Solved Cloning Disappointed

[heritage]

I want to avoid the hazel of installing and updating Win 7 if current hard drive dies. All else (e.g. documents, AppData, eMail backed up and easily restored). I have identical hard drives (SATA) and cloned current drive "successfully". When I swap the drives, everything seems to work perfectly. If I use only the cloned drive (which would be the case where original failed) Windows starts to boot but stops with message something like "not genuine Windows"). Defeats the purpose.

Anyone know how to make this work? (Or explain the failure.)

For those who like details: Windows 7 Ultimate, Macrium Reflect Free
I found a Thread which discusses how to do this with Paragon but I couldn't get it to clone; just backup.

I also have a similar computer and I cloned the same way with Acronis True Image.

Ironic that MS seems to think I am a pirate. I get Windows, most MS and Adobe software free through my university.

 

[Mark Phelps]

Sorry, but MS uses the hard drive serial number as part of the hash code it generates to validate a Windows install. When you changed out the drive, the new hash code won't match the old one -- hence the validation message.

You would probably have to reactivate Win7.

 

[DavidE]

I use Imaging (not cloning) for OS+Programs partition system backups.
I've restored Images to a different HD/SSD than the Image was created on many times.
I've never had a "not genuine" issue, or needed to re-activate after restoring.
I use Acronis TI (paid).

I don't understand why imaging would work differently than cloning for this ...
You might want to test using Imaging to see if you have the same problem ...

 

[SIW2]

Problem with the disk signature. I am making something to fix that.

I want to avoid the hazel of installing and updating Win 7 if current hard drive dies. All else (e.g. documents, AppData, eMail backed up and easily restored). I have identical hard drives (SATA) and cloned current drive "successfully". When I swap the drives, everything seems to work perfectly. If I use only the cloned drive (which would be the case where original failed) Windows starts to boot but stops with message something like "not genuine Windows"). Defeats the purpose.

Anyone know how to make this work? (Or explain the failure.)

For those who like details: Windows 7 Ultimate, Macrium Reflect Free
I found a Thread which discusses how to do this with Paragon but I couldn't get it to clone; just backup.

I also have a similar computer and I cloned the same way with Acronis True Image.

Ironic that MS seems to think I am a pirate. I get Windows, most MS and Adobe software free through my university.

 

[Britton30]

I rarely clone a drive but with imaging I have never had a non-genuine issue. I know swapping in a clone takes 2 minutes and restoring an image maybe 12-20 minutes, but it works well. This also would require another, 3rd, HDD to store images too.

 

[heritage]

Thanks for the responses. I am still learning at my advanced age - the problem being remembering it all.
I will try imaging. I have done that a few times but not for Windows. Will have to think about the details.
Looking forward to SIW2's results. Another chance for me to learn something.

 

[DavidE]

Thanks for the responses. I am still learning at my advanced age - the problem being remembering it all.
I will try imaging. I have done that a few times but not for Windows. Will have to think about the details.
Looking forward to SIW2's results. Another chance for me to learn something.

Yea, there is a lot to think about with backup strategy...
But, that's what helps us senior folks keep going -trying and learning !

Another advantage of imaging is you can save multiple images on the same HD so you can restore from a different backup image "save point/date created" if you run into problems.
With cloning, the entire HD is "copied" so you only have the latest "clone backup" available if you have problems.

I keep several backup images so I can restore to an earlier point in time if restoring the latest backup image did not fix the issue I just "found"...

 

[Britton30]

Here is an excellent tutorial for using Macrium Reflect Free by another one of us older more experienced members.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html#post648001

 

[SIW2]

It took a while, but here it is. I made this for winpe, however the bit you need works fine run from within Windows as well.

View attachment NT6repairEx64.zip


Run it as administrator, select the non starting windows partition in the dropdown and click FIX.




Then a little cmd window pops up telling you it all completed successfully:

 

[heritage]

Amazing

Thanks to SIW2. I can't believe you did this. I see why you have all those accolades.

At first your reply completely confused me but after staring at it a while I think I understand.

At the moment I have an original drive and a cloned drive. The cloned drive will not boot if it is the only drive installed (although it will boot if both drive are installed).
Your instructions are to run your program 'NT6repairEx64.EXE' (presumably from the original drive);
Select the cloned drive, and click 'FIX'

Sorry to be a nuisance. I will wait a while to see if you correct me.

Wow!

 

[SIW2]

Your instructions are to run your program 'NT6repairEx64.EXE' (presumably from the original drive);
Select the cloned drive, and click 'FIX'

Yes, exactly. rt click it and Run it as Administrator

 

[SIW2]

The cloned windows should then boot fine and reassign letters to any other volumes.

Rarely, it doesn't, so after booting into it you can fire up disk mgmt and add letters to other volumes manually.

 

[heritage]

Works fine on my 64-bit machine. Is there any way to get it to run on my 32-bit machine? (which rejects it now).
Looks like there are quite a few other really useful tasks your program can perform. Looking forward to researching those.
Again, a tip of my hat and a load of thanks. The computer community is amazing!

 

[SIW2]

I will compile 32 bit version when I get a moment. 32 bit is more useful as it will work in both 32 and 64 bit windows. However, standard winpe is bit version specific, so that is where separate versions are needed.

If you want all the functions, you would need a copy of bootsect.exe in the path ( easiest is to put nt6repair in the same folder as bootsect.exe and create a shortcut to nt6repair.

You will get bootsect.exe included if you d/l Boyans wonderful little program VisualBCD . You can then pop nt6repair into the Program Files\Visual bcd folder.

VisualBCD 0.9.3.1

Download Visual BCD

 

[heritage]

I feel like I am back in school again; Looking forward to following your instructions. You would make a great professor.

 

[SIW2]

Here you go: View attachment NT6RepairEx86.zip

 

[heritage]

I am running out of adequate ways to express my admiration. What you have done will be a presentation at our January Computer Club meeting. I will leave out the particulars so no one will pester you. Our 100 or so members need to know there are people like you out there. Perfect timing for the Christmas season.

 

[SIW2]

Happy New Year.

 

[DavidE]

Great help SIW2!

I'm still curious as to why I don't see this issue using imaging (see my post #3).
Is Acronis Imaging "smarter" than Macrium Cloning with making changes for a "different HD ID" ?

With cloning, the new and old HD must be known when the clone is performed...
With Imaging, there is no way to know what HD the backup image might be restored onto...
Am I correct with that understanding/assumptions?

Thanks and Happy New Year,
David

 

[heritage]

My Experience

I am following this discussion with great interest but cannot contribute much.
I know that others often benefit from simply reading so I will tell you my ending to the original thread.
The NT6RepairEx86 ran on my 64-bit and 32-bit computers (both). The cloned drive boots fine.
One interesting note: The first time the clone ran by itself, a message appeared in the lower right corner which said something like Windows is not genuine and gave the build number and something else. This disappeared and everything worked fine. The second time the cloned drive booted, the message did not appear.

Since I don't pirate and get Windows free from work, none of that bothers me. I just don't want to spend 8 hours updating Windows if my hard drive fails. Only happened once in ten years but it can happen.

Details probably don't matter but here are some in case they do:
Gigabyte Mother, Win7 Ultimate 64-bit, Western Digital HDs cloned with Acronis True Image Free
Phoenix Mother, Win7 Ultimate 32-bit, Seagate HDs cloned with Macrium Reflect Free

I also made image files earlier but have not tried recovering with them. Let sleeping dogs lie.