Transfer of a HDD w/ win7 to new computer!

[Fern2899]

ok im not sure what to do, this is why i joined this forum hoping to get some helpful answers from any techs or someone who has experienced my situation..

first off i have/had a Dell xps 710, and it originally came with vista, but my old old, hdd crashed, and i bought a new hdd, along with a new win7 64bit oem version approximatly 5-6 months ago, installed it and everything was on the money!!

now this is where i run into my problem, now my motherboard has failed on me, and im in the process of building a new computer from scratch.. new everything except my hardrive(since its brand new 5-6 months ago), and video card...

how would i take my hard drive with win7 64 bit oem version installed on it and use it on my new setup.. i really dont wanna buy another win7 when i literally just bought it.. i read on here that somone posted doing it through "sysprep", but i cant do the first few steps since my mobo is shot... before i make this post anymore confusing this is my situation what should/could i do to make this work using my hdd with win7 already on it along with my 4000+ audio files any thing else on the hard drive i could care less about...

p.s not sure if this is 100% accurate i have not read into it, but i hear win7 unlike other win versions are now bound to mobo once installed.. if this is the case am i sh!t out of luck, or are their ways around it? please please help!!! any feedback would be fantastic

 

[theog]

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

 

[Fern2899]

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

i went to this thread and read it, and thats why i said that i could not do the "sysprep" because right now i cant turn my pc on cause the motherboard is bad.. but appreciate the reply... what i understood from that tutorial is that before i do the swap i need to do a "sysprep" to prepare for swapping it to a new setup, if im understanding this wrong please le me know...

 

[theog]

Part two

or
Run Paragon Adaptive Restore CD on the new PC, before starting up for the first time,
be sure to have the any drivers at hand, as you may need to add the drivers to your old Windows installation.

 

[Phone Man]

You are SOL as you have an OEM version of windows and it is tied to the first system on which it is activated. A retail version can be transferred to other units as long as it is on only one at a time.

Jim

 

[Fern2899]

You are SOL as you have an OEM version of windows and it is tied to the first system on which it is activated. A retail version can be transferred to other units as long as it is on only one at a time.

Jim

if i called microsoft and explained my situation, do you think they can work something out with me?

 

[seavixen32]

You can certainly try, but I wouldn't raise hopes too high if I were you.

They don't normally give support for OEM software but if you be extra nice and convince them you're only using the software on one computer they may give you an activation ID.

Depends who you speak to and what sort of mood they are in. If at first you don't succeed.........................

 

[Darryl Licht]

Fern:

I highly doubt MS will break their licensing policy for your situation.

You may want to look into apps such as Macrium Reflect Macrium Reflect Backup and Hard Disk Imaging for Windows 7, Vista, XP and Server 2003/2008

They now include a copy of Redeploy which lets you copy image over to dissimilar HW...

 

[Fern2899]

It's just very upsetting that I paid money for a program and didn't even get a half of a year out of it... I didn't plan for this... I can understand if i got 2-3 years out of it, but it's been so short...

 

[torre]

Call Microsoft. I think they will understand your issue.

 

[Darryl Licht]

Yeah, I re-read and you said you bought OEM version... as in you bought from an online retailer such as newegg.com? It should work.... put it in with new mobo and try... if it doesnt recognize new mobo and other parts, reinstall OS on top of itself (into existing directory).

If you bought the upgrade disc then you can still install on top, or perform a clean install (even with upgrade DVD).
http://www.sevenforums.com/installa...-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

If you do call MS... tell them you built 1st system and had a mobo crash and need to reinstall for new mobo and other parts.

 

[gregrocker]

MS is known to make exceptions for good cause such as this.

 

[theog]

If you call MS tell them you had a HD Drive crash only.

 

[Darryl Licht]

As long as you point to one failed part.... what's the difference?

 

[theog]

With OEM's you can change the HD Drive.

 

[Darryl Licht]

It used to be up to a max of three components... has it changed?

 

[theog]

You only need to reinstall with a new MOBO or a new HD Drive.

On OEM's Reinstalling to a new MOBO is not covered by MS, reinstalling to a new HD Drive is covered.

 

[Darryl Licht]

You only need to reinstall with a new MOBO or a new HD Drive.

On OEM's Reinstalling to a new MOBO is not covered by MS, reinstalling to a new HD Drive is covered.

The OP stated he bought an OEM copy, not that he purchased it on PC... That means he is a system builder oem according to MS.

Lots of contradictory info on this... even from Microsoft. But I found in the OEM System Builder site that he can in fact do this... So, he is totally cool!

Generally, an end user can upgrade or replace all of the hardware components on a computer—except the motherboard—and still retain the license for the original Microsoft OEM operating system software. If the motherboard is upgraded or replaced for reasons other than a defect, then a new computer has been created. Microsoft OEM operating system software cannot be transferred to the new computer, and the license of new operating system software is required. If the motherboard is replaced because it is defective, you do not need to acquire a new operating system license for the PC as long as the replacement motherboard is the same make/model or the same manufacturer's replacement/equivalent, as defined by the manufacturer's warranty.
The reason for this licensing rule primarily relates to the End User Software License Terms and the support of the software covered by that End User Software License Terms. The End User Software License Terms is a set of usage rights granted to the end user by the PC manufacturer and relates only to rights for that software as installed on that particular PC. The system builder is required to support the software on the original PC. Understanding that end users, over time, upgrade their PCs with different components, Microsoft needed to have one base component "left standing" that would still define the original PC. Since the motherboard contains the CPU and is the "heart and soul" of the PC, when the motherboard is replaced (for reasons other than defect) a new PC is essentially created. The original system builder did not manufacture this new PC, and therefore cannot be expected to support it.

From: http://www.microsoft.com/oem/en/licensing/sblicensing/pages/licensing_faq.aspx

theog... can you share where you found your info?

 

[theog]

As a IT Student, years ago.

 

[Darryl Licht]

As a IT Student, years ago.

Years ago is a long time in the computer world!

See my post above this for all the gory details!:sarc: