Windows XP Cloning
flo88 Posted messages 28665 Registration date Status Contributeur Last intervention -
Hello,
The inverter for the heating/air conditioning system in the condominium is on its last legs, that's not the problem; we buy another one, we plug it in, and that's it.
The control computer is the same age (over 10 years), and it will surely die one day too; it runs on XP, and the Daikin software connects it to the board linked to the heating system via a data cable, also: XP. There is a CD that comes with it, and I have one too, no problem; it is almost certain that the Daikin software is no longer available. During a minor breakdown that had nothing to do with this, the previous maintenance company declared that everything needed to be updated, for about 8000€, we are a very small condominium.
You can see where I'm going with this, if I buy a hard drive (it should be SATA, I haven't checked, which by necessity will be larger than the one currently in place) or if I use a USB drive or even an external transfer stick (I haven't checked the data size either), what method do you suggest to clone this drive to a new one that would be used in a new PC, which may not be the same model or even the same brand (not only would we need to be able to reuse the famous software for which the CD was not provided, but also of course transfer the accompanying license).
Thank you.
6 réponses
Hello!
There's a free "Macrium Reflect", you can choose to clone only the system if you want!
Hello,
You might want to check the health of the disk first... It could be the cause, but not necessarily.
One idea of mine would be to replace the PC's hard drive with a new one, then clone the old one onto the new one, if it still works, using "Acronis True Image" on CDlive... that way, the complete XP OS with its license will continue to work normally while the rest of the PC remains the same.
Acronis ISO file available on the Acronis site https://archive.org/details/acronis-true-image-2021
Otherwise, the 2017 version should work on XP.
https://archive.org/details/AcronisTrueImage201720.0Build5554BootableISO
Once cloning is done, shut down the PC, remove the old disk, take out the CDlive... go into the BIOS to set the new disk as the Boot Device... and F10 saves and reboots the PC on the new disk...
A good dusting on the inside will do it good, including in the fins of the Processor cooler...
Also, a few Windows checks like "CHKDSK /f" and "Sfc /scannow."
And it's ready to go for another 20 years... at least enough time to think about the next solution.
That's it...
I also have a similar problem with a PC running XP with PCI interface cards that control my machines.
Personally, I've installed another SATA drive in the case and from time to time I clone the "C" drive with Acronis. This second drive is not powered on normally, to preserve it.
However, where I am very skeptical is about mounting a clone in another machine.
XP installs based on the chipsets of the motherboard, and if the board is not strictly identical, it seems to me that XP will not boot.
The big problem with motherboards is the electrolytic capacitors... I've already replaced some.
Thank you all for now,
I'm going to take a tour of the basement tomorrow to inspect the beast more closely, but it does seem to be in a bad spot: as you have understood, this is purely preventive for now; the prehistoric machine is running like clockwork. We can still bet on the fact that only the hard drive will give up the ghost, but oh well...
So it's just about preparing, just in case, to restart on a machine that by definition wouldn't have the same disk and drivers, if we can still manage (aside from a potential virtual machine) to find a new machine that has drivers for XP.
To top it all off, the machine in question has no network connection (I know, I could always temporarily bring it back to my place for that), and I did indeed wonder if there might be a serial card or some other exotic device to connect the Daikin board; if that's the case, we're not doing well without its drivers and possibly proprietary communication protocols.
Hello
Cloning the disk is not a problem in itself, but wanting to transfer it to another one, so to another hardware configuration, does not go without issues, especially under Windows XP... it will not restart.
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Euskadi Ta Askatasuna
Good evening,
Yes, I know how to clone even though I'm not an expert, and that's why I asked the question; somewhere, XP itself, I don't care, it's my business, except for some other process that I might have missed, it's just about retrieving the famous Daikin software for which I don't have the CD (I don't actually think it's available for download, it must be installed by the brand itself either from its own tools or through a proprietary connection to their site, hello problems, at the time there was only a 56K modem connection, we had the line removed because it was only used for maintenance via remote control with PC Anywhere and the maintenance agency no longer has a modem for that purpose) and which does have a license but activated on the PC and whose codes and activation method I don't know.
As I mentioned, the former provider suggested replacing everything (PC, board, connections, software, labor...); it seems to me that during my search for a solution, when it was still available, the only software was priced at over €3500 excluding tax.
The price doesn't surprise me.
But it's still strange to control a boiler room with a PC; there should be a PLC somewhere, so controlling it from a PC requires a specific interface to manage the inputs and outputs... the software is one thing, but this control interface is very important. I would be curious to see the installation.
Especially since for quite a few years now, this type of installation has been controlled by touchscreen panels like Siemens mpxxx or Pro-face, which are capable of replacing both the PLC program and the PC.
It is not a heating plant in the traditional sense, but groups of reversible heating and air conditioning units, the same principle as in individual homes but on a larger scale:
VRV III Inverter Units:
https://www.batiproduits.com/fiche/produits/volume-refrigerant-variable-inverter-reversible-p68919413.html
Intelligent Manager software on PC:
http://www.daikinac.com/content/assets/DOC/i-Manager_4.40.00_English_OperationManual(EM07A052A).pdf
Principle diagram, connection of the PC to the ITM adapter connected on one side to a dedicated Linky meter, and on the other to the units that supply the individual splitters, PC and ITM adapter via an inverter.
The system sends back data, operational status in heating or cooling, temperature, maintenance messages from the splitters, their individual consumption... to the PC via a data cable which I no longer remember to which port or card it is connected, I will check today:
https://www.daikin.co.id/en/intelligent-touch-manager
Okay, I'll take a closer look when I have enough time, but broadly speaking, we are discussing the architecture I mentioned. What you call itm is the touch screen HMI (human-machine interface) I was talking about. Here, it indeed looks like an older generation ProFace without I/O control since in the diagram below it is coupled with a WAGO programmable logic controller.
In my opinion, your PC is useless…. It would be necessary to bring in several companies to get quotes to remove the PC (first check if it’s really possible), but there must definitely be a controller in a cabinet somewhere, and if the controller communicates in one way or another with the PC, then replacing the PC with another one is out of the question; individuals won't be able to re-establish communication with the controller. In that case, eliminating the PC makes economic sense.
But I will check tonight if I have enough time.
I’ll give you the name of a company I’ve been working with for a long time that has a strong grasp of the subject: EIMI
I assure you that there is nothing else but the famous adapter plate without any screen as shown on the cover page of the user manual link.
There are simply as many pipes coming down from the groups as there are splitters to power (plus two for ventilation, but I believe they are connected to a VMC), and, as I was explained, they only adjust the temperature because the remote control button opens a flap and the thermostat roughly regulates the frequency and amplitude of the opening: I don’t quite see how we can do without the PC under these conditions, its connection to the plate is indeed another question, I will, as I said, go check where the wiring is going and on which ports, but in case of a serial card whose communications are programmed, indeed, we’ve got a problem.
A priori no, I will go down in the afternoon or tomorrow, the photos might not work (dark corner), maybe for the PC rather screenshot captures.
I just came back, the company left the installation files for the Intelligent Manager software on the PC, which is rather good news, I will make a copy of it.
As for the license, I don't know, I will look for it; I came across a curious printout, online activation Internet Explorer at Daikin, 2 captures for the same MAC address and the same "Basic Software ID" and then "Option Software ID" with 2 different activation keys.
Regarding the hardware and leaving aside the inverter and power supplies, the board represented in my second link is connected by a network port (not visible, left side) to the PC, the 2 pins at the bottom D3-D2 and D1 are connected with cables that look more like electrical wiring than anything else (2 wires each time), the RS serial connector in D1 is not equipped, all this goes only towards the roof (air conditioning units).
It looks smooth, model D-BACS DAM602B52, probably because the 2 small screwed covers that I didn't see (wall mounting) and whose purpose I don't know are unused; apparently nothing is provided for a screen output
The PC has nothing other than the network port (and one of the USB ports for the power management software of the inverter to which it is connected); no program or device that could suggest an exotic peripheral, no serial port, a COM port but in principle assigned to the modem card that is no longer used with an RJ11 output.
The D-BACS DAM602B52 is the controller, but unfortunately I don't know this equipment at all. It communicates with the PC via Ethernet, right?
So the PC actually controls the entire command and the DAM602B52 handles the inputs and outputs...
My hypothesis that the PC is unnecessary is wrong; it is essential...
Honestly, a clone of the disk won't be enough; what we need is a complete replacement PC, while keeping the old one as long as it works, but the control software needs to be compatible, ideally with Windows 7 Pro; there's a chance.
Perhaps this solution was what was proposed for €8k...