Move Intel SSD from T400 (Core 2 Duo) to Intel NUC (Broadwell i3)?

bootz77 · 10 Mar 2015

OK, some more information:

The current installation on the Lenovo T400 (Intel 330 SSD ACHI) was done using the "double install" method using Windows 7 Home Premium Family Pack Upgrade. It appears the current installation would allow me to use the Sysprep method (I didn't receive an error message when running sysprep.exe), but my concern is that when I boot up the Intel 330 SSD in my new Intel NUC, the validation won't work because the Family Pack uses an Upgrade key. The key has only been used once, so I still have 2 remaining activations, but I'm not sure if that has any relevance to the situation.

Any other recommendations? I am considering manually uninstalling the drivers, doing the swap, and hoping for the best, due to the fact that the current installation sees itself as a clean install, not an upgrade.

gregrocker · 10 Mar 2015

How do you know that activation won't work? Did you try? If the bit is already flipped from doing the double upgrade then it should reactivate with the same key since all that is needed for the transfer is to reset the hardware signature in MS Activation servers.

You also have three simultaneous activations at any one time with the Family Pack, and do not forfeit an activation for reinstalling a key to the same or other hardware. If using phone activation because web fails, then when the magic question is asked "How many installs has this copy of Win7 been made" you'd say three instead of one. If rejected again, ask for agent. If agent has problems, talk with MS Customer service who are often more attentive seeing that you get what you pay for.

What's easier than Sysprep is to reimage using a free lightweight app like Macrium Imaging - Windows 7 Help Forums then if Win7 won't boot on the new hardware as expected Adjust Win7 to boot on new hardware with Paragon Adaptive Restore CD.

Let us know how this goes.

bootz77 · 13 Mar 2015

OK, I'm back with the results! There were some scary and frustrating moments, but in the end it worked great!

I followed the Sysprep instructions (OOBE, Generalize, Shutdown). I received the "fatal error has occurred" message a couple of times. In the end, I had to disable the Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service.

I moved the SSD to the Broadwell i3 NUC (Model 5I3RYH), connect the peripherals, power on, then within 5 seconds I get the dreaded "Windows 7 cannot start due to a damaged, corrupt, or missing registry." I messed around with the BIOS, tried booting in Safe Mode...nothing worked. Thankfully, I purchased a USB DVD drive, so I figured I'd try and repair the installation. I boot using the 64-bit Windows 7 Upgrade DVD and click Repair. This doesn't even work! It tells me the repair cannot be done because it is for a different version of Windows!?! At this point, things look very grim and I'm already thinking about having to do a clean install and put everything back together again using my Crashplan backup. Before that, I figure I'd give the 32-bit Upgrade DVD a shot. I click Repair, and it doesn't give me any error. Then, within a few seconds, a window pops-up telling me it appears there is a problem with the boot loader, and asks if I'd like it to be fixed. Yes!!!!!

The PC reboots, I create a temporary user as instructed by this forum's Sysprep guide, and after a couple more reboots (less than 5 minutes), I'm able to log in with my original username, and everything is the same! There was no issue with the product key. It was activated online with no need for phone activation.

In the end, I'm not sure what caused the boot loader problem. I suspect it has something to do with the original Lenovo Repair and Recovery that came with the Vista installation. Even with the issues I encountered, it took less than a hour to run the Sysprep operation, remove and install the SSD in the new PC, fix the boot loader, and boot into Windows 7.

Thank you Windows SevenForums (and thank you 32-bit Windows 7 Upgrade DVD lol)!!!

gregrocker · 13 Mar 2015

Glad to hear it.

Reimaging, adjusting or moving HD often requires Startup Repair to start it, after confirming the Partition Marked Active.

That the 32-bit disk worked must mean you have a 32 bit install of Win7, so be aware that if you have more than 3.5 gb RAM then some of it is not being used - unless it is being reserved by hardware as monitored in Resource Monitor>Memory tab.

bootz77 · 13 Mar 2015

gregrocker said:

Glad to hear it.

Reimaging, adjusting or moving HD often requires Startup Repair to start it, after confirming the Partition Marked Active.

That the 32-bit disk worked must mean you have a 32 bit install of Win7, so be aware that if you have more than 3.5 gb RAM then some of it is not being used - unless it is being reserved by hardware as monitored in Resource Monitor>Memory tab.

That is the crazy part - the version installed is Windows 7 64-Bit...!

gregrocker · 13 Mar 2015

The disk was likely mislabeled.