jim
wb4gcs@amsat.org

Hi James,
You said, "same PC", but I just want to confirm... Are you only upgrading your OS, or are you installing to new hardware? Once the new install is operational, install Acronis and use its license migration assistant to move your license from the old installation to the new one. This is all done from the new OS, during Acronis software installation and is automated for you.

Thanks.
I'm trying to do 2 things:
1. Preserve my existing setup, so that if the Win7 install totally fails, I can go back to where I am today.
2. Assuming the Win7 install works, how do I move Acronis? That's the point of my licensing questions.

My data are all on other drives, so not an issue.

I DO intend a clean install of Win7 -- I get that there's no upgrade from XP.

Thanks,
Jim

You're correct. No upgrade path to win7. MS shouldn't even be allowed to call it that. I was updating my post when you replied. Information on migrating the Acronis license is above and here. Same premise for 2012, 13, 14.

http://kb.acronis.com/content/22154

This is what I needed, thanks!

I am using Acronis TI Home 2011 with Plus Pack.
I have a laptop with XP installed and have imaged the OS which is on my C partition.
I have now done a clean installation of Win7 onto my C partition and made a partition image of that.
What I would like to achieve is to be able to load either system directly, using my USB Acronis boot iso.
The problem seems to be that the Win7 installation created a 100MB system reserved partition, which I also imaged,
while the XP image also contains an MBR partition. So reinstalling the XP image now doesn't work.

I would prefer not to set up a dual boot if that can be avoided.
Is there any way that I choose to reinstall either the XP or Win7 image?

Not sure why this creates problems - you could try to hide the Win7 boot partition if this creates problems when you install XP. But if you do not want this 100 MB partition then you have to create an empty partition first and install Win7 into it. Then this 100 MB partition will not be created. Downside is that you cannot use BitLocker on the C partition then. The 100 MB partition would help to start BitLocker and then decrypt the C partion so that Win7 can start. Without this 100 MB this is not possible. But if you do not need Bitlocker you should be fine. Have been using Win7 without the 100 MB partition from the beginning (32 bit and 64 bit version).

Thank you for your reply.
What I have now is a working Win7 OS on C partition and a 100mb system reserved partition with no drive letter. (All my data is on D partition). I have made Acronis image of the C partition and the 100mb partition and have tested recovery of these without any problem. So my Win7 system is fine and backed up.

Now I am trying to recover my XP image. I tried several things using Acronis boot image. I recovered the XP image to C partition and at the same time (a) left the 100mb Win7 reserve partition unchanged; (b) reformatted and left empty the 100mb partition; (c) reformatted the 100mb partition and recovered the XP MBR partition to it; (d) just deleted the 100mb partition. None of these options worked. In all cases, I get 'BootLdr is missing' or words to that effect as soon as I boot.

Your point about hiding or not creating the 100mb partition: It is hidden in that it does not show in Windows explorer, but I can see in in the Disk Management tool and also when booting into Acronis. Also, when I installed Win7, I did delete the C partition first and the created a new C partition, and selected it when the windows installation asked where to install windows, but it also immediately said that Windows will create and additional reserve partition (ie the 100mb partition).

I think that I can get my XP image back by reinstalling Windows XP and then recovering the Acronis XP image, but that is obviously a ridiculous way of going about it.

Would appreciate any other suggestions you may have.

You could resolve this by creating a new Win 7 install without the 100MB partition, as John Monter has explained, and creating a new image of that install. Either 7 or XP could then be successfully restored by including the MBR in the restore each time. That is all that would be required. However I'm having trouble understanding the point of this exercise, as opposed to simply setting up an XP/Win7 dual boot. Your Win 7 will become progressively more out of date with each month's updates, and any software you subsequently install in either system, and any configuration changes you make will all be lost next time you restore the alternate system. Setting up a dual boot is child's play if you start with XP, not with Win 7, and would be infinitely more useful.

I see it the same way. Dual boot will help a lot. First I did not want give up my XP but there is no real migration from XP to Win7. So I kept both OS. In Win7 I installed what I really needed (there was a lot of scrap in XP after all the years). But the dual boot allowed me to look up setting that I had in XP and it gave me the confidence to go back to the old world at any time. Now, after a longer time XP is history (but still on my system). With the capacity of new HDs no problem. I moved XP to the 2nd partition and Win7 to the first for performance reasons. Just a remark - dual boot Win7 (or Vista) might create some problems since the boot files changed. But if you dig deeper into it there is no problem - I have 6 OS in multi boot all using the same data and mostly the same programs stored only 1 time (sure things like Registry entries will be different depending on the OS - but this is on the OS C partition - so you will have to organize your partitions to achieve this).

Thank you very much for your help.
I deleted the system recovery partition, following:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/71363-system-reserved-partition-de…

Then did a Start Up recovery, following:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/681-startup-repair.html
This recovered the boot loader to the System C partition instead of the Reserved partition. I needed the original W7 installation disk to recover, but did not need to reinstall W7, which was great.

Now I can recover either the XP or W7 acronis image to my C partition.
My reason for wanting this is that I didn't want to waste the drive space for dual boot and I only use the XP occasionally for a few programs that only work on XP.
Thank you again.