Windows 7 - Restore Windows.old on new Windows 7 install as repair failed.

I installed a new MOBO last night (17/02/2012) and booted up and my Windows 7 could not boot. It went into repair mode and could not repair.

So I installed a new Windows 7 and now see the Windows.old folder.
I would like to recover the huge amount of settings and personalisation from the old Windows system.

I have not communicated with anyone who has REALLY had a Windows recovery ever work.
If anyone knows, this is the perfect time for me to be shown the light.

Are you able to do a repair install with windows.old through your Windows 7 Installation DVD?

You can only transfer files from Windows.old not Programs as it will be too hard to extract the Registry etc. You will need to manually install and make Personalization changes. You may find your files, theme and wallpaper in windows.old but that is about it. You will need to manually apply the customization registry tweaks, settings, etc.

Thanks for the replies.
Yeah, another Microsoft headache.
I'm now trying to setup Outlook again and find all my .pst files. It's so complicated, as Outlook sets up a new default C drive Outlook Data File, then I need to 'merge' my old email profiles in aswell...aaagghhhhh.

For future note, you cannot do what you ask. What you should have done was go to c:\windows\system32\sysprep and run sysprep.exe, select the Out of box experience (oobe) and checked the generalize tab then selected shutdown. Once shutdown, swap the motheboards then booted it. It would take about 40min to boot up give or take, asked you a few questions and done. Then just install any new drivers you need and back in business. Your old accounts, software, profiles would all still be there. Just boot up and into your old one, remove the new one your created during first boot and it would look exactly like before, like nothing changed.

As for your outlook issue, open the old PST then drag and drop them into the new one in outlook. Then close the old one.