Cloning a hard disk

[chevol]

Hi,

My computer is, like me... getting old! I am starting to have nightmares about the day it will quit! It took me days, weeks to install everything properly, fine tuning FSX, FSINN etc etc. The idea of having to do this again with a new PC gives me heart burns... So, my question is: is there a way to clone the existing hard disk to a new PC? I have a programme (Acronis True Image) which gives the possibility to clone disks, would that be a solution ?

Your ideas, suggestions would be much appreciated!

Cheers,
Luc

[Jay Eklund]

Unless you are planning on moving to the exact same type of hardware, you're asking for trouble. As much of a pain that it is, you will be best served in the long term loading and tweaking everything fresh.

[chevol]

Thank you, Jay, This is what I (unfortunately) expected...
cheers
Luc

[nwadc10]

Thank you, Jay, This is what I (unfortunately) expected...
cheers
Luc

I'm not an expert but I think Jay has good advice.

However, you can make a reinstall easier on yourself just by organizing everything before starting such a task. For example, I save all the installers to a DVD and I have an excel file that contains all of the registration details of my addons. I print out the excel (and keep in a fire and flood proof safe, along with actual copies of addon receipt emails) but I also put the excel on a DVD with addon installers. Using the software copy then becomes a matter of copy and paste the registration keys rather than manually entering those cryptic keys.

I don't really do any tweaks but I'm sure you could create a word document containing the instructions for all of your tweaks so that you don't have to go looking for them every time you reinstall.

Also, for FSINN (which I share your pain lol), export the registry entries for it that contains the aircraft assignments. A file will be produced which upon reinstall you can click and windows will reinstall those registry entries for you. Do a Windows search for "regedit" and read up on what entry to export on FSINN related forums. I don't know it off hand otherwise I would share that here. Save the exported registry entries to your addon DVD.

A little work now will pay dividends later and each time you have to reinstall. Oh, and ALWAYS save your PMDG installers RIGHT AWAY! That way PMDG doesn't rape your wallet again for a product you already purchased.

[Mike Bridge]

The problem with most payware is the registry entries

I copy my addon scenery folder to keep all my freeware mesh's and airport scenery