Install sys image Win7 home prem 64bit in Dell Inspiron 5748

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  1. Posts : 12
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit SP1
       #1

    Install sys image Win7 home prem 64bit in Dell Inspiron 5748


    I have a Dell Inspiron 5721 running Win7 home premium 64bit SP1 - 3rd Gen i7-3537U proc

    I'm trying to save a System Image and transfer it to a

    Dell Inspiron 5748 that is running Win 8.1 - 4th Gen i7-4510U proc.

    The 5748 had Win7 HP64bit SP1 loaded on it, but I lost it due to an unsuccessful
    attempt to load a Sys Image into it.
    [I didn't know my last success doing this was because I had identical computers]

    And the 5748 only came with Win 8.1 Disk, which I loaded to see if i could live with it, but I can't.
    [Too many legacy programs that won't run in 8.1]

    Dell did send me the Sys7 Disk and license code for the 5748, if that would help at any stage.

    I've read a lot on the forums about Sysprep, OOBE and Generalizing and Audit Mode and I'm not clear which tutorial i should use to get this to work? I believe I need to reconfig the BIOS in some ways too?
    I also have downloaded all suggested drivers from Dell and have them on a USB drive.

    Thanks in advance for any help. From my browsing this looks like a pretty amazing forum.
    Last edited by djbeede54; 23 Dec 2014 at 00:02.
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  2. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #2

    I'm not sure I follow you, but:

    You aren't likely to get away with moving a Windows installation from Inspiron 5721 to some other machine, Inspiron 5748 or not. That would violate the license terms, let alone whatever other issues you might run into--different drivers, different chipsets, different Intel generations, etc.

    Is that what you have in mind?

    Or do you in fact have another Windows 7 license that you want to put on the 5748?

    Or?

    You say "Dell did send me the Sys7 Disk and license code". For which machine?
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  3. Posts : 12
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit SP1
    Thread Starter
       #3

    I'm sorry, I wasn't clear. The Win7 disk and license from Dell is for the 5748.

    I believe I've studied tutorials geared towards this very kind of migration to a new computer?

    I'd rather not do a clean install if possible. I have over 120 programs loaded on the 5721.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #4

    Off the top of my head, I think you are out of luck.

    The "migration" stuff you've read about is to move an installation from one drive to another, in the same machine. Like if the 5721 was running fine and you just wanted to move to a larger hard drive in it. Or if the 5721's hard drive failed and you put another new hard drive in it.

    Not from one PC to another. At least not with OEM licenses, which is what Dell provides.

    You can change certain stuff and it would still be considered the same PC--such as a new hard drive. But your 2 machines are totally different--motherboard, processor, RAM, the whole works.

    If you had a RETAIL Windows license, it would be different.

    Someone else may have another idea, but I think you have to install 7 on the 5748, activate with the Product Key that Dell sent you with that disc, and then reinstall programs.

    Unless I'm misunderstanding your situation.

    There are programs such as Paragon Adaptive Restore that will help you when the hardware is completely different, but you still face the licensing issue and I'm not sure if Paragon can in effect transfer but let you slip in your new Windows license along the way.
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  5. Posts : 12
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit SP1
    Thread Starter
       #5

    ON this thread:
    Windows 7 Installation - Transfer to a New Computer
    They said I might not be able to activate this without phone activation option.

    The 5748 is a replacement "certified refurbished" machine. I've had a dozen issues with the 5721. 5 tech visits, one shipping back to the depot, 3 fans, a battery, a keyboard and 4 motherboards. They finally agreed it was a lemon and sent me the 5748. It's still under warranty and I'm hoping they'll be willing to do what's needed to get me back up and running.

    I thought all that syspreping stripped away all particulars making it ready for another computer.
    to quote that thread.

    "You can use this method for instance when you have bought a new PC and want to transfer your existing setup completely, without need to reinstall everything, or when you want to make major hardware changes like change the motherboard or GPU, which would usually cause Windows to stop booting normally."

    I will be loading the exact same version of Windows 7 that the 5748 is licensed for and I'm sending back the 5721 to Dell. Due to these circumstance, in a way isn't it like continuing my current license in a dif. machine?
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 12
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit SP1
    Thread Starter
       #6

    I'm researching Paragon. There were a couple of rants about how it didn't work very well, but perhaps not representative.
    Do you have any experience with ACRONIS True Image WD? I saw some good reviews of it and it came with my WD hard drive.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #7

    I am somewhat familiar with Acronis, the WD version. I assume you mean the free version available to WD owners. As far as I know, it does not claim to be able to help in a "new hardware" situation.

    I am quite familiar with Macrium Reflect Free Edition, but it doesn't have a "new hardware" capability either.

    Certain of the non-free versions of Macrium Reflect do claim to help with new hardware, much like Paragon Adaptive Restore. I do not know how well it works.

    There may also be a paid version of Acronis that helps with "new hardware".

    I do not know the finer points of Sysprep. I've never used it.

    Windows licensing is subject to some interpretation, but the general rule for OEM licenses is "one license, one machine". In a typical "transfer" to another PC or laptop, you are attempting "one license, two machines" unless you can somehow work around it with Paragon or Sysprep. As I said earlier in this thread, I don't know if either of those methods can effectively allow you to use your new Product Key without formally re-installing.

    At some point, you have to evaluate the chances of ultimate failure with either of those methods and the hours it might take you to fail versus the hours required to swallow hard and reinstall.

    Kari is the resident forum expert on Sysprep. Perhaps he can help.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 12
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit SP1
    Thread Starter
       #8

    I got everything backed up and created a system image using the Windows software tools.
    I also made repair disc.
    Downloaded Paragon Adaptive Restore and burned it to a DVD.

    Then when I went to restore the system image I couldn't get the repair disc software to recognize the external hard drive the image is on.

    I looked to see what driver(s) ran them [tried it with two dif hard drives, a WD and Fantom] and where they were located, but even if i navigated the program to them, it wasn't what it needed.

    I tried two dif. repair discs to see if the software was corrupted but they behaved the same. I tried to find info on the foum re. this issue but without success.

    I have succeeded in loading a system image in this computer before. But didn't know about Paragon yet to repair the install. Now i can't get to that point.

    The drives are both visible when booted from the C drive.

    Not sure what my next option is. Command prompts?
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #9

    First thing I'd do is use another tool to make your images. Not Windows Backup and Restore.

    Tool of choice for many here is Macrium Reflect. I've never heard of it complaining about external drives, but you may have some sort of oddball situation. I have no idea how flaky Windows Backup can be, but I hear it likes images to be stored in specific locations.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 12
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit SP1
    Thread Starter
       #10

    Well I got Macrium reflect [free] and saved a system image with it.
    Now the software on the WinPE Macrium disc doesn't "see" my external hard drive either?

    Again the external hard drive is accessible when booting windows from the C drive. Hmmmm?

    Update:
    I finally got the Macrium disk to see the image on the external hard drive. I switched it to another USB port, I'm thinking it was in a USB3 and it only could read the USB2 port? Anyway, it's restoring the image now. I'll see if it boots or if Paragon will be necessary.
    Last edited by djbeede54; 24 Dec 2014 at 20:00.
      My Computer


 
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