Windows 7 Installation - Transfer to a New Computer

Kari · 04 Jan 2016

qwikpix said:

Would really appreciate some pointers on this - I tried to going to Action>Scan for Hardware Changes and it gave an error that it had failed to install the hardware :S

The whole idea of using sysprep /generalize to make the Windows installation hardware independent is that it removes all hardware device drivers. On the new PC you need to install appropriate drivers for the new hardware.

Judging by your pic, you need to install at least the motherboard drivers and network adapter drivers for Ethernet and possible wireless adapters. You need to use another PC for that, download the drivers from the device manufacturer's site to a USB flash drive (or if USB is not working at all, to a writable CD or DVD), then install them on the new hardware.

qwikpix · 05 Jan 2016

Hi Kari thanks for your reply,

Forgive me if I misunderstood but after reading the relevant documentation I was under the impression that during the first boot of the installation, following the generalize state, the specialise pass would run (as it would on a fresh installation) and apply the default microsoft drivers. This is what I have experienced with previous new installations and provides the basic functionality that can then be built upon with vendor specific drivers (either from the motherboard disc or downloaded onto a USB drive). On this occasion it appears that process was not carried out or failed, leaving me with no USB or networking!!

How I managed to work around this difficulty was to pull out the optical drive from another computer (obviously without USB functionality my external optical/hdd/flash drives did not work), connect via SATA and proceed to use the motherboard disc. The autorun setup on the disc did not allow me to select anything via keyboard so I had to find the USB drivers via explorer and fortunately once that was successful I had the benefit of a mouse to complete installation of the remaining drivers - you don't realise how valuable a mouse is until it's rendered inoperable!

Thinking I had all but sorted my problems I found that the new machine would not shutdown :) windows would shut down and the hdd span down but the activity LEDs and fans kept spinning indefinitely without being forcibly switched off at the PSU. I hope I have now solved this with a flash to a newer BIOS.

You can put me down as another member who made it through the sysprep/generalize process, albeit with a few hiccups along the way. From here I'm hoping I can now pair this HDD and installation with an old 40GB SSD I have lying around as a cache via Intel SRT.

Kari · 05 Jan 2016

qwikpix said:

Hi Kari thanks for your reply,

Forgive me if I misunderstood but after reading the relevant documentation I was under the impression that during the first boot of the installation, following the generalize state, the specialise pass would run (as it would on a fresh installation) and apply the default microsoft drivers. This is what I have experienced with previous new installations and provides the basic functionality that can then be built upon with vendor specific drivers (either from the motherboard disc or downloaded onto a USB drive). On this occasion it appears that process was not carried out or failed, leaving me with no USB or networking!!

You are of course right, that's the basic idea and the way Specialize pass should work when an OOBE boot is run after the generalizing. However, not all possible hardware drivers can be included in the stock Windows install image, quite often Window needs to download missing drivers during the OOBE. Because this is done during the setup /OOBE, the user in most cases doesn't even notice Windows is downloading drivers even before it's fully set up.

In your case the issue was clearly caused by either the Windows install image missing a default driver for your specific network adapter, or its install failing. That causes a chain reaction: No network drivers = no network connection, therefore Windows is not able to download and install other missing drivers. Motherboard / chipset drivers were not installed, causing USB not to work, and so on.

Windows is quite well equipped with drivers, what you experienced is more an exception than a rule. Personally I cannot even remember the last time I've installed Windows with no working network adapter straight out of the box.

Good to know you got it resolved.

Kari

Clyde54 · 29 Feb 2016

Hi, I don't understand what method to use. I want to move my windows 7 to a new pc with a new SSD. I don't understand what 3rd party imaging has to do with it.

I thought after generalizing my installation on my old pc I could just use my Windows 7 DVD to set up Windows 7 on my new computer. No?

emi49 · 21 Mar 2016

Hi Kari,
I am asking you to help me because i don't know how to solve the problems encountered applying your sysprep/generalize thread - method 1.
I am trying to update my PC, with Windows 7 Home Premium, installing a new M/B (ASUS Z170M-Plus) and new CPU (i7 6700) avoiding to reinstall Windows 7 and all other applications.
Your thread seems to me perfect to my case and relatively simple to implement, but unfortunately it doesn't work on my PC configuration and I don't know why.
I tried to implement your guide two times, step by step, and the system seems to react according your scheme; I stopped also the WMPNetworkSvc without problems, and also the sysprepping and generalize processes seem to be completed correctly.
The problem start after shutdown, installation of new hardware an booting from sysprepped generalized HD.
Windows 7 starts, updates registry settings but is not able to complete the devices installation. So the following warning popup appears : "Windows is not able to complete system configuration. Configuration will be completed after restarted the computer", or something like this.
In other words I am experiencing the same problem already encountered by ForrestHK.
I tried to solve the problem in the same way and also implementing the suggestion provided by xxxwea but without positive results.
I rebooted the system many times, also in "safe mode" but every time after registry settings the same warning popup appears.
Do you know some other procedure to be implemented to solve the problem or to complete hardware updating positively?
In your opinion do i have chance to get a solution or i have to go through a clean installation ?
Last question. In the forum someone refers to a "Method 3" but i am not able to find it. What is ? Could be applicable to my situation?
Thanks for your time and support.

Kari · 22 Mar 2016

emi49 said:

In your opinion do i have chance to get a solution or i have to go through a clean installation ?

It looks as if your new hardware would require some specific drivers, not accepting the general Windows drivers in setup phase. I am sorry but I think your best shot is reinstall.

emi49 said:

Last question. In the forum someone refers to a "Method 3" but i am not able to find it. What is ? Could be applicable to my situation?

Method Three was Method Two using Windows native Backup to create the image. As Windows Backup does no longer work in Audit Mode, I removed it from the tutorial as unnecessary.

Kari

emi49 · 22 Mar 2016

Hi Kari, thanks for your prompt reply, although not fully comfortable.
It seems that i don't have chance to avoid reinstallation, however i would try again before with other method, if any.
Thanks a lot for your help. Bye.
Emi49

Lazee · 19 May 2016

Hi, new guy here. First, many thanks to Kari for this thread and all the additional input from other posters. I haven't read it all, if it's recommended, I will.

My query: I'm putting my old HD into my wife's laptop which has a new motherboard and a failed HD. My old HD, now taken out of my laptop, has a Windows 7 backup image of her machine installed. This good, working drive won't boot into Windows in her laptop, so I want to try sysprep (which I only just heard about!) Since taking that HD out of my machine (and getting a new drive for me) I've upgraded to Windows 10 and I don't want to disturb it, so my question is, what is the best option for running sysprep on my old/wife's 'new' HD:

1. In her machine running command prompt from Windows 7 Repair CD (it won't boot to Windows)
2. In a caddy as an external drive to my laptop
3. Other?

Not an expert here, all help gratefully received. Thanks.

Kari · 19 May 2016

Lazee said:

1. In her machine running command prompt from Windows 7 Repair CD (it won't boot to Windows)
2. In a caddy as an external drive to my laptop
3. Other?

Hi Lazee, welcome to the Seven Forums.

It would be "3. Other".

To use Sysprep on Windows 7 installation on that HDD it must be used from inside that installation, meaning you need to boot a computer from that HDD.

The only option to use this method is to remove the Windows 10 HDD from your laptop, replace it with the old HDD booting from it, then proceed as told in this tutorial.

If you decide to do this, be careful. I would start with creating a full system backup of the current Windows 10 installation before replacing the HDD with the old one.

Lazee · 19 May 2016

Thanks Kari, I have a cloned HD of my shiny new windows 10 so I will try your suggestion.

Windows 7 Installation - Transfer to a New Computer

Confused

Problems with sysprep/generalize thread