Solved Clean Re-Install of Win7 with new Hardware

[Nyarlathotep]

So I just got a real steal deal on a new i5-2500K and an Asrock z68 motherboard from Microcenter; and have some new G.Skill DDR3 on the way from Newegg.

I am an AMD build, to an Intel build... which will be my first Intel in 10 years; I got into AMD back with the old K6-2's...

Anyway, I am running Windows 7 64bit Ultimate.

I am going to pull out all my AMD stuff eventually, motherboard, Phenom II 955, and its Ram kit; then replace it all with the Intel parts.

Obviously, I am going to want to do a complete, total wipe of my HDD, and reinstall from scratch off a clean slate.

Before I do that, I would like to know the best option for backing up most of my data.

Go I go.. PCName>>>Local Disk (C)>>>Users>>>Myname

...and just copy/back up the entire "Myname" folder; which contains all the AppData, My Docs folders, etc ?

Then copy that all back onto the new installation?

 

[gregrocker]

Yes you can do that however re-importing hidden AppData settings is a corruption path into a brand new clean reinstall so it's better to not import any but the active User folders, then start fresh.

Here are steps to adapt to get a perfect reinstall based on thousands we've helped with here: Reinstalling Windows 7

 

[Nyarlathotep]

Thanks man, thats just what I need!

 

[gregrocker]

Let us know if you need anything else.

 

[Nyarlathotep]

I've getting ready to do this tonight, and I've found an old HDD that I can use to just CLONE my entire primary HDD onto; with my entire Win7 installation, etc...

Then I can take that clone, and set it on a shelf and save it; then wipe out my primary HDD and start over with a clean, fresh re-installation... then take that Clone and Slave it as a secondary drive, to copy whatever Data that I might need transferred/copied...

For this Cloning process however, am I best using a free version of something like Acronis doing that, or can this be accomplished with this process here: --> Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup

 

[gregrocker]

If you use an image backup you'd have to reimage it to the target HD or mount it's VHD file in Disk Mgmt to copy out the files, which is risky and a lot of work just to back up your files.
System Image Recovery
Virtual Hard Disk - Create and Attach VHD

Better to drag your named User account to an external or another HD to backup everything in User folders instantly, unless you don't organize your data in which case you'll have to scour the HD for it.

If you really want to clone then I'd use the free Acronis program which comes with any WD or Seagate HD in the mix.

 

[Nyarlathotep]

Everything is all set!

I used Acronis and now have my Windows all properly reinstalled. All thats left for me to do is to call Microsoft to get my product key reactivated.

 

[gregrocker]

You shouldn't have to call MS to reactivate, just insert the Product Key at Control Panel>System Activation status link.