Migrating user+programs from old HDD

[Nostalgic]

Hello. After days of trying on my own, and stumbling upon problem after problem, I finally show up here to ask for help directly.
To make it easier for people to see what I tried so far, made mentions of particular software tried bold.

I use and manage an old computer. Recently, Windows 7 system HDD suffered some issues and suddenly stopped booting and then started making noises suggesting it is at the end of its life. That or it was a loose cable as after resecuring it, it got better in the noise department but the damage was already done. Tried fixing OS itself just ot back it up elsewhere. Windows installer USB couldn't find it. Activating SFC from said USB in repair/troubleshoot mode and specifying windir and bootdir reports errors it cannot fix up. Farbar Recovery Scan Tool did find the damaged OS but didn't do much with it. SFCfix supposedly helps in such cases but it struggled while copied to said USB and if ran from the working OS it doesn't give one an option to scan another instance/HDD.

So, I hope to transfer and salvage things. Managed to install Windows 7 to another HDD, now I need something that will help me move old OS user accounts, programs, settings, registry keys for the software. All or almost all of that is uncorrupted, it's just some boot and OS files that I seem to be unable to fix with Windows Repair/Installer.

Tried Laplink PCmover - It'd be ideal for my needs except it doesn't work, stuck at making estimation of time just after choosing various transfer settings and confirming to begin the transfer itself (left it running overnight, it was still "estimating") no matter if I try to transfer between HDDs or from a HDD image made previously through HDDLiveCD data recovery software and mounted with Osfmount.
.
EaseUS Todo PCtrans and most other programs seem to require network connection or some transfer file, I cannot make them handle transfer from one HDD to another in the same machine. They also have no option to migrate any software.

If anyone is willing ot write it up, I am even willing to go step-by-step with manual merging of it all, just need to have it really be fool-proof step-by-step - as just going and reinstalling some of those programs, working from fully new OS, changing system settings etc is absolutely out of question and undoable for me (some of this soft and licenses for it one cannot even find around anymore). The new OS HDD I try to transfer profile/programs to is on the same hardware the old OS and HDD ran (that is, same GPU, CPU, motherboard), both use Windows 7 Ultimate x64 but I cannot recall now if in the same version/from the same source.

If anyone can help me get some direction to software (or knows some great computer wiz and would be willing to ask them for help) that'd let me transfer and merge the above stuff I need between HDDs or from old HDD's image to current Windows 7 HDD I'd be very, very grateful.
Making that Laplink's software work, finding a functional alternative for it or some way to fix up and boot up damaged old OS instance if only to clone it elsewhere would also do it!

I really want to save software, its data and settings as well as OS settings and adjustments I've made over many years.
I'll take any help at this point.

 

[SIW2]

If there is a shadowcopy from before the problem, I would make a wim image of it.

 

[samuria]

Did you run a disk check on the drive its possible that there are to many errors and any transfer could be corrupt even if its copied

 

[Nostalgic]

Just a quick update, so no one will think I abandoned the thing. Currently a bit busy, but fiddling with it in the background.

If there is a shadowcopy from before the problem, I would make a wim image of it.

Alas, I only used the recovery software - aforementioned HDDLiveCD's HDDSuperClone after I started having issues and couldn't boot.

Did you run a disk check on the drive its possible that there are to many errors and any transfer could be corrupt even if its copied

I did, before and after making the backup. Currently working on the disk itself.

In the next several day (hopefully faster, but work is demanding) I will make an update on what more have I tried. So far making the transfer is still undoable, so I am exploring trying to fix up the disk's OS, perhaps just enough for it to boot (unlikely), finding my even older copy of Windows 7 and see if it'll recognize the system unlike what I use now and try to use this and testing more programs, perhaps migrate things piecemeal.

Thank you for the interest and answers so far.

 

[SIW2]

Have a look with nir sofer's shadowcopyview.

 

[MisterEd]

Were you been able to copy your data from the problem drive? For me that would be the highest priority.

The installed programs are another matter. Since it is possible that all or some of these programs are corrupted then your best bet is to reinstall them on your replacement drive. I don't think that will take much more time than trying to transfer the programs.

 

[Nostalgic]

Have a look with nir sofer's shadowcopyview.

Will do. I don't know about my OS ever making some sort of shadow backups to check on but eh, maybe I jsut never noticed.

Were you been able to copy your data from the problem drive? For me that would be the highest priority.

Yes, that was the first thing I did as mentioned in the OP - used HDDLiveCD's HDDSuperClone to make an image of the whole HDD with the OS.

The installed programs are another matter. Since it is possible that all or some of these programs are corrupted then your best bet is to reinstall them on your replacement drive. I don't think that will take much more time than trying to transfer the programs.

Yes and no. Some of the programs came with crapload of things to set up and customize. Plugins, modifications to run on Win 7 when they shouldn't, the works. Some of the stuff downloaded from shady places or private sites of homegrown tech wizards that don't exist anymore. Many of those things I probably don't remember I struggled with and fixed up over the years and I worry that upon starting fresh it will be just dozens of smaller battles when I try to recall what some things were, why don't they work and how to make them work as they did before.

That's in big part why I am so adamant at having my old HDD and its OS back. It's not just data, it's also how it was all set up. Silly, to some, perhaps but damn it, I like it that way and I am as desperate as I am stubborn about it! I hope you'll understand and take pity on me in this mess.

Anyway, ran another chkdsk recently, took whole night, but in the morning I didn't see any summary unless I closed it by accident. I start to suspect that the drive failure was due to connecting cable coming loose at some point rather than age getting to it. Still, what's done is done, OS is somewhat damaged and doesn't boot. Mayhaps some earlier attempt at fixing it messed up things as well (embarassing possibility but in the spirit of honesty and checking every lead worth mentioned).
As said in the earlier post, I will try a few things as well as look at what you people kindly suggested since then and will have another go at it tonight or in the next few days (it takes a fair bit because I have very limited time every day to deal with it over work and other responsibilities - I appreciate your patience though).

In regards to the above, if there's some really good automatic scan & repair soft (I mean, compared to the default windows command lines stuff which probably is most fitting but not giving out enough info and leads) one can use to specify old OS with while executing it from another HDD/OS that'd perhaps fix up all the essentials of damaged OS instance without touching any other data, it'd be very appreciated. I've looked around and there's some promising stuff but a lot of it sounds like snake oil of the typical "Our awesome software found over 9000 issues, pay us lots of cash money to fix them up and speed up your computer!".

Anything tested and more reliable would be very appreciated. Even just some booting and basic windows files fix that wouldn't overwrite registry or user setting so I can boot in, make another backup copy/image and then mess around with that.