Skip to main content

Removing NT Signature

Thread needs solution

How to remove NT signature from a cloned disk?
All I can do in Disk Director 11 is:
Delete volume then Create Volume
Or
Format

But I remember last time I tried this I formatted and it still left the NT signature which made both disk Operating Systems unbootable

From the manual
“Important: Two disks with the same NT signature cannot work properly under one operating system. After cloning the disk and copying the NT signature, you should remove one of the disks from the machine.”

But it never tells you how to get rid of the NT signature
Or how to reinitialize a disk and I can’t just throw the old disk I cloned from away

How to remove NT signature from a disk I just cloned from no reinitialize option available?

0 Users found this helpful

Are you wishing to have both drives connected to your PC at the same time?

Hello Everyone!

Lord Marcus, Windows operating system doesn't allow two disks with the same NT signature in one system. Otherwise, the operating system runs from the first disk at the startup, discovers the same signature on the second one, automatically generates a new unique NT signature and assigns it to the second disk. As a result, all the volumes on the second disk will lose their letters, all paths will be invalid on the disk, and programs won't find their files. The operating system on that disk will be unbootable.

However, you can change NT signature manually using Acronis Disk Director 11. This feature is available if you start disk editor and select "partition table" view. (user guide p. 77)

Thank you.

Thank you for your responses

“Are you wishing to have both drives connected to your PC at the same time?”
Yes I want to the old HDD I cloned the OS off as a storage device

Anna.Trifonova
I will give what you have said a go next time I try this

I am guessing from your answer that
Delete volume then Create Volume
&
Format
Actions won’t move the NT signature from the HDD

I am making sure I get this right because last time I tried I lost the OS on both HDD’s causes’ large amount of ache for me reinstalling few 100 Programs

Thanks for your help Marcus

Anna.Trifonova:

Follow up question: If one manually changes the NT Signature as you suggest, how does one decide what value or number to use for a new Signature?

Thanks in advance.

Martin