Windows 7: Windows 7 Installation - Transfer to a New Computer

i havent read all of the newer posts on this tutorial but i did see some of you talking about the UEFI stuff,,, i thought i would mention that i just built this set up:

✔ NEW AMD A4-3300 APU with radeon HD Graphics running at 2.5Ghz with 1Gb for graphics
✔ NEW Stock AMD heatsink and fan
✔ NEW MSI A55M-P33 Motherboard with VGA and DVI connections
✔ NEW 4gb DDR3 Patriot Signature line PC3=10600 1333 Mhz
✔ NEW 120MM Led fan
✔ NEW LG 24X DVD-RW Multi-drive Sata - Cyberlink Media suite included -
✔ Asus Ares mid Tower case - Black with chrome strip and clear side window
✔ Western digital 320Gb 7200RPM Sata hard drive
✔ 450 Watt Raidmax Powersupply with two 80mm fans

I have used this system to install windows 7 on a couple hard drives and then tried to transfer them to other systems and it doesnt work im guessing possibly because of the APU with HD Raedeon built in,, I forget the exact error now but once transfered to another system boot fails to a post reguarding HAL.
Sorry thats the best info i can give right now but i thought maybe with the newer APU's and motherboards that are out this might help someone else b4 they waste thier time,,,, I have not yet generalized and then tried to reinstall back in the same system but im guessing it would work with that.

Hello all,
This tutorial/thread was so useful to me that I thought I'd share my successful story of using it. There were three things I was unsure of before I started this process: if method 1 would work using OEM Windows 7, if method 1 would work after changing CPU vendors and if method 1 would work after changing motherboard manufactures. I searched the 'net extensively beforehand, but was unable to find an example that replicated what I wanted to do. According to Microsoft they don't support sysprep when changing motherboard manufacturers, but they do support changing CPU brands (if using Windows 7). I also read that this method would not work with an OEM version of Windows 7 because of activation issues.

Well, yesterday I upgraded my old Gigabyte MB and AMD Phenom II x4 965 CPU to a new ASrock MB and i7 3770k CPU with OEM Windows 7 64bit Home Premium using method 1 sysprep as described in the tutorial. The process worked flawlessly, however I did have to use the "boot into safe mode, then reboot into normal" trick to avoid the "windows couldn't finish the configuration" error. After all was done I activated Windows 7 again using the automated phone service. I hope sharing my experience helps!

Kari,

I want to use your tutorial and hope it can help me, but I do have one question. I am changing my motherboard & CPU because my old one just died. Therefore, I can not run the sysprep on the windows 7 HDD prior to changing. I there a way to install the HDD and start the 'new' PC in safe mode or something to be able to do the sysprep? I can access the HDD from another computer via USB connection, so is there a way to run sysprep on the HDD connected that way?

I really don't want to start all over with having to reinstall everything if there is another way. What would happen if I just installed the windows 7 HDD and started the new system without the sysprep?

Thanks,

I have UEFI on my AsRock z77 motherboard and it has no effect on my imaged Windows 7.

I imaged from an AMD Phenom 965 to Intel 3570, and Nvidia graphics to ATI 7970 graphics, and my only issue was with the Intel HD (as mentioned in my first post).

The new system has been running for close to two months now, and I see no issues looming on the horizon
that would stem from the imaged 'install'.
I also activated on line with the key from my new OEM disk. No problem.
.

This looks like what I need but I am not sure. My mobo died in my main office machine. I have the hard disc mounted on another machine (as drive e: ) so I can get all my files but I need to get a new mobo/cpu. Can I use sysprep on this drive e: so I can maintain my system with the new mobo? Or will I have to clean install? I have a bunch of applications installed so would prefer the sysprep route. win 7 home premium 64

It is only possible to sysprep a system disk, the very Windows setup you are running. You can not take a system disk containing a Windows installation and put it on another computer to be sysprepped. It's never going to work, forget it.

Simply: You can not use this method if the motherboard is dead.

Kari

So only option is clean install? I really appreciate the help.

There are some methods to edit the registry and settings, remove device drivers and so on even if you can not boot to your Windows by connecting HDD to another computer and using for instance Linux live boot disks, but as I do not know how these methods work and as I have understood they are quite risky, I am afraid I am not able to help you.

In my opinion a fresh clean install is the best you could do now, but you could post your questions regarding this to our Installation & Setup subforum: Installation & Setup - Windows 7 Forums

Kari

It's worth trying to use your old HDD on the new motherboard. What do you have to loose ?

While I recognise that the sysprep method would be the most desirable, I didn't use it. I didn't know
about it until I came here looking for a fix for my Intel integrated graphics issue. This was my only
real problem after moving from a totally different system, and I was able to fix this probelm.

I did image my old Windows 7 from my old machine to a new SSD using Acronis True Image WD version, but this is basically the same as using the old HDD on the new machine anyway.
After installing the new SSD into the new machine I went through Programs and Features and uninstalled
all my machines drivers. After rebooting I ran Driver Sweeper (now known as Driver Fusion) and finished
the driver clean-up. I also went through the Registry and deleted all files I was certain related to the components on the old machine (if there were any left after running Driver Sweeper, I don't honestly recall ).
Once I had the drivers sorted out I activated using the genuine Windows 7 key that came with my new OEM
disk.
The only other issues I had were re-activating several games re-setting a lot of newer game configurations as they recognised the new hardware. This was mostly just re-setting to higher res.

I would have never even attempted this on XP, but with well over 100 games installed and a fair bit of software I had to give it a go.
btw - most of my software, and all games are on a platter type HDD.

One caveat - Thinking back I may have had a HDD with an illegitimate Windows 7 Ultimate (which the punk kid I bought it from was running) still in the machine, but I don't see how this would affect my ability to boot into my old Windows 7 Home Premium install on a separate SSD.

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I have read on this forum that Acronis True Image with Universal Restore and Paragon Adaptive Restore
will strip old drivers and inject new drivers when you install the old hard drive into the new computer.
You would boot from a CD containing the mentioned software to perform the transition.
I haven't used either, so can't comment further.
But it might be worth looking into if you are allergic to reinstalls. I have that allergy myself.