Imaging/cloning to dissimilar machine

I hope this is the right newsgroup for this, if not, can you point
me to the right one.

Has anyone had any experience with these two backup and restore
programs:

Acronis True Image Home 2012 with Plus Pack

FarStone Total Recovery 8 Pro

They both have a feature called Universal Restore, which is
required in order to restore a backup to a machine with DISSIMILAR
hardware.

Second question: with either program, should I use imaging or
cloning? The idea is to have an exact copy of the original
machine's hard drive, on the second machine.

Any other pointers, warnings, etc. for a smooth operation will
also be appreciated.

TIA,

George

From: "George"

I hope this is the right newsgroup for this, if not, can you point
me to the right one.

Has anyone had any experience with these two backup and restore
programs:

Acronis True Image Home 2012 with Plus Pack

FarStone Total Recovery 8 Pro

They both have a feature called Universal Restore, which is
required in order to restore a backup to a machine with DISSIMILAR
hardware.

Second question: with either program, should I use imaging or
cloning? The idea is to have an exact copy of the original
machine's hard drive, on the second machine.

Any other pointers, warnings, etc. for a smooth operation will
also be appreciated.

TIA,


If you image a given platform and restore that image to a system with a
different chip-set there is a high likelihood the that the restored system
will crash in a BSoD condition.


--
Dave
Multi-AV Scanning Tool - http://multi-av.thespykiller.co.uk
http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/dl/35905.asp

"David H. Lipman" wrote in message
...
From: "George"

I hope this is the right newsgroup for this, if not, can you
point
me to the right one.

Has anyone had any experience with these two backup and restore
programs:

Acronis True Image Home 2012 with Plus Pack

FarStone Total Recovery 8 Pro

They both have a feature called Universal Restore, which is
required in order to restore a backup to a machine with
DISSIMILAR
hardware.

Second question: with either program, should I use imaging or
cloning? The idea is to have an exact copy of the original
machine's hard drive, on the second machine.

Any other pointers, warnings, etc. for a smooth operation will
also be appreciated.

TIA,


If you image a given platform and restore that image to a system
with a different chip-set there is a high likelihood the that
the restored system will crash in a BSoD condition.


--
Dave
Multi-AV Scanning Tool - http://multi-av.thespykiller.co.uk
http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/dl/35905.asp


Dave, thanks for the prompt response. If I first downloaded the
proper chip-set driver unto a CD or USB drive, at what point would
I install the driver into the dissimilar machine if I can't get
beyond the BSoD screen? Trying to plan the operation step by step
to avoid complications.

From: "George"



Dave, thanks for the prompt response. If I first downloaded the proper
chip-set driver unto a CD or USB drive, at what point would I install the
driver into the dissimilar machine if I can't get beyond the BSoD screen?
Trying to plan the operation step by step to avoid complications.

It's not the periphery drivers but the system itself and how it realtes to
the Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL).


--
Dave
Multi-AV Scanning Tool - http://multi-av.thespykiller.co.uk
http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/dl/35905.asp

"David H. Lipman" wrote in message
news
From: "George"



Dave, thanks for the prompt response. If I first downloaded
the proper chip-set driver unto a CD or USB drive, at what
point would I install the driver into the dissimilar machine if
I can't get beyond the BSoD screen? Trying to plan the
operation step by step to avoid complications.

It's not the periphery drivers but the system itself and how it
realtes to the Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL).


--
Dave
Multi-AV Scanning Tool - http://multi-av.thespykiller.co.uk
http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/dl/35905.asp


I think I understand what you're trying to tell me, but then both
of these companies (Acronis and FarStone) promote their products
as suitable for restoring to dissimilar hardware -- as long as the
product has the Universal Restore feature -- which both do. Are
you talking in absolute terms or just a POSSIBLE outcome?

Which brings me back to my question, if I downloaded ALL the
drivers for the dissimilar machine unto a CD or USB drive, at what
point would I insert them into the machine?

I'm also hoping to hear from any others with their take on either
the Acronis or the FarStone program, and whether imaging or
cloning is the way to go on this.

From: "George"


"David H. Lipman" wrote in message news
From: "George"



Dave, thanks for the prompt response. If I first downloaded the proper chip-set
driver unto a CD or USB drive, at what point would I install the driver into the
dissimilar machine if I can't get beyond the BSoD screen? Trying to plan the operation
step by step to avoid complications.

It's not the periphery drivers but the system itself and how it realtes to the Hardware
Abstraction Layer (HAL).



I think I understand what you're trying to tell me, but then both of these companies
(Acronis and FarStone) promote their products as suitable for restoring to dissimilar
hardware -- as long as the product has the Universal Restore feature -- which both do.
Are you talking in absolute terms or just a POSSIBLE outcome?

Which brings me back to my question, if I downloaded ALL the drivers for the dissimilar
machine unto a CD or USB drive, at what point would I insert them into the machine?

I'm also hoping to hear from any others with their take on either the Acronis or the
FarStone program, and whether imaging or cloning is the way to go on this.


Acronis is the preferred product. Give it a shot.


--
Dave
Multi-AV Scanning Tool - http://multi-av.thespykiller.co.uk
http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/dl/35905.asp

On Fri, 25 May 2012 13:01:42 -0400, "George" wrote:

I hope this is the right newsgroup for this, if not, can you point
me to the right one.

Has anyone had any experience with these two backup and restore
programs:

Acronis True Image Home 2012 with Plus Pack

FarStone Total Recovery 8 Pro

I've used multiple versions of Acronis TI, including that one. I
haven't heard of or used the other product.

They both have a feature called Universal Restore, which is
required in order to restore a backup to a machine with DISSIMILAR
hardware.

I haven't used that feature in ATI, but I'm aware of it. People report
that it works, but YMMV. You'd want to make sure it works in your
situation.

Second question: with either program, should I use imaging or
cloning? The idea is to have an exact copy of the original
machine's hard drive, on the second machine.

Imaging will create a *file* on the target drive that contains the
contents of the source disk. You have to *restore* that image before
you can use it. Cloning will simply create a copy, or clone, of the
target disk. It sounds like you want to create a clone.

Any other pointers, warnings, etc. for a smooth operation will
also be appreciated.

Don't destroy your source drive until you're quite sure the restore to
dissimilar hardware worked properly.

"George" wrote in message m...
I hope this is the right newsgroup for this, if not, can you point
me to the right one.

Has anyone had any experience with these two backup and restore
programs:

Acronis True Image Home 2012 with Plus Pack

FarStone Total Recovery 8 Pro

They both have a feature called Universal Restore, which is
required in order to restore a backup to a machine with DISSIMILAR
hardware.

Second question: with either program, should I use imaging or
cloning? The idea is to have an exact copy of the original
machine's hard drive, on the second machine.

Any other pointers, warnings, etc. for a smooth operation will
also be appreciated.

TIA,

George

I've used ATI (and still do), but I never bought the Plus Pack, so I'm not familiar with the Universal Restore feature.
Without reading the manual for it, I would guess imaging would be better than cloning when restoring to dissimilar
hardware. My guess is that the image restoration process would probably prompt you for the new hardware drivers and
install them somewhere during that process.

Edit: Actually, you can get the manual here http://www.acronis.com/download/docs/atih2012/userguide and start reading
on page 97. It explains the whole process.
--
SC Tom

"Char Jackson" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 25 May 2012 13:01:42 -0400, "George"
wrote:

I hope this is the right newsgroup for this, if not, can you
point
me to the right one.

Has anyone had any experience with these two backup and restore
programs:

Acronis True Image Home 2012 with Plus Pack

FarStone Total Recovery 8 Pro

I've used multiple versions of Acronis TI, including that one. I
haven't heard of or used the other product.

They both have a feature called Universal Restore, which is
required in order to restore a backup to a machine with
DISSIMILAR
hardware.

I haven't used that feature in ATI, but I'm aware of it. People
report
that it works, but YMMV. You'd want to make sure it works in
your
situation.

Second question: with either program, should I use imaging or
cloning? The idea is to have an exact copy of the original
machine's hard drive, on the second machine.

Imaging will create a *file* on the target drive that contains
the
contents of the source disk. You have to *restore* that image
before
you can use it. Cloning will simply create a copy, or clone, of
the
target disk. It sounds like you want to create a clone.

Any other pointers, warnings, etc. for a smooth operation will
also be appreciated.

Don't destroy your source drive until you're quite sure the
restore to
dissimilar hardware worked properly.


Thanks, Char. Just to be safe, I'm going to do both a clone and
an image of the source drive, so if one fails, I can try the
other, and of course will keep the source drive intact.
Everything, including all the drivers for the target machine, will
go on a USB drive first before restoring from there to the target
machine.

"SC Tom" wrote in message
...

"George" wrote in message
m...
I hope this is the right newsgroup for this, if not, can you
point
me to the right one.

Has anyone had any experience with these two backup and restore
programs:

Acronis True Image Home 2012 with Plus Pack

FarStone Total Recovery 8 Pro

They both have a feature called Universal Restore, which is
required in order to restore a backup to a machine with
DISSIMILAR
hardware.

Second question: with either program, should I use imaging or
cloning? The idea is to have an exact copy of the original
machine's hard drive, on the second machine.

Any other pointers, warnings, etc. for a smooth operation will
also be appreciated.

TIA,

George

I've used ATI (and still do), but I never bought the Plus Pack,
so I'm not familiar with the Universal Restore feature. Without
reading the manual for it, I would guess imaging would be better
than cloning when restoring to dissimilar hardware. My guess is
that the image restoration process would probably prompt you for
the new hardware drivers and install them somewhere during that
process.

Edit: Actually, you can get the manual here
http://www.acronis.com/download/docs/atih2012/userguide and
start reading on page 97. It explains the whole process.
--
SC Tom

Thanks Tom. That the restoration process would probably prompt
for the new hardware drivers somewhere during the process, makes
sense.

And thanks for the link to the manual, I'll be doing a lot of
reading before starting this operation!

George