Activation License within Easy Trsansfer file?

After a hard drive failure i purchased a new drive. (SSD 120Gb)

I have a genuine upgrade version of Windows 7 ultimate X64. I reinstalled the OS without putting my older version of XP on the drive first and it failed activation. An oversight on my part.

the drive did not instantly fail but over a period of weeks with failed to spin up when cold so i expected it to fail.

I created an easy transfer file. Within this file would it transfer the activation license so as to save me having to format install XP and then install 7 again?

Thank you for the swift response. I did not know of the sysprep function but will investigate it for future use.

Thank you.

You can clean install on a blank hard drive with an upgrade disk, no need to install XP.

Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

As an after thought to bumping. If i can get the old disk to spin up is it possible to transfer the license file to the new hdd? if so where is it located?

Try this method, Option Four is probably your best bet.

Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

Ok Tried everything and decided to go for a clean install on a formatted hdd i have. XP went on fine and activation was sucesful. Win 7 has installed cleanly ontop. and activated.

I have a clean install of Windows 7 on a hdd. I am finding the sysprep tutorial confusing. there are 3 methods.

I am going to create a complete system image using the backup/restore facility on my storage drive. Do i still need to do a sysprep?

Should I use the generalise setting with the OOTB setting or Audit?

sorry for so many questions

Got sysprep to work. Created system image. failed on puting image onto new SDD.

Complete reinstall of XP, Activation, install of Win 7. activation successful. job complete.

Excellent news.

Thanks for the update.