Can I put C:/ drive from old computer into new computer and boot?

[river251]

I've acquired a Dell Inspiron 580, to replace my Dell Opiplex 780.

I have a 1tb C:/ drive with many programs installed in the Optiplex. Can I simply put that drive in the new Inspiron and boot it successfully?

What if I put the C:/ drive in the Inspiron, put the Windows7/64 install disk in the Inspiron DVD drive, do the first boot from the install DVD, and say "repair the operating system" on that drive? Would that work?

Thanks. I dread having to reinstall many programs, some of which may not be able to get, as they are university licensed and may not be available or I may not be able to re-install again (Microsoft and other companies limit installs in the university's license).

Thank you.
Jim

 

[whs]

No, that won't work for a variety of reasons - drivers, activation, etc.

Run the Belarc Advisor on your old system. That will give you the license keys of all programs.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/292068-make-windows-7-bootable-after-motherboard-swap.html

You're making a major change in hardware, which would normally cause driver issues and license issues.

The standard recommendation is Paragon Adaptive Restore as described at the above link.

You will also have some kind of a Windows licensing issue. The Inspiron has one license. The old Optiplex has another. Putting the Optiplex drive in the new Inspiron would be a violation of the Optiplex Windows license because of the new Inspiron hardware, and you would not be taking advantage of the new license you got with the Inspiron.

Paragon may include a way around this by allowing you to insert your new license key into the Optiplex drive when it is moved to the Inspiron.

But, I'd guess you ought to be prepared to do what you don't want to do--reinstall programs.

Of course, this all depends on what type of licenses you have and what type of install disk you have. I'm assuming OEM.

 

[river251]

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/292068-make-windows-7-bootable-after-motherboard-swap.html

You're making a major change in hardware, which would normally cause driver issues and license issues.

The standard recommendation is Paragon Adaptive Restore as described at the above link.

You will also have some kind of a Windows licensing issue. The Inspiron has one license. The old Optiplex has another. Putting the Optiplex drive in the new Inspiron would be a violation of the Optiplex Windows license because of the new Inspiron hardware, and you would not be taking advantage of the new license you got with the Inspiron.

Paragon may include a way around this by allowing you to insert your new license key into the Optiplex drive when it is moved to the Inspiron.

But, I'd guess you ought to be prepared to do what you don't want to do--reinstall programs.

Of course, this all depends on what type of licenses you have and what type of install disk you have. I'm assuming OEM.

Thanks guys for the replies. I will look into Paragon.
The operating system (win7-64) is licensed to the university. The same install DVD is given to anybody who needs it, then they install it, and it checks with campus servers (or something) to verify validity, then you are fine. So I think the OS would not be a problem if I enter the MAC number the university gave me (I know, it can't be the mac address of the internet card but that's what they call it).

For all the other software, those keys will be essential probably. Guess I'll just try it and see.

Thanks much.

Do you think I should run the DVD and do "repair windows"?

Jim

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Do you think I should run the DVD and do "repair windows"?

Jim

I think you are probably going to be forced into a clean install.

You can futz around with Paragon as you wish. You may succeed or at some point may have to cut your losses (time lost futzing with Paragon) and revert to Plan B.

I'd first worry about Product Keys and round them up in any way possible.

 

[SIW2]

It will be a MAK key.

OS should boot fine after you hit it with paragon p2padjust. It only takes a couple of seconds.

You shouldn't need to run startup repair ( 3 times ) from install dvd - unless you had a separate "system" partition . If your C drive is both boot and system , then you won't need to do that as well - just running p2p adjust should be fine.

Never seen paragon fail.

There is no "futzing", it is easy and quick. Boot the paragon cd, point p2p at the drive,job done.

The one in the tutorial is not the most recent, though it works fine on o/s up to and including win7.

NOTE:
You can get the more recent p2p version in the free paragon rescue kit 14. The p2p adjust is in the linux isos which come with it. It is not in the winpe iso rescue kit 14 makes ( you need paid version for that )

 

[whs]

If you have a seperate system partition, you might want to do this first:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/209885-bootmgr-move-c-easybcd.html

 

[river251]

Don't have a separate partition for system, but that's something to think about.

I figure if I try Paragon, and it works, I'll see if problems pop later. If not, then I have a good tool. If it doesn't work, or problems pop up, then I'll do a fresh install.

I went through all the programs listed in the control panel programs and features. Turns out I only have four purchased programs that I'll have to reinstall from CD/download: Office, Adobe Suite, Quicken, Matlab. Everything else is freeware or shareware and the install is saved in my .../Software folder. I never realized I have so much software I downloaded from shareware sites and use frequently. Hypercam, Disk Space Inspector (vital, critical, great program), Unlicker, Fast Duplicate File Finder, Drive Image XML, Multiple Image Resizer....could not live without any of these. But they are all saved and backed up.

So if I have to it won't be painful to start over, I have all the DVDs.

Thanks guys.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Never seen paragon fail.

SIW2:

How does Paragon compensate for Windows license issues when moving old hard drive A with old Windows license B in old PC 1 to new PC 2 which was shipped with new hard drive C containing new Windows license D.

The traditional story is that OEM licenses are restricted to original hardware (motherboard), so I'm guessing at some point Paragon injects the new Product Key into the revised installation on hard drive A, now sitting in PC 2?

Or is this a way to completely eliminate and bypass the so-called requirement for "one license, one PC"?

I've never used OEM licenses, so don't have any first hand knowledge of their limitations.

 

[gregrocker]

After a change of mobo a retail Product key must always be reactivated at Control Panel>System in order to have it generate a new Hardware ID associating that specific hardware signature with that Product Key and ID. Only if its a Factory OEM key tied to the mobo on the original PC can you not move the key to the new hardware.

Sometimes it will start outright, but if not I can't remember a time PAR has not worked and we've been recommending it here since Win7 beta days when SIW2 introduced us to it.

Look for "Setting Up Computer for First Use" then when it gets to the desktop monitor it swapping out drivers from animation in the System Tray, which will lead to several requested reboots. If you don't see this activity then reboot again as it must change out most every driver.

Once it's adjusted get online installing if necessary your network adapter driver from the PC's model's Support Downloads webpage, enable Automatically deliver drivers via Windows Update (Step 3), Check for Updates to install all rounds of Important and Optional Updates, with reboots, until there are no more. Then there should only be a few drivers missing in Device Manager to import from the same Downloads page after all Updates.

If it won't start, confirm the Partition Marked Active to run Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times

 

[SIW2]

How does Paragon compensate for Windows license issues

It doesn't. You need a license.

 

[whs]

I am a bit lost here. Although the Paragon p2padjust may transport the OS to the new PC, the activation question should still follow the rules. I.e. a reactivation for a retail license is OK but an OEM license cannot be reactivated. It may work for 30 days, but that's it.

I have heard of exceptions made by Microsoft if you talk to them, but that is at their discretion.

Update: I just saw Siw2's answer. I guess that settles it.

 

[AddRAM]

They are both Dell`s, slap the hard drive in there, ya never know.

But as stated above, you will have to activate windows again.

 

[SIW2]

In what sense are they exceptions?

MS will oblige if you assure them it is only being used on one machine. They abide by the laws of the countries in which they operate.

I am a bit lost here. Although the Paragon p2padjust may transport the OS to the new PC, the activation question should still follow the rules. I.e. a reactivation for a retail license is OK but an OEM license cannot be reactivated. It may work for 30 days, but that's it.

I have heard of exceptions made by Microsoft if you talk to them, but that is at their discretion.

Update: I just saw Siw2's answer. I guess that settles it.

 

[gregrocker]

The only exceptions I've heard about are with Builder's OEM, never for factory OEM. But I don't think I would count on it. It may only be with good excuses ("I installed it on wrong PC") or might be temporary due to OEM being all that's available now.

 

[ThrashZone]

Yea with Microsoft pushing 8 and now soon to be 10 I doubt they will be as understanding anymore