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

Kari · 02 Jan 2011

How to Transfer your Complete Windows 7 Installation to a New Computer

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Click here to read the entire tutorial

Last edited by Kari; 13 May 2013 at 01:53 PM..

Kari · 08 Jan 2013

Both posts here above are telling about alternative methods to survive when motherboard has burned. I decided to give rep to both Dinwiddie and Victor S for these tips, hoping that users with similar issues can see these posts.

Thanks guys.

Kari

Docroc · 15 Jan 2013

Not sure if this has been asked and answered, but here goes.

I currently have win 7 pro 64 installed on a SSD, and want to transfer this drive to a new computer build, and planned on using sysprep. However my user data, pictures, videos, backups, etc, are on a 2TB RAID 1 HDD setup, which will also be transfered.

If I run sysprep on the SSD, what will happen to my RAID setup, will it still be viable and linked. Is there something else I have to do? Any help appreciated as I hope to have my new system up and running in 2 days. Thanks.

Kari · 15 Jan 2013

I would not sysprep a RAID system.

If you decide to try, please be sure you have backed up the system. Theoretically generalizing with sysprep idoes not really care where the system folders are located as long as the system is working properly but I have not tested this in a setup like what you described.

Kari

ICit2lol · 15 Jan 2013

Quote: Originally Posted by Kari

I would not sysprep a RAID system.

If you decide to try, please be sure you have backed up the system. Theoretically generalizing with sysprep idoes not really care where the system folders are located as long as the system is working properly but I have not tested this in a setup like what you described.

Kari

Hum Kari won't the poster need to contact Microsoft to transfer that OS if it is an OEM particularly? as he is only transferring the SSD and the OS being tied to the original motherboard?

John

Kari · 16 Jan 2013

Quote: Originally Posted by ICit2lol

Quote: Originally Posted by Kari

I would not sysprep a RAID system.

If you decide to try, please be sure you have backed up the system. Theoretically generalizing with sysprep idoes not really care where the system folders are located as long as the system is working properly but I have not tested this in a setup like what you described.

Kari

Hum Kari won't the poster need to contact Microsoft to transfer that OS if it is an OEM particularly? as he is only transferring the SSD and the OS being tied to the original motherboard?

John

John, this quote is from the beginning of this tutorial:

Warning

Using this method causes Windows 7 to lose all activation information, and it needs to be reactivated afterwards. If your Windows 7 is an OEM version, you might not be able to reactivate afterwards, at least not without phone activation option.

ICit2lol · 16 Jan 2013

Ok Kari didn't think to look back there

Expansion · 16 Jan 2013

Is it possible to leave the user customization as it is?
I don't want to lose taskbar/folder/etc customizations.

Also, I'm worried that it could affect other things besides the ones specified.

Quote:

What does Sysprep generalizing do to my Windows 7 setup?
All system specific information is removed or uninstalled
Security ID (SID) of your hardware setup is reseted
All system restore points are deleted
All event logs are deleted
All personalization is removed (taskbar, toolbars, folder options, start orb etc.)
Built-in administrator account is disabled (if it was enabled) and needs to be re-enabled if needed

Kari · 16 Jan 2013

Hi Expansion, welcome to the Seven Forums.

Sysprepping with generalize switch is the only fully automated native method to remove all hardware specific information from Windows. It does not offer options like "generalize this but leave that", so the answer is no.

If you generalize, all user customization is lost.

Kari

Expansion · 16 Jan 2013

Thank you!

In this case, what do you think about upgrading from Intel P43 to Intel Z77 just by removing all the drivers and restarting Windows?
It's my personal PC, it's not in a domain, but I'm going to build another PC with the old P43 motherboard, and place it the same home network.

Do you know where can I read more about what is lost?

Quote:

All personalization is removed (taskbar, toolbars, folder options, start orb etc.)

Kari · 16 Jan 2013

It is quite simple. This from Microsoft TechNet article Sysprep Command-Line Syntax:

Quote:

Generalize prepares the Windows installation to be imaged. If this option is specified, all unique system information is removed from the Windows installation. The security ID (SID) resets, any system restore points are cleared, and event logs are deleted.

Kari

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

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