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

 

[lolguy]

Thanks so much to the OP. This worked like a charm and avoided having to do a clean reinstall. Much appreciated!

 

[Stslimited84]

Is there a way to make this bootable from a usb drive? I tried using the windows 7 usb tool; however it always fails at 99% and says "we were unable to copy your files. please check your usb device and selected iso and try again"

Had a motherboard failure and need to get back into windows. I don't mind doing a complete fresh install but I need to recover the windows key so I can reactivate it.

Using USB Pen drive it fails telling me it cannot find a configuration file it needs.

Long story short I just need to get the windows key off the hard drive but have a new motherboard as the old one has failed. How do I accomplish this?

 

[gregrocker]

Retrieving key and files from unbootable Win7 is in Clean Reinstall tutorial which link is under picture below. How To Recover Windows 7/8 Product Key From Unbootable Drive

I've not heard of method to make PAR disk into flash stick. You can try Yumi for Other ISO. YUMI ? Multiboot USB Creator | USB Pen Drive Linux

You could also buy Paragon Disk Mgr which contains Adaptive Restore as does Acronis Imaging in which it's called Universal Restore.

Or borrow a USB CD drive.

 

[zampaz]

Onedrive link error to PAR

Hi,

Tried to download PAR but the Onedrive link posted in 141 is DOA. Could someone please post an alternate link?

I have a dual boot, win7 and windows server 08, each os on a different SSD, with the windows boot loader on the win7 drive.

My Dell mobo died after 5 years so I swapped it while I was at it, upgraded the processors and added a raid card. In the process I completely forgot about MS's OS copy protection. I do have the activation key...I've used it several times already on clean installs (on the same box) and don't know what the limit is...
I do have fairly recent system images/backups using windows backup to an external.

My system booted into Server 08, then windows promptly deactivated itself, and turned off the windows installer service while several updates were completing. I'm hopeful PAR can help me out of this mess I've made for myself (with the helping hand of :devil:Microsoft:devil.

 

[derekimo]

Here you go zampaz,

[REMOVED]

 

[zampaz]

Here you go zampaz,

Thank you very much derekimo (and OP too)
Downloaded, then went back to the original post to re-read...hit the DB link for the manual and it's live. Found an ISO link there as well. Based on follow-up posts and 141 not working I just ASSuMEd the links in the original post were stale.

I'll report back to the forum on how PAR handles my dual boot situation W7uX64 and WS'08 (running as a workstation).
++++Added 09-24-15
The Par solution works very well with multi-boot drives, and also with migrating from platform to platform. Have experienced no issues migrating/reactivating my windoze 7 and server 08 OS's. Although I don't anticipate using this utility very often, it's on my list of "must have" tools ranking below Clonezilla, 7-zip, magic ISO, and system explorer only because of anticipated infrequent use.

 

[derekimo]

You're welcome, no problem, good to know the link in the OP is working.

 

[mchldpy]

Paragon Rescue Kit (14) (as mentioned on page 8) has Paragon P2P Adjust if you use the Linux option instead of the WinPE option, BUT, now the option to install to a USB drive is now available with the Linux option where before it was only offered if you chose the WinPE option.

 

[RonAshman]

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I can't thank you enough!
I can't give rep Don't know why. You just saved me a Macrium VHD file thru a VirtualBox installation. You rock.

 

[Tameer]

As others before, this post saved me really a lot of time and hassle .. thanks a lot !!!

and, in case you're interested : I had to re-enter the product-key, after the 2nd or 3rd reboot ..

 

[crovou718]

Hey sorry if this is been answered, but I couldn't find it via search....


Does this work for Win10 installations too? My motherboard shit the bed and I'm waiting on my replacement mobo and processor. This would be a lifesaver if it works for me.


thanks!

 

[SIW2]

That particular one only works for os up to win7.

You might find win10 will adjust itself ok to the new hardware.

If not, Paragon 15 products will be able to adjust it for you. NOTE: That feature is only available in the paid paragon15 offerings.
Paragon Backup & Recovery Home - Features & System Requirements

There is also a free paragon rescue kit 14 - adjust to new hardware is included in the Linux based boot disc that comes with it. Not sure if the Rescue kit 14 supports win10 for that function.

You could test it to see. https://www.paragon-software.com/home/rk-free/


Aomei Backupper is an imaging program which includes restore to new hardware. However, you would have had to make an image first, because it performs the adjustment as part of the restore process.

It is the only imaging program to include that in the free version.

 

[HoneycombAG]

Does this work on Windows 10?

 

[ThrashZone]

If you upgraded a retail win-7 or 8.1 possibly jury is still out if a retail version of windows 7.. turns into a retail win-10.
Probably need to contact M$ either way and plead your case as to why you swapped mobo's.

 

[putermaker]

Save Windows Update Time

I don't know if anyone else has addressed this, but I have found another handy use for the Paragon Adaptive Restore... I build and refurbish over 100 computer per year and waiting for all the Windows Updates (particularly for Windows 7) to download and install is a time consuming task. Here's my solution...

1. Perform a clean, complete installation of the operation system with all patches and updates (do NOT enter the activation code.)
2. Clone the drive to a smaller 40-80GB hard drive, label it with the Windows version and date.
3. Next time you need to do a clean install, clone the drive you set aside to the new machine.
4. Use Paragon Adaptive Restore to set up the new drive.

I have created image drives of most variations of Windows 7 and used this method regularly. It's much faster to clone the drive (I use Acronis 2013) than it is to wait on all the updates.



IMPORTANT! Do NOT try cloning the drives via a USB connection. This may make the new drive unbootable. I use my shop "test" computer and install both drives in it to do the cloning. Rarely ever have an issue.

 

[Tameer]

.. thanks a lot, putermaker .. I only install a few computers a year, so your post is most welcome !!

Tameer

 

[IoNGeNeRaL]

EDIT: Microsoft blocked my product key, regardless of the fact I have 4 "rearms" left available.

 

[cdoublejj]

the disc tray pops open when selecting the os and then when i choose automatic, it just sits there and nothing happens, does it take several hours for the bar to start moving?

 

[bilateral]

I've been an owner of Paragon Hard Drive Manager for several years, and I've noticed the P2P Adjust feature (also called Adaptive Restore) but never used it before. Now I have a good opportunity with an installation of Win7 x64 and would like to. However, I've long wondered about MS licensing policy about this, and questions that were alluded to many times in this thread, but not really discussed. It seems I may have misunderstood what the policy is, but no poster ever really explains it here. One of the recent posters mentioned the idea that one has a certain number of reinstalls available. I've heard something like that, but I thought even so, this applies to the SAME equipment.

I assumed that if it is possible to make a P2P transfer to a new motherboard and hardware, one would need not only to reactivate the install, but that you would actually also need a new, unused Product Key for the OS. I thought that MS assigns a product key to live forevermore with a particular motherboard, and though I've heard you can call them and get them to move it if you have a failed motherboard (sort of like a special dispensation from the Pope), I didn't think it's so easy as it is made to sound in this thread.

Can anyone enlighten me about how this works and what the expected licensing and re-activation rules are for a Windows 7 OS?

Thanks,
Michael

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Can anyone enlighten me about how this works and what the expected licensing and re-activation rules are for a Windows 7 OS?

I've wondered the same thing about Adaptive Restore and frankly don't know what licensing jams you might get into.

I've looked at Adaptive Restore, but never actually used it. It's part of a Paragon program I have, but I've never used the feature.

Here's my assumption: if you had a retail Windows license and changed motherboards, you'd be in the clear. If you had an OEM license and changed motherboards, you'd probably have to contact MS and hope they showed some mercy because OEM licenses are at least theoretically wedded to the motherboard. That's the way it would work if you did a clean install and I wouldn't think Adaptive Restore would be an exception to the rule.

Problem is---you will have trouble finding anyone on these forums who has actually used the Adaptive Restore feature. Offhand, I can't recall any discussion of it, other than in passing.

I'd like to be proven wrong as I've always been curious about how well it works in actual practice.

Maybe Paragon has a forum where you could ask the question?

I was tempted to try it a couple of months ago, but instead just carried over a hard drive with a retail Windows installation onto a new motherboard. Didn't have the nerve. I instead spent 5 or 10 hours reconfiguring the new setup--mostly drivers and display issues. I was able to avoid spending dozens of hours reinstalling and configuring a bunch of applications.