[SOLVED] Transfer LL from laptop to desktop w/ win7 sp1 (side-by-side)

[tripple aught]

@gold_finger

I'm a slow methodical guy so don't rush me.

Me too !

I do know this: REDO copies the whole disk and replaces the whole disk to a destination the same size or bigger, NOT smaller.

I copied the desktop drive with REDO before it was resized(using disk management-Win).

After resizing and having unallocated space, I tried the LL instal again - no go - no see /dev/sda

Used REDO to restore back to un-resized state - works great !

REDO wants you to create a live Redo disk - boot - then chose source drive
Then choose destination drive, where folder is created by you to store the Redo backup
Then it copys the entire source drive to that folder.

To restore - boot Live Redo - and choose source (your backup) then destination (your HDD) or whatever drive you've backed up.

It restores it just the way it was - changes nothing.


Now... MY HDD source shows this:

      Drive 1 (74.53 GB): WDC WD 800 ID-6015 (windows7 (loader), 3.75GB NTFS)  (windows, 70.78GB NTFS)

and REDO gives me a choise either or both. I've been choosing both, but I think that the first partition of 3.75GB is the OEM install of Win7 only- not Win7SP1- and this is where RESTORE from Windows will take you... what a mess. REDO to the rescue !

Next I'm trying is to REDO backup only the 2nd part (Windows, 70.78GB NTFS)
Wipe the entire drive clean
and REDO that backup to see if I can boot into SP1 (without that front end loader)

BUT

If original install was OEM version, maybe it will only boot from an internal disk due to restricted MS license built-in to it?  (Just a guess.)

This may be the issue . and if that's the case - it means that every preinstalled software machine from a refurbished supplier may have this same issue with installing LL ?

Let you know what happens - there is no worst case - it's all good and LL WILL get on this desktop !!!

[ukbrian]

On one windows machine with two linux partitions as well that I did not back up when I did a restore it also recreated the linux partitions as well as installing windows so is it possible that it would restore the hybrid(MSDOS/GPT) busines again?

I'm going to have another go again but using Macrium Reflect as it just restores the partitions you backup and not any others.

Is it an UEFI machine friend?

[ukbrian]

It was a full moon last night and this semi literate old redneck from the wilds of Wales had a lunatic idea!

Do a redo backup to folder "old" on a USB stick.

Do a fresh install of windows to the HDD but do not update it, should take about 40 minutes.

Do a redo backup to folder "new" on the USB stick.

Run gparted > Devices > Create partition table

Rename the file old/*.mdb to *.mdb-ori

Copy the file at new/*.mdb to the old folder

Run Redo backup and restore the backup from the old folder.

Cross your fingers and toes and reboot.

Wear a big lunatic smile


I've not tried it as I'm a bit jiggered and I want to go walkabout but I can't see what you have to lose.

If it doesn't then there should be something here you clever guys can use
https://www.raymond.cc/blog/5-free-tools...ecord-mbr/

3 years age when you did a restore with Macrium you could uncheck a box to stop the MBR being replaced but not anymore.

Oh for a GUI for Clonzilla.

PS
Warning I'm the bluntest tool in the box. :

[gold_finger]

If original install was OEM version, maybe it will only boot from an internal disk due to restricted MS license built-in to it?  (Just a guess.)

This may be the issue . and if that's the case - it means that every preinstalled software machine from a refurbished supplier may have this same issue with installing LL ?

An OEM version of Windows not booting properly when on a different machine, or external drive (in ukbrian's case) is a different issue than yours and has nothing to do with your particular problem.  Your problem is that it was installed with a hybrid MBR for some reason.  I doubt that this is a common problem generally speaking with refurbished systems, otherwise we'd see a lot more of these types of posts in forums.  I'm not really sure why it happened on yours, but it should be fixable.

That small Windows partition on your drive might contain copy of Windows used to create recovery DVD's.  Look in "Programs" section of Windows menu for somthing that let's you create recovery disks, or type "recovery" or "restore" in search box and see if there is a program to do that.  If so, make a set of recovery DVD's.  That will enable you to re-install Windows from scratch if you wipe entire drive.

If no luck with that, try downloading ISO of same Windows version that is on machine and making set of DVD's from that as per instructions on this page.  (You'll need to have a valid OEM key for Windows to use with the ISO.)

Use instructions on this link to fix the MBR using Windows recovery disks.  (I'm guessing that you may also be able to fix using DVD's made with downloaded ISO file, but not sure.)  Maybe that is all that needs to be done.  (Yes, I know your Windows already boots fine.  My thinking is that by going through procedure, it might change the MBR from hybrid to normal.  That's what I'm hoping anyway.  We'll see.)

[ukbrian]

Sorry!

Sometimes I'm

[N4RPS]

Hello!

With Redo, if you chose to back up all partitions (what they recommend), then yes, you have the entire drive, and its partition structure, backed up. You can then restore that structure to your external HD, or to a USB flash drive (I guess; I've never tried that), as long as it was 128GB, to accommodate your 80 GB HD.

Redo SHOULD access the Internet with a wired LAN connection, and its kernel auto-detects a wide variety of wireless dongles if inserted before booting - as long as they aren't Broadcom-based. Of course, like anyone else, I'm always looking for a better way of doing things, so I'll check out some of the alternatives you mentioned...

73 DE N4RPS
Rob

[gold_finger]

Sorry!

No need to be sorry -- I wasn't trying to take anything away from your posts.  Just wanted to make point that the Hybrid MBR is the problem for tripple aught, not OEM Windows authentication key problem (which may or may not have been source of your problem when testing).

P.s.  ukbrian -- think I found possible answer why your test failed to boot from the backup copy:  http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t...ost9067452

[ukbrian]

I have no interest in Redo personally and after looking up hybrid MBR on google I'm assuming it's an UEFI machine and he must retain his hybrid MBR.

Would this be of interest?
I've just cloned my running OS to a stick, put it in another machine with a HDD partitioned to GPT and cloned the OS on the stick to the HDD, run grub-doctor to update the MBR on my boot drive, rebooted, selected and ran the new install on the GPT partition.

Using GPT is a new one for me and as  I normally keep windows on a seperate small drive I'll be using GPT in the future. Thank you for pushing me this way

I need a rest after all this typing

[tripple aught]

Well Fellas, I know you were beginning to think that I had 'fallen in'.... and yes I did. What a mess. Let me bring you up to speed with a few conclusions in the bye:

I was thinking that perhaps this Levono M58 had some hardware issues that needed updating so to make a long story shorter and after several 'blue screens', loss of Dvd drive and Internet; I finally had to use that 3.75 front part 1 of my pre-installed OS to RESTORE back to 'the factory load'. Then REDO to the rescue AGAIN - and now I have a perfectly working desktop with Win7 SP1. It's been a long week !

Tried loading the Install of LL again - still does not see /dev/sda

That funny colored green linux install does not see /dev/sda    (Had to try)

That OFFICIAL website where you can download a recovery ISO of Win7SP1 asked for my key code before allowing the download and... advised me that the OS I have is on a refurbished machine and that I should contact the manufacturer for restoration software.  ISN'T THAT AMAZING !! My OS is registered software for my pre-install`machine only....

Oh... and on the unofficial site for downloading That ISO.... you can download the ISO - burn the disk _ select install- it starts partly and then that install aborts with a message that it needs the correct driver to the drive thats being used to install it with.... WHAT A    K R O C K    OF NONSENSE.  Every driver in that bleeping desktop has been updated.

it's as if all this software runs into a brick wall that prevents it from seeing the pre-installed OS.

So I have a confession: I said that LL WOULD be installed on this desktop along with Windows... to do that I would have to purchase a OEM copy of Windows and wipe the desktop HDD and then do the LL install. I AM NOT going to pay three times what I paid for this desktop to do that.

If there's anyone you know who has a refurbished purchase WITH pre-installed Win7 on it who can get LL to install - I would like to see it with my own eyeballs 'cause; otherwise,  (as we say down south) I AIN'T GONNA BELIEVE IT !

I really am enjoying Linux Lite on this laptop though and since I'm going to have to replace this laptop due to overheating - crazy me thought it would be great to have LL on the desktop also.

Much THANKS and Kudos to you great fellas for attempting to help me out. It is greatly appreciated but I am totally convinced that there is something about OEM software for refurbished machines that is different from the norm.

I would like to HIGHLY recommend REDO for backups of the whole HDD - AND a Windows System Image backup as well. I've learned much this week.

Thanks again,
Lester

[ukbrian]

So I have a confession: I said that LL WOULD be installed on this desktop along with Windows... to do that I would have to purchase a OEM copy of Windows and wipe the desktop HDD and then do the LL install. I AM NOT going to pay three times what I paid for this desktop to do that.

I know jack sh*t about UEFI friend, so I ask you if it's possible to zap the drive and install LL and then install windows into virtualbox or am I being naive?



Refurbished and running hot don't sound to good.