My original installation was WIN XP OEM. Upgraded to WIN 7 (32/64 bit) Retail. I need to change MBO and processor to get more RAM. Will I be able to use the transfer option outlined here: Windows 7 Installation - Transfer to a New Computer
You can install that Retail version of Win 7 on the new parts you put in.
Note:
Check to make sure the power supply in your Branded computer is not proprietary to the manufacturer. Some are and some aren't. If it is a Proprietary power supply, IE has special connections to the original motherboard and or normal wiring but in different places then standard, if you install a new motherboard with the Proprietary power supply it will damage the new motherboard
Cloning the Boot drive may or may not work on the new system, Parts. Windows hardware registry is tied to one set of hardware, yes even in the Retail version. So when you replace parts, especially the motherboard, Windows will not boot on that new hardware. More then likely giving you a BSOD.
There are ways to Move a Drive from one MB to another and instructions are on this site.
Thanks Edwar,
Forgot to mention, cloning the drive just as a "fail save" in case the transfer goes up in smoke. Giving me the option to keep my system until I cough up a new copy of WIN 7, for the new set up.
It`s best to do a clean install. Just for the hell of it you should make a small partition on the current hard drive and throw a disk image on it, if you haven`t already.
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