Windows 7 Installation - Transfer to a New Computer

How to Transfer your Complete Windows 7 Installation to New Computer​

To start, a warning from Microsoft:

   Note

Important

You must use the Sysprep /generalize command to generalize a complete Windows installation before you can use the installation for deployment to a new computer, whether you use imaging, hard disk duplication, or another method. Moving or copying a Windows image to a different computer without running the Sysprep /generalize command is not supported.

This tutorial will show you how to do the transfer.

   Information

Windows 7 System Preparation Tool is a powerful, native Windows tool. When for instance used in so called Audit Mode, it let's you to freely configure Windows 7 to be then deployed to other computers as hardware independent image.

In this tutorial we use System Preparation Tool (sysprep) to prepare your Windows 7 installation to be moved to a new computer, keeping all your installed applications, program settings and user profiles. You can use this method for instance when you have bought a new PC and want to transfer your existing setup completely, without need to reinstall everything, or when you want to make major hardware changes like change the motherboard or GPU, which would usually cause Windows to stop booting normally.

   Warning

Using this method causes Windows 7 to lose all activation information, and it needs to be reactivated afterwards. If your Windows 7 is an OEM version, you might not be able to reactivate it, at least not without phone activation option.

I do not recommend to use this method on RAID systems. All experiments on RAID I know have failed.

With the speed of today's hardware evolution, most of us geeks are upgrading the hardware more often than operating system. Upgrading hardware can be painfully slow process if we need to reinstall the operating system and all our installed applications, plus transfer program settings and user profiles.

Using sysprep makes this easy. Changing the motherboard, or for instance an old ATI GPU to a new nVidia GPU quite often causes Windows 7 not to be able to boot anymore. This fact is usually accepted by the user, who then reinstalls the OS and all applications and transfers user profiles from a backup location.

Same thing when buying a new computer with completely different hardware setup compared to the old one, or trying to restore a system image to different hardware setup. Normally this would include a complete reinstallation of Windows 7 and all applications.

Why not use sysprep to avoid reinstalling? Here are the different scenarios where you can use it.

   Warning

An upgraded Windows cannot be sysprepped. As this method is based in sysprepping, this tutorial is valid only for Windows setups which have not been upgraded.

This means that if you have for instance in-place upgraded Vista to Seven, or using Anytime Upgrade upgraded for instance a Home Premium to Ultimate, you cannot sysprep and this tutorial cannot be used in your case.

Notice that a repair install is also an upgrade install, so if you have ever done a repair install (= in-place upgrade to same edition), you cannot sysprep.

PLEASE DO NOT FORGET TO CREATE A SYSTEM IMAGE BEFORE PROCEEDING!​

As you can read on this thread, on rare occasions this method does not work. If this happens, you can always restore your system using your backup image.

Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup
System Image Recovery

IE10 Users: Please read this article first: Sysprep Fatal Error With IE 10 (FIX) | System Administration

METHOD ONE

Changing hardware components but keeping old hard disk(s)

Use this method if you:
- Change other hardware components but keep your old HD containing Windows 7
- Move the HD containing Windows 7 to another computer

1. Before installing new hardware, boot Windows 7 normally
2. Disconnect all external hardware except mouse, keyboard and main display. If your system folders are located only on C: drive, disconnect all other hard disks except that containing the C:. In case of relocated system folders, for instance the profile folder Users located in another drive and other system folders on C:, first move the relocated system folders back to C: then disconnect all other drives. Reboot after this
3. Run Command Prompt as administrator
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4. Type to Command Prompt: %windir%\System32\Sysprep\Sysprep.exe, and hit Enter
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5. In sysprep dialog that opens, choose System Cleanup Action as Enter System Out-of-Box-Experience (OOBE), select Generalize, select Shutdown Options Shutdown. Click OK
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6. Sysprep generalizes now your Windows 7 setup and shuts down your computer. Do not run any other programs during this phase!
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7. Switch the main power of your PC off and install the new hardware OR dismount the hard disk(s) and mount it (them) to a new computer
8. Boot the PC from sysprep generalized hard disk. You will notice Windows booting as if it was the first boot after installation, installing default drivers and updating registry. One or two reboots are needed, depending on your system specifications
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9. When Windows finally boots up, you will need to enter all information as if this really was a new, fresh installation
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10. Because your old user profiles already exist, Windows does not accept your normal username, but instead you have to create a new temporary user. I use username Test for this purpose
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11. When login screen appears, choose your old user account to login
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12. Windows boots now to default OOBE first boot desktop, with default 800*600 resolution and default theme. All your installed applications are there, as well as your old user profiles and folders. Windows has installed the default drivers for your setup, you can update them if needed
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13. Go to Control Panel > User Accounts and delete the temporary user account (in this case Test) that you just created

METHOD TWO

Change the hard disk(s) or move Windows 7 setup to a new computer using third party imaging software

Use this method if you:
- Replace the HD containing Windows 7 on your old computer
- Move Windows 7 to a new HD on another computer

1. Follow steps 1 through 5 above (method 1)
2. Boot PC with an imaging CD/DVD (Paragon, Macrium etc.). See Macrium Reflect Free:at our sister site TenForums.com: Backup and Restore with Macrium Reflect Windows 10 Backup Restore Tutorials . Also see this post for a practical tip to create a Macrium system image.
3. Create an image of your system
4. Turn PC off, change the hard disk(s) and reboot with imaging application, restoring the image OR boot the new computer with imaging software and restore the image
5. Continue from step 7 above (method 1)

This procedure is failsafe, and works every time. There is nothing to worry, but of course it is recommended to make a backup before trying this. I have even used this method when some serious driver issues caused the PC to constantly crash (BSOD), to reset all drivers to Windows defaults and then reinstalling them one by one to find the culprit.

   Note

What does Sysprep generalizing do to my Windows 7 setup?

• All system specific information is removed or uninstalled
• Security ID (SID) of your hardware setup is reseted
• All system restore points are deleted
• All event logs are deleted
• All personalization is removed (taskbar, toolbars, folder options, start orb etc.)
• Built-in administrator account is disabled (if it was enabled) and needs to be re-enabled after the transfer if needed

What happens when booting first time after sysprep generalizing?

• First boot configuration is run
• New SID is created
• Re-arm counter is reseted if not already re-armed three times
• Windows 7 is booted using first boot default drivers and settings

I have tested all above mentioned methods with all versions of Windows 7, from Starter to Enterprise. It works every time, with one exception: for reasons unknown to me, sysprep seems sometimes dislike Windows Media Player networking service, which is by default started every time Windows 7 starts. In about every third time I've done this, I've got an error message when trying to generalize:



However, this is not a big problem. You just need to stop the WMP networking service, and run sysprep with generalize option again. You can stop the service in question by typing net stop WMPNetworkSvc to command prompt, and hitting Enter:



If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask.

Happy computing!

Kari

EDIT: A Useful tip from xxxwea, as later confirmed by Victor:

Kari, just a suggestion.

You might note in the tutorial that if on first booting Windows can't finish configuring, a reboot into safe mode, then a normal reboot will allow it to finish successfully.

This has happened to me both times I used a sysprepped system drive in a new computer. I found the answer to this problem buried deep in this thread the first time I ran into it, and the same thing happened yesterday on a different computer.

It's a seemingly very silly solution, but it works. I do believe many people have abandoned their sysprep work when they encounter the problem.

I think the solution deserves more visibility.

 

[bullfights]

Well the third backup, to restore image on new hd from old hd backup is going but has integrity errors, found three so far. lets see what happens....

 

[bullfights]

Well the back up to restore to new hd didnt work seems that when the backup was being created for some reason the image sequence broke up in between whole numbers and added alpha's, example:

img_D0_001p
img_D0_001a
img_D0_001b
img_D0_001c
img_D0_001d, etc
img_D0_002p

so that lettering broke up the sequence, and couldnt continue, I looked further into the files and there were several other spots with the same thing. At first I was going to delete just that section but said for get it.

No I am going to back up the old hd again but this time in one image file instead of many. lets see what happens now...

 

[Kari]

@bullfights, you can "undo" it by detaching the HD back to old computer / HW setup and booting it up.

Kari

 

[bullfights]

@bullfights, you can "undo" it by detaching the HD back to old computer / HW setup and booting it up.

Kari

been trying that Kari,but it wont do anything but got thru like its setting up anew, then it throws an error saying the in can no longer continue and to reboot, but the same thing occurs on that reboot. I tried the link here:
http://www.sevenforums.com/1524322-post85.html
as thats the errors I am getting but to no avail. Its stuck in that loop.

Right now I have it in the PC (new) and I installed a fresh win7, and was going to move files from the old drive to the new one, but I still cant "see" the old drive. So now have to put it in old sys and try something else, what I dont know.

 

[bullfights]

Well I'll be waiting for some news if you post em, I am without my main PC right now, and cant boot to it.If you can let me know what todo it wouldbe great, but right now the only way to see the drive is thru paragon boot cd, which isnt much help.

 

[bullfights]

Is there anywhere else I can get some help?

 

[Kari]

Bullfights, the best you can do is to re-attach the HD to the old computer, and do a system restore using a backup image, if the HD still refuses to boot. If you have no backups then use install DVD to do a repair install as told in this tutorial: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html

In worst case scenario do a reinstall NOT FORMATTING THE HD, which creates a Windows.old folder which includes your user folders and data.

I am very sorry I am not able to help you. On those very rare occasions known to me when this method has not worked, I've seen no pattern as of why.

Kari

 

[bullfights]

ok well I tried the restore again with paragon , with the initial back up image, and it loaded everything fine, unlike before, then as when finished I rebooted and right after the windows splash screen it went black and came back with the set up is starting services, with a popup that states windows could not finish configuring the system. to attempt to resume config reboot system etc, and from here it loops.

 

[bullfights]

I will try the repair install first.....Well after reading the thread post it seems I have to be inside windows first lol, well I cant even get there....

 

[randallrivy11]

will this work moving ur installation to a completely new computer ( for example froma hp computer to a acer)?

 

[bullfights]

In worst case scenario do a reinstall NOT FORMATTING THE HD, which createsa a Windows.old folder which includes your user folders and data.

Well this looks like the only option at this point, but what I am facing now is the inability to get all the email messages, accounts, etc, how in the heck do you do that? I already tried and one account was put in the storage folders instead of the regular inbox.

lovely...

will this work moving ur installation to a completely new computer ( for example froma hp computer to a acer)?

regarding my issue? or something you're trying. supposedly it should work but sometimes it doesnt, and in my case it didnt. I have custom built PCs.

I think maybe the method two and three should be reversed, being that its third party software. I mean if I woulda used option three, its a windows thing and probably easier to get repaired than third party apps. but what do I know.

good luck

ok regarding the custom install, it states that all of the previous files will be put in a folder called windows.old and can be accessible, so my whole intention was to move windows from one PC to the Other, cant I just do the same without having to re-install and use the hard drive as an "external?" or ?

ok going to do the following to get my PC back in working condition, see what happens:

1st: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/20146-custom-install-windows-7-a.html
2nd: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/16282-windows-old-folder-restore-into-new-installation.html

 

[Kari]

Bullfights, no you don't need to be in Windows to run repair installation. Just boot from install DVD and choose Upgrade option; that does a repair install leaving your stuff intact.

Randallrivy11, it should work. I have transferred a Windows setup from an HP laptop to a self assembled desktop using this method. However, as you can see here above, Bullfights having enormous problems, create first a system image to allow you to restore the system if something goes wrong.

Kari

 

[bullfights]

Randallrivy11, it should work. I have transferred a Windows setup from an HP laptop to a self assembled desktop using this method. However, as you can see here above, Bullfights having enormous problems, create first a system image to allow you to restore the system if something goes wrong.
Kari

Yep create that image first, though I think there should be two images created, the first one should be BEFORE you follow this tutorial, and a second one AFTER the sysprep is complete, this way you can go back to the original image. I think if i had done it that way I could have been back to normal by now.

oh well live and learn...

Bullfights, no you don't need to be in Windows to run repair installation. Just boot from install DVD and choose Upgrade option; that does a repair install leaving your stuff intact.

Well that didnt work, says: The computer started using the windows installation disc. Remove the installation disc and restart your computer so that windows starts normally (thats my problem it wont). Then insert the installation disc and restart the upgrade....etc....

hmm guess i will have to do something else....

 

[altaedm]

great tutorial works flawlessly - tried all methods

Ian

 

[SpenceAlmighty]

Thanks for the Tutorial

Has anyone tried this with an Intel RAID0 Boot Partition?

I am just about to attempt a HDD move going from an ICH10R (X58 Chipset) created RAID0 Boot partion over to a new system with an ASUS P8Z68-M-PRO and the current Intel Rapid Storage Technology Controller.

I am hoping that as long as I update to the latest storage controller drivers before I make my move and follow the instructions for Method 1 that everything will be OK.

Am I on the right track here?

 

[Kari]

Just preparing my possible future defense case : I have never tried this on RAID systems!

Thinking logically, I would like to answer why not? But again, I think I would not like to do this, at least without really comprehensive precautions and backups.

If you decide to try, please let me know the end result, with all possible issues you met.

Kari

 

[SpenceAlmighty]

Well, I am about to give it a go now... drivers up to date, windows updates all installed, acronis backups performed to 2 locations...

Righto boys... see you on the other side!

 

[SpenceAlmighty]

things are not going as well as I had hoped.

I first experienced the error that Windows Media Sharing causes and moved past that successfully performing a generalization and shutdown.

The Raid Array was found in the new Machine and Booted into the Windows setup splash screen however it is producing an error "Windows could not finish configuring the system, to attempt to resume configuration, restart the computer. while the message "Setup is Starting Services" is displayed on the splash screen. In fact the error occurs shortly after that screen comes up ~1 second or so.

 

[Kari]

I was expecting some issues but rather with generalizing than first boot with new system. Using this method on RAID is so completely unknown territory for me that I have absolutely no clue, no ideas to suggest.

Might be better to restore backup image on old RAID and start thinking about Plan B?

I am sorry I can not assist you in any way.

Kari

 

[SpenceAlmighty]

thats cool - I found a resource on the web with some registry keys to edit to bail out of OOBE that stopped the problem and I am up and running however I fear that the early exit from OOBE is now causing my old user profile to be inaccessible. user is still there but it logs out as soon as you log on..

Either way - the Generalise and Raid move part worked fine. just other stuff got in my way!