Clone IDE XP boot drive to SATA and put in more modern machine?

[pchristy]

Can i clone xp boot drive from dell 4550 to sata and put in more modern machine? I have specialized software on it that I'd love to not have to reinstall. I need parallel port for dongle, so "more modern" machine would be probably an Optiplex 960.

 

[TerryLaze]

You can try but XP is quite picky about drivers so it could work but chances are it won't.
There are special cloning tools out there that do strip the OS of drivers first,it's called dissimilar cloning or at least you can search for it with that term.
https://www.google.gr/search?q=dissimilar+cloning&oq=dissimilar+cloning&aqs=chrome..69i57&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8


The special software with the dongle might also have some copy protection going on that will still prevent it from running on the cloned drive...you will have to try and see.

 

[USAFRet]

Can i clone xp boot drive from dell 4550 to sata and put in more modern machine? I have specialized software on it that I'd love to not have to reinstall. I need parallel port for dongle, so "more modern" machine would be probably an Optiplex 960.

I'd be VERY surprised if that worked.
Moving a drive with an OS between machines often does not work. The older the Windows version, the less likely it is to work.
Cloning to a new drive is exactly the same as moving the physical drive.