New CPU & MoBo, same HD

[mmburg]

Hi
I am upgrading my CPU (from older AMD to new Intel i3 2100), motherboard (from older AMD based to new GIGABYTE GA-Z68MA-D2H-B3 Z68 R), RAM (from 1mb to 8mb). My optical drive is also new. In addition, I have previously used a peripheral DVI video card but will now use the on board video. My HD is a WD 1TB 3mb/sec (SATA) on which I have previously loaded Windows 7 Professional. I thought I'd be able to just move the HD to the new rig, but the operating system gets hung up - won't boot.

Do I need to essentially reload the OS on the HD with the new rig, or is there some type of repair I can perform?

Thanks

 

[theog]

Take a look at this tutorial:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/135077-windows-7-installation-transfer-new-computer.html

or
Run Paragon Adaptive Restore CD on the new PC, before starting up for the first time,

 

[mmburg]

Thanks - very helpful.

If I go w/paragon Adaptive restore, do I boot from the optical drive?

 

[theog]

Yes, you need the liveCD.

 

[mmburg]

Thanks.

 

[mmburg]

hi theog
So, I used the tutorial to run the sysprep.exe with the hard drive on the old computer rig. It didn't work, but was able to find information on line about disabling windows media player sharing service (along with a few other services), and then sysprep ran. I then moved the hard drive to the new rig. It started OK - "Starting Windows", then "Setup is starting services", but then I get a window that says, "Windows could not complete the installation. To install windows on this computer, restart the installation". I did so several times, but each time, it fails in the same way. Any ideas on how to proceed?
thanks

 

[gregrocker]

Try entering Device manager using the method at the end of this tutorial to uninstall any Devices showing in error to get installation to complete so you can install them from desktop: Device Manager - Access During Windows 7 Installation

Have you tried running Paragon Adaptive Restore CD? If it fails, do you have a backup image of the original install you could apply to run PAR on?

 

[mmburg]

I am at work now and will try your suggestion when I get home this afternoon.

I have not tried the Paragon Adaptive restore CD - don't have it. Tried to access online and, while free, it is not immediately available to download.

Thanks!

 

[mmburg]

hi gregrocker
I worked my way through the process as described in the tutorial. There are several "Other devices" with a yellow exclamation point under Device Manager, and I disabled them - all but the USB controller as I was concerned that doing so would make my mouse stop working. Unfortunately I am still getting the window, "Windows could not complete the installation", etc. Two questions: 1) should I be uninstalling rather than disabling, and 2) should I also disable/uninstall the USB controller?

Thanks

 

[mmburg]

In follow-up, I disabled the USB controller as well, and still no success. Please advise.

At this point, is it possible to put the HD back in the old rig and boot up?

Thanks

 

[gregrocker]

Yes, that's why I specified Uninstall and not Disable. The driver will still try to load, hanging the install, if it isn't not uninstalled before install proceeds.

This is always a long shot however, but worth a try.

 

[mmburg]

Thanks. I uninstalled the video driver - still no go.

Will the HD work in the old rig at this point?

 

[gregrocker]

It should. You wanna try SysPrep again? The author of our tutorial Kari can help you with specific issues. SysPrep to move HD to another computer

You can also use PAR, or Acronis True Image with Universal Restore to back up an image which will work on new hardware.

 

[mmburg]

How would I best interact with Kari?
If I back up the image, does that save everythiing on the HD - program, documents, etc?

 

[mmburg]

I put the HD in the old rig - won't work. I get the window, "Windows could not complete the installation, etc".

 

[gregrocker]

Sounds like SysPrep failure. You can PM Kari by clicking on his name in Tutorial author bar.

Try copying out your files using DVD or REpair CD: Copy & Paste - in Windows Recovery Console

While in DVD/CD REpair console, run Startup Repair repeatedly. Does it find an installation to Repair? If not, from Command Prompt run bootrec /fixmbr and bootrec /fixboot then try Repair again.