I have an old laptop (Dell Inspiron 5100, 2003, Win XP pro sp1) that (BION) still works, even after 19 years of daily use (and in "Always On" status). I must continue to use this device because it contains programs no longer supported on other OS's (at least none that I have superficially investigated as an option). And it is part of a daily "work flow" routine that will take far too long duplicate on modern devices (I own/use several other modern devices and OSs, but only by themselves)
I have Aronis True Image'd the HDD on this old Dell several times; and currently I'm using a 128 GB ssd. It is also a dual-boot laptop with a 2009 (??) version of LinuxMint. I almost never use LM on this laptop -- it was installed as a tool.
Because some reliability issues have (finally) appeared in the laptop, I may have to duplicate the "whole machine" in situ. I do have two other same-model 5100 laps that I have on-hand to steal parts from if it becomes necessary.
BUT, I was once told (perhaps once here on TH) that I should run the old C drive as "shell" or in an emulator or something like that.
I have some experience with Linux and WINE, which I use daily on another PC, but that emulation is FAR from perfect.
BOTTOM LINE: can I run the Dell Inspiron 5100 "C drive" OUTSIDE the Dell Inspiron 5100 (physical laptop), as transparently as possible, to duplicate the Dell Inspiron 5100 experience?
Thanks!!
REFS: https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us/product-support/product/inspiron-5100/docs
I have Aronis True Image'd the HDD on this old Dell several times; and currently I'm using a 128 GB ssd. It is also a dual-boot laptop with a 2009 (??) version of LinuxMint. I almost never use LM on this laptop -- it was installed as a tool.
Because some reliability issues have (finally) appeared in the laptop, I may have to duplicate the "whole machine" in situ. I do have two other same-model 5100 laps that I have on-hand to steal parts from if it becomes necessary.
BUT, I was once told (perhaps once here on TH) that I should run the old C drive as "shell" or in an emulator or something like that.
I have some experience with Linux and WINE, which I use daily on another PC, but that emulation is FAR from perfect.
BOTTOM LINE: can I run the Dell Inspiron 5100 "C drive" OUTSIDE the Dell Inspiron 5100 (physical laptop), as transparently as possible, to duplicate the Dell Inspiron 5100 experience?
Thanks!!
REFS: https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us/product-support/product/inspiron-5100/docs