Solved Win Easy Transfer from 32 bit to 64 bit computers

[chirobeliever]

Have a new used Win7 64 bit computer and want to merge the best from my other two, a laptop and a desktop. The laptop is 64 bit but the desktop is 32 bit with all the programs, etc on it that I want to have on my new one. Really don't want to do a clean install since the old computers are set up personally the way I want it. The questions are:
1. I was thinking of cloning a new drive with the 64 bit laptop, putting it the new computer, and loading the different motherboard drivers so windows can load. Then will use Win Easy Transfer (WET) to put all my personal programs from the 32 bit desktop on the new 64 bit capable computer. Will this work?

2. Or I have to do a clean install but could use WET to transfer the old 32 bit computer setting to the new one. I don't know if WET is sensitive to working with only 32/64 bit or ignores this difference in computers. Does it or can I do this?

Where does the computer get the instructions to load 32 or 64 bit drivers? in boot manager? in registry?

Thank you in advance for your help.http://www.sevenforums.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

 

[AddRAM]

Do a clean install on the new machine, it takes 15 minutes.

 

[chirobeliever]

Then what?
Will WET work to transfer my files and setting from a 32 bit pc to my new 64 bit pc, or do I have to use the 64 bit laptop to transfer them?
And where does the pc get it's instructions to load 64 bit software or preferences to run 64 bit?

 

[gregrocker]

I would not use WET as it can lose your data. Instead just drag your User account or active User folders to external and then the files from each back into the related folder on the new install.

You also do not want to import settings as it is a corruption path into a new fresh install.

You can clone or reimage either of your current OS's but you'll have to first SysPrep to move to new hardware, or use and adaptive restore program like Paragon Adaptive Restore.

But programs which are not part of the image cannot then be reimported - they must be reinstalled.

I'd follow the same steps for Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 to assure a perfect install.

 

[chirobeliever]

Thank you for the info. I like the SysPrep idea.

Still would like to know - "where does the computer get the instructions to load 32 or 64 bit drivers? in boot manager? in registry?"

 

[chirobeliever]

Finally was able to get the drivers installed after recovering with Acronis backup of my 64-bit laptop onto this 64-bit PC so looks like all I need to remove laptop related software and update my other drivers. Thanks for your advice.

 

[gregrocker]

What drivers?

 

[chirobeliever]

The motherboard drivers since it was new and did not match the Acronis Home image from my old computer that I put on the new computer drive.

 

[gregrocker]

Did you use Acronis Universal Restore and were prompted for the drivers?

If not may I ask how you inserted them?

 

[chirobeliever]

Used Acronis to restore onto the new computer the backup file from the laptop. Since the drivers in the file were for the laptop, I ran Dism.exe to put the motherboard drivers into Win7 once I figured out the drive letters, since C: was D: for some reason. Upon startup with new drivers the C: drive was normal upon which Win7 was installed.