Having trouble restoring windows image on other pc

[PakN4Z]

Hello everyone,

So I start with what I want to achieve is to make windows 7 with programs, configurations, custom wallpaper saved to an image file and then backed up on other PC. Sorry for not perfect English .

This is what I do:
Lets say we have two different PC's[PC1 and PC2](hardware totally different)
PC1 After preparing all my windows 7 (installing programs, configuring them, installing updates, activating programs and so on) I make my drive C:\ total image back up to external hard drive.
PC2 I Boot up windows 7 recovery startup and choose restore from image and then I put in external hard drive with usb and make it restored on my other computer. Everything looks fine, it finishes with no errors and then system restarts. When windows are finishing to show "Windows starting" screen, computer restarts instantly.
Then system autimatically suggests me to repair it, so ok then auto repairs are scaning and guess what it can't repair, because it finds some kind of problem with drivers, could be that they are incompatible with my new PC.

The question is how to make this work, how to fix issue that old PC's drivers are being loaded, maybe I am able to turn it off so default drivers are being loaded?
The reason why I want to make this work cause I want to use it for multiple computers.

Simple summary:
PC1 Windows Image backed up to external HDD
PC2 Windows Image restored from external HDD
PC2 Windows can't start because of driver error

Any ideas?

 

[derekimo]

Welcome to the forum,

You need to do something like this,

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/135077-windows-7-installation-transfer-new-computer.html

Although you say you want to use that on several computers, you will need a separate license for each install.

There will be someone along shortly to help you with this more than I can.

 

[Kari]

I am reluctant to give any detailed tips. I have to be honest with you and say that it looks like you are trying to achieve something that is against End User License Agreement (EULA) of about every program you have installed, not to mention Windows itself.

You are openly telling you want to install and activate OS and apps on one PC and then move this image to be used on another PC, one license for OS and each app, simultaneously used on two PC's. Not willing to start a rant about morals and ethics I'll just say that it is not right and as such it should in my opinion not be encouraged nor helped by these forums.

Kari

 

[wanchoo]

I fully agree that what is being attempted is not legal.

That said, when you make an image it also stores the hardware configuration of the PC. When you try and restore it on another Computer that has a different hardware configuration, the restoration is likely to fail.

You can only perhaps restore it on another Computer with exactly the same hardware configuration as the PC from which the image was originally prepared.

I am reluctant to give any detailed tips. I have to be honest with you and say that it looks like you are trying to achieve something that is against End User License Agreement (EULA) of about every program you have installed, not to mention Windows itself.

You are openly telling you want to install and activate OS and apps on one PC and then move this image to be used on another PC, one license for OS and each app, simultaneously used on two PC's. Not willing to start a rant about morals and ethics I'll just say that it is not right and as such it should in my opinion not be encouraged nor helped by these forums.

Kari

 

[whs]

Apart from the legalities, it just will not work. If it is not the drivers, it will be the activations which will kill it. No need to persue the idea.

 

[AddRAM]

Totally illegal, won`t work.

 

[gregrocker]

Perhaps we should ask OP: How do you plan to activate the reimaged copies of OS?

I move around ideal images to other machines all the time so am not assuming you are wanting to do something illegal. But you may not be aware that each installation requires a separate license.

We are cautious here because the forums' policy is zero tolerance of piracy or illegal activities.

 

[Kari]

Greg, as usual you are right, I think. I was concerned because the OP's choice of words:

...
...
PC1 After preparing all my windows 7 (installing programs, configuring them, installing updates, activating programs and so on) I make my drive C:\ total image back up to external hard drive.
...
...

In my opinion this clearly indicated OP thinks to activate only once, then use the image on another PC.

If I am wrong, as so often before, I am willing to admit it, apologize and help the OP as much as I can.

Kari

 

[Kaktussoft]

Can you boot succesfully in safe mode?
Are both disks IDE or SATA disks?

As told you before ... you have to have a valid license key for the new pc!! but that's not the reason of the problem

Boot your PC and press F8 every second so you see the boot options. From there select "disable automatic restart on system failure". Now your computer doesnt't restart automatically on crash. You see BSOD screen. This gives you more info about why it's crashing

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/666-advanced-boot-options.html

Again ... you need a valid license!

 

[gregrocker]

Good catch and point, Kari.

In addition to having a license for each copy of Win7 you reimage, you may need to buy the Programs again if they are paid (Office, Photoshop, etc) software.

If you'll specify what paid programs you have we can help you learn how to deactivate them in your image correctly so they can be most easily reactivated on the reimaged machines with a fresh Product Key.

 

[edwar]

What the OP wants to do is not illegal if he/she has a valid license for OS and programs for the number of computer they plan on re-imaging to.

If that is true then the only easy way to do this is to use a program like Acronis True image using there Universal Restore feature. It wipes out the hardware layer of the registry so that at first boot on the image on different hardware the OS detects the new hardware and installs drivers or the user installs them manually.

Remember that when you ASSUME you make a A-- out of U and ME.

And if he does do this and does not have the proper licenses then he will get caught and deactivated by most of the software installed including the OS.

 

[gregrocker]

I like True Image which has Universal Restore after 2010. I also use Paragon Adaptive Restore CD which can be booted to run on the reimaged installation, and can also restore a Windows 7 backup image while adapting it at the same time.

Then there is SysPrep which must be done on the original hardware using it's HD or an image from it. I would not SysPrep my active HD, however, but would clone or image it to another HD to SysPrep it plugged in alone.

 

[Kaktussoft]

I also use Paragon Adaptive Restore CD which can be booted to run on the reimaged installation, and can also restore a Windows 7 backup image while adapting it at the same time.

So you mean you can restore any windows system image on ANY system without problems? You can also do a standard restore from "recovery environment" and modify that installation in case of boot failures (driver problems). I assume you can also just swap the harddisk to another desktop, and modify it afterwards?

Only IDE, SATA and HAL are very important to boot as far as I know. Network cards, gpu-drivers can also be installed manually later if it's booting fine. I assume this is very easy software to learn.

Many options, or just a simple question like "modify my C partition" and "restore from image and modify afterwards"?

Can you show some screenshots of Paragon Adaptive Restore and give me more info?

 

[theog]

Can you show some screenshots of Paragon Adaptive Restore and give me more info?

PARAGON Software Group - partition manager, drive backup, hard disk partitioning

 

[Kaktussoft]

Can you show some screenshots of Paragon Adaptive Restore and give me more info?

PARAGON Software Group - partition manager, drive backup, hard disk partitioning

Thanx a lot theog.
Scenario 5: Migrate to new hardware

When upgrading to new hardware, clone your existing hard drive to the new one and adjust the OS to make it bootable again

=>So I can clone a harddisk with other software as well. Even simply put the harddisk in another machine works (?)

Then simply patch the system by starting from bootable CD with paragon drive copy professional on it. And select something like "Update drivers offline". Is that the way it works?

 

[wanchoo]

Thanks for this great tip. I have never tried it because I was too lazy to read about the Universal Restore feature of Acronis. Now that I am running a Home Network of 4 computers I shall try it out.

Thank you once more

What the OP wants to do is not illegal if he/she has a valid license for OS and programs for the number of computer they plan on re-imaging to.

If that is true then the only easy way to do this is to use a program like Acronis True image using there Universal Restore feature. It wipes out the hardware layer of the registry so that at first boot on the image on different hardware the OS detects the new hardware and installs drivers or the user installs them manually.

Remember that when you ASSUME you make a A-- out of U and ME.

And if he does do this and does not have the proper licenses then he will get caught and deactivated by most of the software installed including the OS.

 

[gregrocker]

Can you show some screenshots of Paragon Adaptive Restore and give me more info?

Here is the Manual so you can read about it: http://www.paragon-software.com/export/sites/paragonsoftware.com/docs/AR_en230310m.pdf

The Automatic restore method will change out available drivers and flag it if the SATA/IDE controller drivers are missing. You can then supply the drivers or point it to them all along.

As with any major change of hardware, Win7 will change out most of the drivers itself when it boots to the desktop, requiring restarts when prompted or the installation will not function correctly until they are completed.

 

[Kaktussoft]

Can you show some screenshots of Paragon Adaptive Restore and give me more info?

Here is the Manual so you can read about it: http://www.paragon-software.com/export/sites/paragonsoftware.com/docs/AR_en230310m.pdf

The Automatic restore method will change out available drivers and flag it if the SATA/IDE controller drivers are missing. You can then supply the drivers or point it to them all along.

As with any major change of hardware, Win7 will change out most of the drivers itself when it boots to the desktop, requiring restarts when prompted or the installation will not function correctly until they are completed.

This software is great and easy to use! Especially P2P "Adjust OS"

 

[Kaktussoft]

So even if you click on c:\windows and c:\progam files .... whole windows is deleted?? Still don't understand. Please uninstall startdock first to test.

Same problem in safe mode?