Trying to change OEM hardware configuration

I have recently done a clean install on my system with Windows 7 - OEM version - that I purchased. I installed a new 1 TB HD and placed the new OS on that drive - and created a slave drive with my OLD C drive - so I could transfer files, etc. over once the OS install was complete.

All went smoothly - but the OLD C drive now has bad sectors on it - and I wanted to remove it from my system (or at least disconnect it). I did this, but W7 would not boot up successfully since I had changed the install hardware setup. Now when I reboot, the system tries to fix the old drive (chkdsk, etc.) EVERY time...

Is there a way to be able to remove / disconnect this drive and still retain my OEM status? I know that mobo changes affect the licensing, but I am just removing a drive that I no longer need...as the system remains the same.

Any suggestions would be appreciated...thanks in advance!

When you done your clean install, did you remove the old HD first?

Thanks...

theog - When I performed my clean install...I did have the old C drive in the system - but as a slave to the new hard drive - which ultimately housed the new OS.

Pebbly - thank you - I will view that forum and see if that may encompass my problem.

theog - (showing my ignorance here) - Even if the OS was installed on the new HD, the old HD is still used for boot files? Is there a way around this? Another post suggested resetting the MBR...thoughts?

Have look at my post.

Then look at both HD's to see where the boot file are.

I have located the boot files (on the old C drive), but cannot copy over the bcd.txt file (Win 7 states it cannot read from the source file / disk - perhaps that is on a bad sector of that old drive).

I did copy the other bcd file and the bootmgr file - to the Win 7 desktop for now - did not copy them to the destination folder yet.


Can I just utilize the second option instead? fixing just from the DVD...or do I need to copy over the files first?

If you do not have the boot files on the new HD, you need to copy over first.
Then remove old HD & do a startup repair.

Okay...but what if I cannot copy over the bcd.txt file (as mentioned it will not copy from the old drive). Will this still work? Also, I do want to totally overwrite the boot files / bootmgr files (which do exist) on the Win7 hd?

Sorry for all the questions, but hope this will work in the end.