I do *not* advise doing this at all.

"Close enough" is a term not often associated with computers.

When the Windows OS is first installed, every component of the PC's hardware is
detected and enumerated and virtually all PCs will be different enough to make the OS
freeze completely or not load at all if you try to impose an OS that was installed on
one machine to work on another.

But if you reckon it's worth trying, go ahead - knock yourself out, as they say.


Also, you *can* clone the HD on any PC at any point of the installation.

So if you clone a HD as soon as installation is complete, "...before any drivers",
etc., then, when the "clone" is restored then *that* will be the same state that will
be restored.

Think of cloning as taking a "snapshot" of a system.

I think that is why they call it "drive imaging".

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)




"New Orleans Novice" wrote in message
...
Using XP Home and Acronis True Image Home

What is the best method to install XP home or Proff each day on a new HD ?
I buy used PC's with the legit 25 install key either for Home or Proff. Most are
Dell or Compaq.

Can Acronis True Image Home be used to clone the hard drive after the initial
install before any program or drivers is added to it?
Then use Acronis True Image Home to restore the XP Clone to the new HD ?

Can the Cloned HD be restored on a new HD in a Dell or Compaq PC but not
necessarily the same make and model PC ?
Should the Acronis True Image Home be used to CLONE a HD in a Generic No Name PC
for future RESTORE in a Dell or Compaq ?
What would you do ?

Thank you from New Orleans