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Is there a way to clone the contents of one hard drive onto another (new - no OS) so that it can be put into a second computer and boot up to windows. Even if it wouldn't be perfect but still functional? I am still fussing with a Dell P3 which refuses to let me do anyting to install the OS. I figure if there is already an OS installation, it could then be reinstalled from the Recovery disc.
There are lots of programs that will do this, but you'd be violating the EULA for XP if you did it. Unless of course you have two licenses for XP.
Life is more painless for those who are brainless.
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For a Dell PC, try the following:
When you start the computer, hold down the CTRL key and press F11 to access the system recovery wizard.
There's a small partition on Dell drives that has an image. I hope you haven't repartitioned.
Do yourself a favor BACKUP!
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Normally cloning a hdd from 1 machine and installing in another machine won't work as XP won't recognize the machine on bootup. Sometimes a system repair will work.
http://computervitals.com/
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The problem is that the original HD is gone. I don't have it. I have a new Western Digital. I have a XP recovery disc for it. I cannot get this Dell Dimen 4100 to go to the option to change to CDROM boot. CTL+F11 does not work. F12 does not work. DEL doesn't work. I am not getting the option to go into BIOS to change boot order. Nothing responds. I am told that it was running just fine previously. It seems to me that if I can get an OS booted, then I can put the Recovery disc in and reinstall it properly.
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Dell has also used F1 and F2 for entering the bios. In fact, try all the F keys and also the following:
esc
ctrl+alt+esc
ctrl+alt+s
ctrl+alt+ins
ctrl+alt+delCheck the Dell web site to see if they have instructions for replacing the hard drive. Some OEM manufacturers have utilities for setting up a new drive.
Do yourself a favor BACKUP!
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Hi
Mike Madd
your pc may have Dells "Quiet Boot" and "Quick Boot" modes enabled, so you don't get a message during boot-up telling you which key will start the BIOS setup :/no idea how to get past that so open the case and locate the bios reset/ recovery jumper, the details;
regards
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sry lost rest of thread there,
obviously your not flashing the bios so no need for bios disk,
Not sure what the jumper 11 does so may be worth experimenting, if nothing else pull the battery to reset the bios, on reboot it should default to normal boot, (i have a compaq which did the same took me some time to figure that one:)
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F2 should get you into the BIOS of your 4100, but I don't know how much good it will do without a full XP installation CD...The Recovery CD may not work on your new drive. On new Dells there is a small hidden partition that is referenced when running the Recovery CD....as Dell assumes that you're running the Recovery on the same hardware delivered with the machine.
Life is more painless for those who are brainless.
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Agony of Defeat! None of those worked. I gave the Dell to my son-in-law and his friend to work on. They could not get any of the above to work. They pulled the CMOS battery and put a different one in and got into BIOS to change boot order but it didn't happen. As a last resort they slaved my HD into another computer and installed XP from the Recovery Disc and put the HD in the Dell. It still wouldn't boot with the Dell version XP installed.
So I am going to junk it. Pull the RAM and HD and into the trash!
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