New PSU/Hard Drive Concerns

[Whazzupdoc]

This is a complex problem for me. I felt a new thread was likely in order even though the computer (my wife's) is still the issue. My last post was over 2 weeks ago in the 'General' category because it was determined the psu was overheating and failing. It ultimately destroyed the new SeaGate hard drive. So I determined I would get a new psu and a new hard drive. So her computer has been shut down waiting for the new psu and hard drive (and licensed Win7 O/S) from the States. It will arrive in Honduras next week.

So here's the problem. Her computer was a brand new AMD10 5800K APU. Bought from an eBay power seller who cut some corners with the Win7 O/S and he imaged this system and provided no disk. It doesn't take but changing out a hard drive (or losing one) and MicroSoft determines the existing O/S is a pirated system. Before shutting down her system I had installed another hard drive lent by a friend until the new one arrived. He put the same Win7 Home Premium x64 O/S on it and I loaded her programs, etc. back onto it. This included Macrium Reflect. Then the same old psu started snapping off her system again. I was afraid it would destroy the loaner hard drive so that's when I shut down her computer. A long winded way of saying it's backed up.

But now when the new hard drive arrives (and Win7 O/S with disk) it will be installed for me along with the new EVGA 650G2 psu...but as a secondary hard drive. At least that was what I thought would be the safest way to do this. I wanted to get her computer up and running and safe. Then I thought I could figure out (with your help) the best way to transfer everything but the O/S now on the loaner drive (her C-drive) onto the new hard drive. Gosh, I hope I'm making sense! What I don't want to do is transfer that old O/S (likely to be called a 'pirated' copy) onto this new genuine Win7 O/S. I've got everything imaged onto Macrium (but 'everything' means including that non-genuine Win7 O/S) and would like to get everything loaded onto this new system minus anything that would be deemed improper by M/S!

I've never done a reinstall before. Macrium seems to offer a couple of options but I'm really not wanting to screw-up this thing after going to all this trouble. Can you help? If I'm not clear or if you want further clarification, please post and I'll answer. I appreciate it very much!!!

 

[Megahertz07]

As I understood, the failed drive wasn't the Win 7 C: drive.
This is what I would do:
- Attach the new PS and new HDD.
- Boot into the pirate win 7 and Launch Windows Easy Transfer (%windir%\system32\migwiz\migwiz.exe) and create, on the new drive, a data and settings transfer file.
- Shut down and remove the new drive.
- Boot your Win 7 installation on UEFI mode, go to install, custom, advanced, delete all partitions, create a new one (Win will create 3 partitions) and proceed.
- After installation, shut down, attach the new drive and with the transfer file created, restore your data and settings.

 

[Megahertz07]

Just came to my mind that it might be that the Seagate HDD has a fault and was pulling down the PS.
Just in case that you have a problem on transferring your data and settings to the new Win 7, when creating the transfer file, also do a copy of your data files to the new drive.

 

[Whazzupdoc]

Hi, sorry I don't think I was that clear. The HD that came with it 5 months ago as a new computer-build, failed. 7Forums had me do a number of tests and it came down to the psu heating up and then the computer would click-off. That computer is real important to my wife and in an effort to get her back up and running, a friend offered a spare HD and loaded a Win7 on it. That worked for several weeks and then it started snapping off again...remember this still has that failing psu in it. CrystalDisk indicated the unit was heating up pretty high. So rather than risk destroying another HD that doesn't belong to me, I made sure I had a number of backups onto Macrium and then just shut down her computer...and there it sits. A week ago the new psu arrived. I'm waiting on the next shipment from Florida that has the new HD/registered Win7 disk. After installing the new psu, I am anticipating the problems of installing the new O/S (still the same Win7 Home Premium...$150 item). If I simply have the loaner HD removed and replaced by the new HD and load the new O/S onto it, then what happens when my image in Macrium gets restored onto this new HD? Does it corrupt the new Win7 O/S? I don't ever again want to be bothered with that Windows message of an invalid system.

I never knew about Windows Easy Transfer. Since I can still fire up into her system (pirated), can I follow your instructions after I install the new HD as say her 'D'-drive and then step thru your instructions? If I've already installed the new psu then I shouldn't have concerns about it continuing to do what it did before.

I know that one of Macrium's options is to restore any number of files rather than the entire imaged system but I'm clearly over my head here. Never done it. I am right now in Macrium's Glossary trying to fit pieces together. Right now the entire system image is on a peripheral hard drive and I never dreamed I would have to know almost within four months of buying Macrium that I would be required to do a Restore because of a problem like this. The good thing is that I've got all her files and everything backed up. The problematic issue is the Win7 that is also right now on that peripheral hard drive. If I could just get around having to Restore that I would feel much better.

The other option (as I see it) is to simply install the new HD as a secondary hard drive and then figure out how to move stuff over onto it. Then I would wipe the loaner clean and have it uninstalled and given back to my friend. After re-reading your initial post, I'm thinking this should accomodate Windows Easy Transfer. Am I wrong?

Thanks!

 

[Megahertz07]

The easiest way is to restore the system image created with Macrium into the new drive or clone the drive you have to the new one. Either way will work. I prefer to clone.
After doing it, shut down, remove your friend HDD (important), place the new on the first SATA port and boot.
Of course the cloned will be exactly the same as the original, so you'll have a pirate license on it. To change the license to the new one you bought, open Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\System and at the end of the page you'll find a option to change it.
Click on the link and insert the key you bought. That's all.

 

[Megahertz07]

The best and hardest way is to do a clean install with the media you just bought.

- Boot into the pirate win 7 and Launch Windows Easy Transfer (%windir%\system32\migwiz\migwiz.exe) and create, on the same drive, a data and settings transfer file.
- Shut down and remove the existing drive and attach the new new HDD.
- Boot your Win 7 installation on UEFI mode, go to install, custom, advanced, delete all partitions, create a new one (Win will create 3 partitions) and proceed.
- After installation, shut down, attach the old drive, make sure you boot with the new one, and with the transfer file created on the old one, restore your data and settings. Shut down and remove the old one.
Before giving back the HDD, attach it, make sure you boot with the new one, and format the old one.

 

[Whazzupdoc]

You've been a great resource. Thanks! If it's o.k., let's keep this post on the back burner until I actually get things started and completed. I may need something clarified.

I see you wish to be flying. I flew for many years. Started in a Citabria, went to my own Cessna 205 and finally into a G-Model Beechcraft. I'm 77 now and haven't flown for a number of years...but I too get the itch every now and then!