Question about Windows system images

Kari is the man to answer your questions - I'll ask him to stop by.

Yes, you could do it that way if you like.

Probably simpler to use a 3rd party imaging program for a small scale move. Most of the paid versions will make an image and restore it to different hardware.

If the hardware really is identical, you can probably image and restore with one of the free versions.

There are several:

Aomei Backupper Standard (free)

Pargon Bakup and Restore (free)

Macrium free

You might also want to look at
Make Windows 7 bootable after motherboard swap

1. techhead287 said:

   The sysprep tool removes all information specific to your computer.
   This is correct; using the GENERALIZE switch with SYSPREP command all hardware specific information is removed.
   
   This from a tutorial of ours:
   
   
      Note

   What does Sysprep generalizing do to my Windows 7 setup?
   

   • All system specific information is removed or uninstalled
   • Security ID (SID) of your hardware setup is reseted
   • All system restore points are deleted
   • All event logs are deleted
   • All personalization is removed (taskbar, toolbars, folder options, start orb etc.)
   • Built-in administrator account is disabled (if it was enabled) and needs to be re-enabled if needed

   
   
   What happens when booting first time after sysprep generalizing?
   

   • First boot configuration is run
   • New SID is created
   • Re-arm counter is reseted if not already re-armed three times
   • Windows 7 is booted using first boot default drivers and settings

   
   
   
   
2. techhead287 said:

   However, if I'm getting a new computer of the exact same model, do I need to run the sysprep tool, or can I get away without running it?
   Machine SID, MAC addresses and so on are different even if the hardware is otherwise identical. You should prepare your old system to be moved, be it the Sysprep or any other method.
   
3. techhead287 said:

   Also, what are the side effects of running the sysprep tool? Does bloatware get reinstalled from the OOBE?
   OOBE mode, also called Welcome mode is the the first boot after installation, in case of a new PC with preinstalled Windows the first boot user makes. The OOBE can be described as a Windows which has been completely installed but has not been booted to user desktop yet. All built-in native programs, also third party so called bloatware is installed, subject to Windows version, edition and used installation method. Machines with a preinstalled (by manufacturer) Windows system have more bloatware than a clean installation.
   
   All bloatware present, as well as the complete Windows installation on your new PC will of course be completely removed when another system image will replace it.
   
4. techhead287 said:

   Does any complex software get affected, such as VirtualBox, Visual Studio, antivirus, etc.? Is there anything that I should uninstall before running sysprep, if I have to?
   Before sysprepping a Windows installation to prepare it to be moved to another computer, you should disable any antivirus, malware and Firewall programs. No need to uninstall, just disable.
   
   Virtual machines can be tricky, my recommendation is to use tools in your virtualization program to export all your virtual machines on old system, then after restoring the image to the new PC import these exported virtual machines, again using tools and wizards of your virtualization program.
   
5. techhead287 said:

   Also, would Windows make me reactivate?
   Yes. This warning from the tutorial:
   
   
      Warning

   Using this method causes Windows 7 to lose all activation information, and it needs to be reactivated afterwards. If your Windows 7 is an OEM version, you might not be able to reactivate it, at least not without phone activation option.
   
   
6. techhead287 said:

   This computer has a UEFI BIOS
   About BIOS vs. UEFI: remember that as the partition tables are using different systems, you cannot restore an image from a BIOS system to another computer with UEFI and vice versa, at least not without third party tools.

Also important to remember is that an upgraded Windows cannot be sysprepped. This means that if you have for instance in-place upgraded Vista to Seven, or using Anytime Upgrade upgraded for instance a Home Premium to Ultimate, you cannot sysprep.

Notice that a repair install is also an upgrade install, so if you have ever done a repair install (= in-place upgrade to same edition), you cannot sysprep.

Kari