Windows 7 Installation - Transfer to a New Computer

it was nice but due to this some thing will get loose

better u guy can transfer the HDD to new computer and boot it with safe mode and install the drivers and restart it in normal mode

in the tutorial, it is told after running the sysprep, next step is to clone/backup the harddrive and then restore the image onto another harddrive. As the system has already gone through sysprep, how could i do a cloning? Do i need a cd native booted cloning software? any suggestions?

Kari,

Question:

Why in post #14 below is it recommended to boot with an imaging CD\DVD? Once sysprep is complete and the hard drive moved into a new system, wouldn't the hard drive boot without the third party software?


The third-party software I use (Casper) does not require restoring the image. It clones the entire hard drive which is bootable as it is. Am I missing something here?

Kari said:

It simply means that if you want to transfer your Windows installation as it is, with applications and user profiles intact, to A) a new hard disk in your old computer, or B) to a completely new computer, you should do this:

• Boot your old computer normally to Windows
• Follow the steps 1 through 5 in method 1
• When sysprep is finished and computer shut down, boot it from an imaging CD/DVD. DO NOT BOOT NORMALLY TO WINDOWS!
• Now create a system image. Notice that this image contains at this point a complete image of your generalized Windows, ready to be booted "first time". Use external HD to store the image
• Shut down the computer

Now you have two choices, depending on what you are doing:

1. If you are changing hard disk to your old computer, do it now, then boot again from imaging CD/DVD and restore image to this new, virgin hd in your old computer. Boot then your computer normally from HD which now contains a generalized image of your old Windows setup
2. If you are transferring you Windows setup to a new computer, boot it with imaging CD/DVD and restore the image to its HD. Boot then the new computer normally from HD which now contains a generalized image of your old Windows setup

In both above mentioned scenarios you have restored a generalized image of your Windows setup to a new HD. Go back to tutorial method 1 following it from step 7 to the end, and you are done.

Kari

Kari,

Well, that makes me feel better. I'm glad I could help clarify. That is the least I can do especially considering this is such a beneficial and informative thread.

Rick

Two follow up questions:

Are there any advantages to running sysprep in safe mode?

Is there a workaround for restoring lost personal settings, (toolbars, folder options etc) after running sysprep? Are these preferences stored in any particular folder(s) that could be copied over to the new system?