Transferring Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit OEM

[LewisHolcombe]

So I got a new pc from someone yesterday but the hard drive is like 40gb's :L this computer is Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit OEM.
So I have a 1tb Samsung HD on my shelf boxed brand new and I want to put this windows 7 on the 40gb hard drive onto the 1tb Samsung HD.
I want to MOVE not COPY.
So I can boot off the 1tb and blank the 40gb and throw it away.
Is there any way to do this without having to buy a new copy of windows 7
It said in the windows 7 help section That it's one windows 7 on a computer per disk. Here I am not breaking this rule.
And for the questions yes I can have them both running at the same time + another hard drive I have. So I can have 3 running at the same time if I need to.

 

[LittleJay]

I have used the Paragon Migrate OS to SSD software many times to do what you want and it has never given me any trouble. Despite the name, it doesn't matter whether you have an SSD or not. It will migrate the OS from one HDD to another as well. The only catch is that it does cost $20 US, but the price is worth it in my opinion.

 

[LewisHolcombe]

That's the problem I dont have any cash to spend is there like no was I can just drag all the files from the c drive into the d drive then boot from the d drive and wipe the c drive?

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello LewisHolcombe, welcome to Seven Forums!


You should be able to create and move an image to the new HDD without issue as long as there is no major hardware changes, have a look at this tutorial linked below.

Imaging with free Macrium


​

 

[LittleJay]

I use Aomei Partition Assistant Professional, which has the migrate os feature, but I just looked and I see the freeware version does as well, so that would be another option for you as well.

Free Partition Manager Software for Windows 8/7/Vista/XP, 32/64 bit - AOMEI Partition Assistant Home Edition

 

[bobkn]

You can't simply use Windows to copy all of the files from a boot drive to a new one. Some system files won't be copied.

You want drive cloning software. Some drive manufacturers offer free software to do that. I believe that Western Digital gives a cut-down version of Acronis True Image. Samsung appears to have sold their line to Seagate; maybe their Disc Wizard would do it for you.

How can I copy / transfer all the data from my old boot drive to my new Seagate drive?

 

[Mark Phelps]

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but you can't transfer OEM licenses from one PC to another -- legally.

It's very unlikely that any major PC manufacturer is going to install Win7 Ultimate on a PC with only a 40GB drive. So, my guess, is that whomever did this, grabbed a version off the Internet, installed it, and used some kind of Loader hack to bypass the activation. Which means, in all likelyhood, you may have a "pirated" version of Win7.

 

[LewisHolcombe]

It's on a 40gb partition. It's a 120gb drive but I can't do anything with the partitions and I tryed then on that software and I'm stuck on this screen. Now what?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I tryed then on that software and I'm stuck on this screen. Now what?

Tried what software specifically?

You have 3 choices at least:

Clone from the 40 GB to the other drive, using one of several applications.

Make an image of the 40 GB partition and then restore it to the other drive, using one of several applications.

Do a clean install onto the other drive. You can do this assuming you have a valid 25 character Product Key.

Do you have that Product Key?

 

[LewisHolcombe]

Yes but you can't use them more than twice can you? And it has OEM in it? That's not normal. I got this from someone the other day. I know it's a fully legit pc.
Let me add this.
I passed that screen and now I'm on this screen :I

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Yes but you can't use them more than twice can you? And it has OEM in it? That's not normal. I got this from someone the other day. I know it's a fully legit pc.
Let me add this.
I passed that screen and now I'm on this screen :I

You still have not mentioned the application you are using.

You can use the OEM Product Key again, as long as it is a valid key and you have not changed motherboards.

If I had a valid Product Key, I'd just do a clean install, rather than move/clone/image.

A valid Product Key is typically found on a Certificate Of Authenticity sticker on the PC and will have 25 characters in 5 groups separated by a hyphen, like this:

xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx

You can even call Microsoft and have them tell you if it is a valid Product Key.

 

[LewisHolcombe]

Well do I have to uninstall the one on this hard drive?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Well do I have to uninstall the one on this hard drive?

No.

 

[LewisHolcombe]

Okay. Right its not on the pc cause it was a windows vista pc.
The person/company before me put W7U on it. But you can find it in system properties and it's not quite like yours due to it being OEM it's something like xxxxx-OEM-xxxxx

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Okay. Right its not on the pc cause it was a windows vista pc.
The person/company before me put W7U on it. But you can find it in system properties and it's not quite like yours due to it being OEM it's something like xxxxx-OEM-xxxxx

That's not a Product Key.

Most likely, that is a Product ID.

Product Keys have 25 characters.

I'd be talking to whoever owned this PC before you and ask about the Product Key.

You can do a clean install without a Product Key, but you need the Product Key to activate.

I'd guess the prior owner will be no help, which leaves you with cloning or imaging or buying a new license.

 

[LewisHolcombe]

Ahh I get it. Theres soft ware out there right? It tells you the product key?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

There are applications like Magical Jelly Bean that will attempt to locate your product key.

But that doesn't mean it is a valid product key.

Microsoft is the authority on what is and what is not a valid product key. If you recover the key, call them and ask.

It's anybody's guess if your key is recoverable or valid.

 

[gregrocker]

If it has "OEM" in the Product ID string then it is either Factory preinstalled OEM (which should be Vista, correct?), builder's OEM which was purchased instead of Upgrade to get a price break, or cractivated using the pirates' favorite BIOS SLIC emulation method.

If you reinstall you can try the Product Key audited now from HD using Belarc Advisor but there is no guarantee it will work. If it is definitely Win7 and not Vista then it would have to be Builder's OEM retail to be legal. If it won't activate you'll need to buy a new key or reinstall the native Vista license which is good for the life of the machine.

Or you can clone or image the current install using Win7 backup imaging, Macrium Reflect or the premium Acronis' cloning/imaging apps which come free when any WD or Seagate HD is in the mix.

However even imaging/cloning may lose activation and require reactivation, may prove be a pirate copy requiring you to either buy a new copy of Win7, or reinstall the native Vista OS which came with the PC. Vista ISO download

Or you can do none of the above, clean up the OS on the 40gb to include only the OS and Programs you want to keep, copy the User folders over to the 1tb then link them to the related Library - Include a Folder - Windows 7 Forums, delete the User folder content on C.

http://en.community.dell.com/suppor...fficial-iso-download-links-digital-river.aspx

 

[LewisHolcombe]

Sound risky. The only problem I wanted this on a bigger drive is cause I can't put a seccond one in my graphics card covers slots 2,3,4

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Sound risky.

You don't have a lot of choice.

Attempting to get your product key and calling Microsoft to see if it is legit has no risk.

As for the rest of it, you can take some risks or buy a new Windows disc.