Windows 7 Installation - Transfer to a New Computer

Britton30 said:

IT might but you have to try it to see.
Repair Install

I would first try the system repair option, booting from install media and selecting Repair your computer:

I do not know if it helps but it is definitively worth to try. Select the Startup repair option:

yjgfikl said:

Hey Kari, you must be exhausted from all these questions.

First, I'd like to start by thanking you for this awesome guide. I've got one hopefully simple/quick question. I'll be upgrading my motherboard and processor within the next few days. I've got Windows 7 Pro installed on my SSD, and the majority of my programs/games on a regular hard drive. Will the programs still refer to my P: drive for programs after sysrepping?

Thank you so much for this thread, and I'm sorry I had to contribute to the question-asking. :P

Sysprep does not change the references to various drives. The only thing it does if used as told in this tutorial is to remove all hardware specific information, to allow you to move the Windows to a new computer.

A program installed in X: will still run from X: after the move.

It will work as far as I know it is a reinstall not an upgrade, say, from Home Premium to Ultimate. It works fine if your OS is a system Builder type of OEM.

Scoop said:

Since Windows was re-installed after the initial install, I'm guessing that Sysprep won't work for me. Does that sound right?

If it is the first, initial installation of Windows or a reinstall is totally irrelevant. Sysprep works always when Windows is installed clean (Custom install instead of Upgrade install), regardless of if an OEM or Retail install media is used or how many times it is reinstalled. Microsoft does not support sysprepping Windows when it is in-place upgraded. There are three of these unsupported scenarios:

1. An older Windows version is upgraded to a later version keeping installed software
2. A Windows edition is upgraded to a superior edition of the same version keeping installed software
3. Any Windows version edition and version is repair installed (repair install = in-place upgrade to same edition and version)

Scoop said:

- Does Sysprep work with Windows OEM version, but possibly requiring a phone reactivation from MS?

Sysprep works on any Retail and OEM version exactly the same way. A sysprepped Windows needs to be reactivated which in case of OEM version means it can usually be reactivated only when it stays on the same hardware. Moving a sysprepped OEM Windows image to another computer or same computer with new hardware components does usually not work, not even with phone activation.

Internet is full of success stories about users who have managed to reactivate an OEM Windows on different hardware; however, I do not want to create false expectations so I do not recommend transferring an OEM Windows. it might work, depending on the mood of the MS support tech who takes the call but it cannot be guaranteed.

Kari

Generally a factory OEM, such as Dell, HP, etc, can't be moved. System Builder OEMs can be but will take a call to MS to reactivate it.