Trying to change OEM hardware configuration

Do you have the boot files on the new HD?

I have two of the three files ready...but the bcd.txt file cannot be read from the old c drive. So, I am not sure if this will work if that file is not moved over.

To accomplish what you want, the procedure is to mark Win7 partition active, set Win7 HD first to boot in BIOS setup (after DVD drive), then boot into Win7 DVD Repair console or Repair CD, click through to Recovery Tools list to run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times with reboots to write the MBR to Win7 partition.

Partition - Mark as Active

A change in HD is not enough to void OEM license, but you may have to make the robocall to MS during activation to update your hardware profile.

theog...I am ready to move / overwrite the Win7 files with the ones from the old c drive...but I cannot copy the bcd.txt file (it says that it cannot read it from the source drive (old c)...maybe bad sector. The other two files can be read / moved.

other than that snag I am ready to proceed.

Do you have 1 folder called 'BOOT' & 1 file called 'bootmgr.exe', on the root of your new HD? if yes, remove old HD, & reboot.
If PC will no boot, do a startup repair.
If the HD needs to be marked active startup repair will do this first.
Than post back.

theog said:

If the HD needs to be marked active startup repair will do this first.
Than post back.

Incorrect, you must mark a partition Active first to have Startup Repair write the MBR to it.

Gents...thanks for the information.

I did look and see that the first boot drive IS the OLD c drive - even though the NEW c drive has the Win7 OS on it. So I am assuming it is reading the info off that old drive and then using the new drive partition to load the OS.

So, do I need to set the Win7 partition as active, shut down, detach the old c drive, boot to the recovery console?

Thanks for the afternoon of replies...

Look at post 5, there is 1 folder & 1 file, Copy them to your new HD, remove old HD, & reboot.
If PC will no boot, do a startup repair.
If the HD needs to be marked active startup repair will do this first.

Startup Repair
Note: You may need to do startup repair 3 to 4 times.

theog - I just looked, and now both drives have the same contents in the BOOT folder and the bootmgr.exe files are the same (date / time stamp). It seems the drives now have the Win7 files - via date and time.

Perhaps I will now shut down, disconnect the old drive, and run Repair a few times and see what happens.