Win2k3 c: drive copy from scsi to sata
 

We have a backup domain controller with an ageing SCSI hard drive ( c: )

I'm trying to come up with a strategy to take out the scsi controller and hard drive and replace it with a SATA contoller and hard drive (which we already have spare but brand new)

1. I can install the SATA controller and hard drive in addition to the existing SCSI system

2. I can Start up the server using SCSI controller and SCSI c: drive as normal

3. I can mirror the SCSI c: drive onto the SATA drive using Acronis True Image

4. Power down the system and remove the SCSI controller and drive

The problem with the above is that, when it powers up with the SATA c: drive, assuming the SATA BIOS sees the drive, windows win2k Server won't be able to start as it doesn't have a driver.

What steps will I need to take to fix this ?

Do you think it's worth doing a clean install of Win2k Server with only the SATA controller and drive, then after Win2k Server installs, run the backup domain controller wizard ?

After you complete step 1) the sever image on the SCSI drive will have the correct driver. It will have to load the drivers in order to access the drive for ATI to perform the backup.

It may still not work, and you will probably have to do a startup repair/fixboot/fixmbr when you try to boot of the sata drive as windows will detect the hardware changes.

ah, ok

I knew it would have the driver somewhere, but I realised it wouldn't boot the drive. I didn't know about startup repair/fixboot/fixmbr

If you go down the clean-install route, don't forget to run dcpromo to demote the controller, then re-install, then run dcpromo again.

Depending on what version of Acronis you have, you could look at Univeral Restore which should take care of the different SCSI/SATA boot driver requirements.

good point

"universal restore" - will look into that! Sounds perfick!