Make Windows 7 bootable after motherboard swap

Make Windows 7 bootable after motherboard swap, or bootable after swapping hard drive to new machine. Software described Paragon P2P Adjust OS.


This procedure describes how to do it. Procedure can be used in case of:

• Windows 7 Installation - Transfer to a New Computer doesn't work.
• You forgot to SYSPREP.
• You can't SYSPREP because your motherboard died.
• You simply don't want to use SYSPREP.

1. Download "Paragon Adaptive Restore 2010" from Paragon Adaptive Restore 2010 on my DROPBOX.
2. Burn the ISO to CD/DVD using Windows Disc Image Burner or ImgBurn.
3. Set CD/DVD as first boot device in BIOS.

Do the following:

1. Boot the computer from Paragon Windows PE 3.0 based CD/DVD.
2. Accept the end user license agreement, otherwise you are not able to use the tool.
   
3. Launch P2P Adjust OS.
   
4. Select the operating system you need to adjust to your new hardware.
   
5. Choose whether you want to add third-party drivers or not, and the way to do it.
   
6. If you chose "Adjust the OS to the new hardware automatically", the P2P Adjust OS Wizard will automatically accomplish all the necessary actions.
   
7. The only thing that might need your interaction is to specify additional driver repository.
   
8. At last, choose "Yes, apply the changes physically" and then restart your computer after operations are done. Do remember, you cannot interrupt the process or undo the changes.
   

Compelete pdf manual: Paragon Adaptive Restore 2010 on my DROPBOX.

Just before the OS adjustment, you can additionally:

   Warning

Sometimes the internal hard drive is not recognized in Paragon P2P Adjust OS due to missing SATA or RAID driver. In that case add specific drivers to Windows PE based Paragon Recovery Environment.

1. Click to open Add Drivers dialog.
   
2. Browse for an .INF file of the required driver, then click the Open button to initiate the process.
   
3. Click Yes to confirm the operation.
   

   Information

You can only add third-party drivers in INF file. If they are zipped, you need to unpack them before processing the steps. The Windows PE environment is 32bit-based, so you need to use 32-bit drivers for injection.

After procedure has finished succesfully and system boots fine, first check if Enable hardware auto-updating via Windows Update (Set to Automatic) is on so it will query Windows Update. After that:

1. Uninstall Device and Device Driver for devices no longer attached to system. Uninstall associated software as well.
2. Install all of your device drivers, then Windows Updates.
3. Refresh your Windows Experience Index (WEI) score.
4. When done, all you will need to do is to activate Windows 7.

After rebooting from disk, drivers should start swapping out in a cascade you can monitor by clicking on the system tray animation. Wait until all are finished before doing the requested restart. After reboot, go immediately to Check for Updates and install all Important and Optional Updates which may include critical drivers and patches for the OS to run on that hardware.

You must reactivate at the Change Product Key link on System page. If it's not present you can insert Product Key and then Activate using SLMgr Commands

On some systems you see "setup is preparing your computer for first use" on every reboot. Read this to fix that issue: Fix "Setup is Preparing Your Computer for First Use" on Every Reboot

Related Tutorials

---

• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/135077-windows-7-installation-transfer-new-computer.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/681-startup-repair.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/96442-device-manager-finding-unknown-devices.html

 

[gregrocker]

PAR CD is run on the target PC after you've moved an installation which then won't boot due to hardware changes, usually manifested by the Win7 start animation freezing or bluescreening. If it won't start then boot the CD to P2P Adjust as shown in tutorial.


After adjusting if it still won't start then confirm the Partition Marked Active is the System Reserved partition (preferred if you have it) or C: to run Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times.

 

[Matthew425]

PAR CD is run on the target PC after you've moved an installation which then won't boot due to hardware changes, usually manifested by the Win7 start animation freezing or bluescreening. If it won't start then boot the CD to P2P Adjust as shown in tutorial.


After adjusting if it still won't start then confirm the Partition Marked Active is the System Reserved partition (preferred if you have it) or C: to run Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times.

Ok thank you, now I understand what I have to do. Thanks for your help, I greatly appreciate it.

 

[Catz]

First time use totally succesful!

So I was searching the web which I do often to see if anyone had come up with an effective tool to circumvent the typical OS re-build post new motherboard installation and found this forum.

I read the whole thing and thought why not give Paragon a crack.

I basically made sure all important data was backed up safe and sound with every intention of doing a fresh install should Paragon fail for me.

Well it couldn't have been easier. This new main-board doesn't have any IDE header so I knew my older IDE DVD was redundant and proceeded to create a bootable flash drive with Paragon on it.

It couldn't have been any more than 30 minutes and everything was running sweet as.

I had about 3 chipset type drivers that I was able to get from Gigabyte's support page and that was it.

The OS does need to be reactivated in a couple of days but this would have been necessary with a fresh install anyway.

The only issue that I had was the one where you would get the message "Setup is preparing your computer for first use" which was also mentioned in this thread for which a simple registry edit fixed quick smart.

I am very happy to report a perfectly smooth transition to all new hardware and a beautifully customized OS that would have otherwise taken months to get back to how I like it. If ever but then that's how it goes right? LOL

My OS was running perfectly and how I had customized it. If it were not in perfect running condition I would of course simply performed a fresh install.

Until that need arises I will use Paragon for all future main-board upgrades and I thank each and everyone here who contributed to this thread showing great amounts of patients and supplying all that valuable information.

Cheers!

Update: While there have still been no major issues for me regarding this procedure I have come across a rather annoying hitch and that is with regards to DRM.

I overlooked the fact that the efforts by big business to protect their interests with the use of such restrictions that some of my music and audio book purchases would fail because of how intrenched DRM is into a system.

I was able to through much time and effort to update my DRM registration etc (primarily because every effort made via suggestions on the net failed in my instance) to get a new audio book download to work properly. As for all of my past purchases well I have not tried to re-download and play any of it or to play what I already have. I will keep you posted.

At first glance DRM seems to be designed very favorably for big media and rather disadvantageous to paying customers.
I really would not be happy to feel like I had to pay twice for my songs because some choose to get theirs free.

 

[modprob]

P2P "top awards to least painful" put it in your tool box,
one of the most useful posts on this topic, on the whole internet.
THANKS.
In the old days, ive done this with XP 1000 of times, and just force in drivers. and win every time.

one good post, is to just plug it in (new mobo) and boot and see what happens? (set IDE/AHCI per what you have)
don"t want to lose the admin account or users settings. ? like sysprep does..... bad... all that is bad....
just did a M2nSLI (dead AHCI) to M5A99xEVO up grade.
love it, P2P,,
version hints?
i think disk version 12, uses the same P2P version,3 ,same as today's, 14 disk sold for $40
so if you have version 12 disk, boot DVD , then its still new, (hint)
i have Paragon back up and Recovery 12.

it even has custom force drivers on last page. auto /custom, so you can have a folder say with all FX990 drivers
and the driver for the wireless card. in a folder called P2P
nice options.....

1st things....
for sure , i mirror backup my whole C: boot partition to and external drive, or if a desktop . on more spindle , HDD> in a sata cable.

Ps : went hog wild last night and mirrored a boot hdd to a new 256gb , SDD. for my wife . it sings like a bird.

if you get the internet up fast, the updates are fast and if the registration happens it just works.

hint 2, use paragons, search box. for "version history" its really nice , all those facts there......

 

[crashnbuen]

Have any of you done this going from a BIOS/MBR machine to a UEFI/GPT machine? Thats what I need to do.
I am guessing most new hardware is UEFI? Between what kind of BOOT hardware did you do this?
Which OS did you migrate? Win 7 x64 or 32?

Oh my god....I love you. I just used this program because I had a desktop that I had been using for 2+ years and I didn't want to lose all my niche settings and programs and what not, but I was told that under NO circumstances would I be able to pull my drive out of my old computer and install it (without losing anything) into my new computer. This program and guide saved my butt in SO many ways. I thank you *SO* much for this guide!!!!

Oh my god....I love you. I just used this program because I had a desktop that I had been using for 2+ years and I didn't want to lose all my niche settings and programs and what not, but I was told that under NO circumstances would I be able to pull my drive out of my old computer and install it (without losing anything) into my new computer. This program and guide saved my butt in SO many ways. I thank you *SO* much for this guide!!!!

Your new computer most likely has another network card and graphics card. Were these old drivers not listed anymore after running P2P adjust OS and booting? So did it cleanup "device management" stuff?

The new motherboard was ENTIRELY different, I went from a Intel Core 2 Quad to an Intel i7 960. Everything was basically changed. And yes it cleaned up device management from what I noticed. I only had a few drivers that were not installed automatically (which is not shocking since the motherboard had a few non-standard addons to it, bluetooth/wifi both built into the motherboard, a Xonar add on card to name a few). I swear overall this was the least painless computer procedure I have EVER encountered.

You are a hero. I had been trying for a day straight to boot into windows after replacing my motherboard with absolutely no luck. These instructions and program got me in within minutes and it was super easy. You saved my 900 gigabytes of games and programs from being wiped

I made this seven forums account just to thank you, if you want any feedback on how Paragon went for me just let me know.

PAR CD is run on the target PC after you've moved an installation which then won't boot due to hardware changes, usually manifested by the Win7 start animation freezing or bluescreening. If it won't start then boot the CD to P2P Adjust as shown in tutorial.


After adjusting if it still won't start then confirm the Partition Marked Active is the System Reserved partition (preferred if you have it) or C: to run Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times.

So I was searching the web which I do often to see if anyone had come up with an effective tool to circumvent the typical OS re-build post new motherboard installation and found this forum.

I read the whole thing and thought why not give Paragon a crack.

I basically made sure all important data was backed up safe and sound with every intention of doing a fresh install should Paragon fail for me.

Well it couldn't have been easier. This new main-board doesn't have any IDE header so I knew my older IDE DVD was redundant and proceeded to create a bootable flash drive with Paragon on it.

It couldn't have been any more than 30 minutes and everything was running sweet as.

I had about 3 chipset type drivers that I was able to get from Gigabyte's support page and that was it.

The OS does need to be reactivated in a couple of days but this would have been necessary with a fresh install anyway.

The only issue that I had was the one where you would get the message "Setup is preparing your computer for first use" which was also mentioned in this thread for which a simple registry edit fixed quick smart.

I am very happy to report a perfectly smooth transition to all new hardware and a beautifully customized OS that would have otherwise taken months to get back to how I like it. If ever but then that's how it goes right? LOL

My OS was running perfectly and how I had customized it. If it were not in perfect running condition I would of course simply performed a fresh install.

Until that need arises I will use Paragon for all future main-board upgrades and I thank each and everyone here who contributed to this thread showing great amounts of patients and supplying all that valuable information.

Cheers!

Update: While there have still been no major issues for me regarding this procedure I have come across a rather annoying hitch and that is with regards to DRM.

I overlooked the fact that the efforts by big business to protect their interests with the use of such restrictions that some of my music and audio book purchases would fail because of how intrenched DRM is into a system.

I was able to through much time and effort to update my DRM registration etc (primarily because every effort made via suggestions on the net failed in my instance) to get a new audio book download to work properly. As for all of my past purchases well I have not tried to re-download and play any of it or to play what I already have. I will keep you posted.

At first glance DRM seems to be designed very favorably for big media and rather disadvantageous to paying customers.
I really would not be happy to feel like I had to pay twice for my songs because some choose to get theirs free.

P2P "top awards to least painful" put it in your tool box,
one of the most useful posts on this topic, on the whole internet.
THANKS.
In the old days, ive done this with XP 1000 of times, and just force in drivers. and win every time.

one good post, is to just plug it in (new mobo) and boot and see what happens? (set IDE/AHCI per what you have)
don"t want to lose the admin account or users settings. ? like sysprep does..... bad... all that is bad....
just did a M2nSLI (dead AHCI) to M5A99xEVO up grade.
love it, P2P,,
version hints?
i think disk version 12, uses the same P2P version,3 ,same as today's, 14 disk sold for $40
so if you have version 12 disk, boot DVD , then its still new, (hint)
i have Paragon back up and Recovery 12.

it even has custom force drivers on last page. auto /custom, so you can have a folder say with all FX990 drivers
and the driver for the wireless card. in a folder called P2P
nice options.....

1st things....
for sure , i mirror backup my whole C: boot partition to and external drive, or if a desktop . on more spindle , HDD> in a sata cable.

Ps : went hog wild last night and mirrored a boot hdd to a new 256gb , SDD. for my wife . it sings like a bird.

if you get the internet up fast, the updates are fast and if the registration happens it just works.

hint 2, use paragons, search box. for "version history" its really nice , all those facts there......

 

[Ocman76]

Have any of you done this going from a BIOS/MBR machine to a UEFI/GPT machine? Thats what I need to do.
I am guessing most new hardware is UEFI? Between what kind of BOOT hardware did you do this?
Which OS did you migrate? Win 7 x64 or 32?

I went from an old 2010 Foxconn N-Alvorix-RS880-uATX (Alvorix) Motherboard with a crappy Bios to a new **edit** ASUS M5A78L-M/USB3 no uefi bios, no problems. My boot HDD is an old Hitachi 1 TB, and transferred over just fine. I migrated with Windows 7 Ultimate 64 Bit.

 

[modprob]

i just swappped a m2 to m5a Asus , mobo. and just W7-64bit , PNP it. and did...
ms, can run any asus made. let it.

but first decide if GPT is needed, many times not, , set the new mobo to legacy , and secure boot off.
we have no idea what is important to you.
why use 32bit?, let it stop, end it.

better? upgrade to ssd, run AHCI and use a clean install.

i promise you will not be sorry you did, GRIN.

 

[modprob]

if using win 8 , the os installs to what ever you picked in bios.
MBR legacy or UEFI GPT.
at install time,

 

[crashnbuen]

I need to go from a MBR + BIOS to GPT + UEFI, because new machine needs UEFI boot for Win 8.1

I am wondering if anyone has moved their existing install from MBR + BIOS to GPT + UEFI

 

[modprob]

this is totally untrue.

because new machine needs UEFI boot for Win 8.1

needs,
wind 8,1 boot from MBR or GPT.

please read thi MS links for that.
read this careful , it IS YOUR Choice

Windows Setup: Installing using the MBR or GPT partition style



the new mobo runs with may OS (linux) and many MS OS.
it will run them all, and is your choice any.
it only says, MS win8 certified, not mandatory!.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn336946.aspx

 

[modprob]

Have any of you done this going from a BIOS/MBR machine to a UEFI/GPT machine? That's what I need to do.
I am guessing most new hardware is UEFI? Between what kind of BOOT hardware did you do this?
Which OS did you migrate? Win 7 x64 or 32?

you said the magic word boot , so its not a 2nd ONLY drive with only data you are converting.
and wrong guess, its BOTH, the BIOS still supports both systems. (its in the manuals for the MOBO),in Bios sections.
Convert MBR to GPT Disk without data loss in Windows 8 | 7

How to convert Windows 7 on MBR/BIOS to GPT/UEFI | MPS Partners


say what needs means.... exactly,>?
all answers 64bit, end to end, no 32, period.
The installs follows your lead.
windows 8.1 see the BOIS to legacy, mbr.
and it does so..

in fact i have a old older mobo here. m5a78 no UEIF.
windows 8.1 sees that and create a new MBR.
same thing happens on new machine if you want. it to .

or with old win7 on old HDD (in hand)
put it on new mobo.. go in to bios first
set legacy boot. bios.
noq exit bios, save and cold boot it.
and the old drive will boot and PNP all the goodies, (make sure internet is active so it can pNP to MS.com)
when all that works? it will.
use cheaper win 8.1 upgrade path. bam 8.1 on MBR.

if you just must have it> GPT. the
install 8.1 fresh.
or see my 2 links,...
one way to do this, is to backup everything, and the reformat. then restore.
use Acronis backup. to external huge drive.

 

[modprob]

what is end goals. forget path,
what is the end system configuration, that YOU want. not some rumors or such...

win 8.1? 64bit .
need GPT features???? really? name one.?
is data loss an issue, (big time issue for some....)
or dont what to reload, 50 top games?
running autocad/cam or sims. running legacy programs , running video rendering?
or is just used for, SKYPE like my wife, does, just that.

me, i run, win7 64, on SSD, 256gb and a huge HDD with 3 terabytes. with 7 partitions, MBR all
they are, CAD, Data, photos, Program-files. ISO-pit, Games, etc

when i backup its so very very easy, i backup a partition.
even my My documents folder is moved to DATA partition.

i keep nothing on the SSD,
so if i need to up date my OS, i do it fearless.

we do have laptops with w8
mostly for travel.... (lasting up to a month long)

what is end goal.?

 

[crashnbuen]

http://www.sevenforums.com/virtuali...ptop-sysprep-generalize-vs-disk2vhd-both.html
Transfer Thinkpad Win7 Instance to New 4K Win8.1(conserve) Laptop to a Partition/Img?
Win 7 transfer migrate to Win8.1 Laptop: SysPrep Generalize v/s Disk2VHD or both?
Win 7 transfer migrate to Win8.1 Laptop: SysPrep Generalize v/s Disk2VHD or both? - Boot virtual machines - reboot.pro

Same subject.. lots of discussions here.. that is the goal. Any suggestions.. please help.. more than welcome.

Moving Win 7 from one laptop BIOS to new UEFI one as a VHD

 

[Whiznot]

Thanks for the iso and tutorial. I've added the iso to my easy2boot flash drive along with my other image files. Now I can use the free version of Macrium Reflect to restore to dissimilar hardware.

 

[modprob]

best of best. thanks

 

[Richiegt]

One More...Thanks

Another hardy "Thank You". I just wanted to swap in a new motherboard. I ran the Paragon software as instructed, powered down and than swapped out the hardware. When I powered up for the first time I got the "initial setup" screen but after a couple of restarts it seems to have updated all of the drivers. I have not had to re-register Windows yet. For what its worth, I have Windows 7 Professional 64-bit. On an interesting note, Firefox even loaded my old tabs.

 

[Kaktussoft]

Another hardy "Thank You". I just wanted to swap in a new motherboard. I ran the Paragon software as instructed, powered down and than swapped out the hardware. When I powered up for the first time I got the "initial setup" screen but after a couple of restarts it seems to have updated all of the drivers. I have not had to re-register Windows yet. For what its worth, I have Windows 7 Professional 64-bit. On an interesting note, Firefox even loaded my old tabs.

You have to run Paragon P2P Adjust OS after swapping the motherboard!

 

[Richiegt]

Well, I was a little confused by that. My mistake. Everything does seem to be running fine. It is now about 12 hours later.

 

[Kaktussoft]

Well, I was a little confused by that. My mistake. Everything does seem to be running fine. It is now about 12 hours later.

Check "device management". Exclamation marks? "Other devices"?
Check which "Display adpater" is listed.... is it a default VGA?

 

[Richiegt]

No errors in "device manager" and my Radeon HD 7850 is working fine. In your experiences, is this unusual?

Its been less than one day, but I haven't found any problems. For what its worth, I went from an ASUS to an ASRock motherboard and kept everything else.