Changing motherboard without reinstalling Wndows 7 Pro

[ABC190]

Hello again everyone,

I have another question and I thought it would be better to ask in the same thread. My Windows 7 install works fine with zero stability issues ever since moving to my new motherboard via Paragon, though I have a question regarding my boot/Windows drive.

My HDD was set to IDE mode rather than AHCI. First thing I did after installing the new motherboard was go into the BIOS and ensure that the boot/Windows HDD was set to IDE as I read that changing it to AHCI would prevent Windows 7 from booting.

Though considering that I used Paragon, would switching from IDE to AHCI still cause an issue?

 

[gregrocker]

If it's running fine then I would not change it unless you know for a fact it will work better with AHCI, need an AHCI feature like hot-plugging, or want to experiment.

If you do so then set a System Restore Point - Create and follow the steps for AHCI : Enable in Windows 7 / Vista - Windows 7 Forums.

If required to fully restore you'd change the BIOS setting back to IDE, then if necessary boot into System Recovery Options to run System Restore.

 

[morteza451]

Don't waste of time. Use sysprep.exe for prepare the computer for new hardware detection.

 

[nolimitkemet]

Migration Success with Windows 7 Ultimate

Thanks to this thread and the Paragon ISO posted in the tutorial, I was able to go from an NVIDIA based Socket 775 ASUS P5N-D with a Dual-Core E6500 Wolfdale 2.93GHz to an Intel based Haswell 1150 Asus Z87 Plus with a 3.5 GHz I7-4770K (overclocked to 4.225 GHz) on the same Windows 7 Ultimate Install.

I was able to have Windows 7 boot with AHCI after updating the MB bios and that allowed me to successfully restore the OS to a 500GB Samsung SSD 840 Evo with the full benefit. I did have to reactivate Windows and the Microsoft Office 2010 Suite, but no big deal.

Loving Life!

 

[Kari]

Thanks to this thread and the Paragon ISO posted in the tutorial, I was able to go from an NVIDIA based Socket 775 ASUS P5N-D with a Dual-Core E6500 Wolfdale 2.93GHz to an Intel based Haswell 1150 Asus Z87 Plus with a 3.5 GHz I7-4770K (overclocked to 4.225 GHz) on the same Windows 7 Ultimate Install.

I was able to have Windows 7 boot with AHCI after updating the MB bios and that allowed successfully restore the OS to a 500GB Samsung SSD 840 Evo with the full benefit. I did have to reactivate Windows and Microsoft Office 2010 Suite, but no big deal.

Loving Life!

It's good to know you got it done. Congratulations.

A personal note from a confused geek:

I am totally unable to comprehend this "Please do not use the Microsoft Windows native tool made exactly for this! Use instead this or that third party tool or edit registry manually, whatever but not the native tool designed to do exactly what you want to.".

This from Microsoft:

   Note

Important

You must use the Sysprep /generalize command to generalize a complete Windows installation before you can use the installation for deployment to a new computer, whether you use imaging, hard disk duplication, or another method. Moving or copying a Windows image to a different computer without running the Sysprep /generalize command is not supported.

Before anyone comments that "You must use..." part of the above quote, of course I know it's not true. It's just Microsoft's way to say "This is the official way and we've made a tool for you to do this, anything else will not be supported".

A rhetorical question, not expecting any answers: What is the point behind asking users to avoid a fast and simple procedure done with native Windows tools which any noob can do, whenever there's a third party unofficial solution available?

A confused geek,

Kari

 

[nolimitkemet]

Sysprep not an option

Thanks to this thread and the Paragon ISO posted in the tutorial, I was able to go from an NVIDIA based Socket 775 ASUS P5N-D with a Dual-Core E6500 Wolfdale 2.93GHz to an Intel based Haswell 1150 Asus Z87 Plus with a 3.5 GHz I7-4770K (overclocked to 4.225 GHz) on the same Windows 7 Ultimate Install.

I was able to have Windows 7 boot with AHCI after updating the MB bios and that allowed me to successfully restore the OS to a 500GB Samsung SSD 840 Evo with the full benefit. I did have to reactivate Windows and the Microsoft Office 2010 Suite, but no big deal.

Loving Life!

It's good to know you got it done. Congratulations.

A personal note from a confused geek:

I am totally unable to comprehend this "Please do not use the Microsoft Windows native tool made exactly for this! Use instead this or that third party tool or edit registry manually, whatever but not the native tool designed to do exactly what you want to.".

This from Microsoft:

   Note

Important

You must use the Sysprep /generalize command to generalize a complete Windows installation before you can use the installation for deployment to a new computer, whether you use imaging, hard disk duplication, or another method. Moving or copying a Windows image to a different computer without running the Sysprep /generalize command is not supported.

Before anyone comments that "You must use..." part of the above quote, of course I know it's not true. It's just Microsoft's way to say "This is the official way and we've made a tool for you to do this, anything else will not be supported".

A rhetorical question, not expecting any answers: What is the point behind asking users to avoid a fast and simple procedure done with native Windows tools which any noob can do, whenever there's a third party unofficial solution available?

A confused geek,

Kari

Sysprep was simply not an option in my particular case as I had previously done an in place upgrade.

 

[Kari]

Sysprep was simply not an option in my particular case as I had previously done an in place upgrade.

Please do not misunderstand my previous post. I am always happy to hear a problem is solved.

My "thinking loud" was and is not intended to be taken as critics towards you. I can understand your issue, and the solution was this time correct for you. Instead it was a general thing which I have been wondering quite a lot, your thread just offered a correct place to post it.

I have never hided the fact that I am something those with more negative attitude towards the company and its main products call "A Microsoft and Windows Fanboy". In my own Windows usage as well as when I am suggesting or recommending various procedures to other users, I will always try to manage with native Windows tools as long as I see no rational reasons not to use them.

The same with this sysprep subject. Or Windows Search, not to mention the native Backup. I have had some quite intensive discussions for instance here at the Seven Forums with other geeks who jump in and post using all caps bold font size 5 to yell different OPs "Dude, do not use that Windows native tool, there's a lot of third party alternatives!".

You did what you had to do and as I said before, I'm happy you got it sorted.

Kari

 

[AddRAM]

 

[pietpara]

Backup also needed?

Hello,
I have read this thread with great interest since I want to do the same; i.e. change mobo, CPU, RAM and ODD without having to reinstall Win7 and setup all my apps and customizations again. Reinstalling Win7 is no big deal, but reinstalling all apps and all customizations/preferences in all apps, that is hell.

I believe to understand that that is exactlywhat Paragon P2P will do.
However, I am still confused about whether Paragon will indeed retain all Win7 settings, program installations, and user profile. I could not find that mentioned explicitlyin the manual either.
I also saw talk about making a backup before starting, but did not see any step in the tutorials saying how to make the backup nor how to restore it.

So, my question is... do I make a backup?
If yes, with Windows Backup? An image backup? A profile backup?
And how do I restore and at which point in the Paragon P2P process?

Also, my OS drive is a SSD. And I have the user folder on a different drive by using Junction Links.
Would that cause any issues?

All your help is appreciated!

thanks
PietPara

 

[gregrocker]

It's the exact same OS with some drivers changed. But I would not do it if you have any less than a perfect Win7 install as compiled in http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html#post1839164 since both are an investment in time and a perfect install is the goal at all times.

Always keep your files and Win7 image backed up. Most of us here prefer Acronis (free with any WD or Seagate HD) or http://www.sevenforums.com/software/43219-image-your-system-free-macrium.html.

If Win7 fails to start after adjustment, confirm the http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/71432-partition-mark-active.html is 100mb SysReserved (preferred) or C and run http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105541-startup-repair-run-3-separate-times.html.

Once it starts it will change out many drivers in a cascade you can watch from the System Tray animated icon. Once it finished do a reboot, then enable Automatically deliver drivers via Windows Update (Step 3)
to run all rounds of Important and Optional Windows Updates, with reboots, until no more are offered at all.

This normally suffices to have a perfectly running system. However if there are issues just post them back.

 

[pietpara]

Thanks a lot.
I have image backups and use a NAS for daily file backups too.
However I'm not sure if you answered my question about ssd with junction links. And whether all apps and their preferences will be kept with such a paragon p2p action.

Thanks for your help.
Pietpara

 

[gregrocker]

It will be the exact same installation that you have now. PAR doesn't touch anything except the drivers if used to P2P Adjust.

 

[pietpara]

Hello gregrocker,

You said, and I agree, that it's best to reinstall Windows anyway as a fresh and clean install is what you should aim for.
So, the best is a tool that can preserve all your apps & settings, license keys, passwords, user profiles etc. and copy that over to the new or upgraded PC.
Doing some searching I found the tool PCmover from LapLink.
Have you any experience with this?

thanks
Pietpara

 

[gregrocker]

I would not use that on a http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html#post1839164 or a retail reinstall as it is a corruption path into a fresh install which defeats the purpose of following the steps to get it perfect.

It explains in the tutorial how to easily back up your files and not forget anything.

Because it's so simple, you could always use PAR to see how you like the old install. But now would also be a good time to invest in a truly clean reinstall if you're game.

 

[jayx08]

My Windows 7 installation is still unable to boot after running PAR. I am actually just doing a testing by installing Windows 7 on my spare hard disk in my PC and then migrate it to my laptop which is of course of different hardware. I had followed all the steps in this tutorial. Any help will be very much appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[gregrocker]

Confirm that the correct partition is Partition Marked Active
then run Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times.

It should be same partition as in source setup unless you only migrated Win7 and it had another partition marked Active. Normally this is 100mb System Reserved if you have it, or C if you don't, but on some systems Recovery is marked Active, or the Active flag was moved on purpose or inadvertantly. If in doubt, ask back.