Windows 7 Installation - Transfer to a New Computer

MeiRct said:

I saw this reply mentioning Easy Transfer, but the user didn't tell us how it worked for him.

Easy Transfer is my recommendation, easiest way to migrate the user settings.

A more work including alternative is to boot to Audit Mode, delete all existing user accounts, customize the default user profile (theme, colors, settings and so on), then sysprep with an answer file with variable CopyProfile set true:

Code:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">
    <settings pass="specialize">
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
            <CopyProfile>true</CopyProfile>
        </component>
    </settings>
    <cpi:offlineImage cpi:source="wim:X:\Sources\install.wim#Windows 10 Enterprise" xmlns:cpi="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:cpi" /> 
</unattend>

After sysprep you need then recreate the users which get the customizations and settings from the modified default user profile. The problem is that as the CopyProfile only works when there are no existing user profiles, it's not very practical in this case.

If interested here's the tutorial: User Profile - Customize During Installation

This complete walkthrough might also give some ideas: Windows 7 Image - Customize in Audit Mode with Sysprep

Kari

MeiRct said:

Can you please tell what are the steps to combine Easy Transfer with each of the three methods from your tutorial?

1. Transfer user profiles using Easy Transfer (tutorial)
2. Generalize the Windows image as told in this tutorial (method 1, 2 or 3)
3. Move Windows to a new computer or hardware
4. Restore user profiles using Easy Transfer

MeiRct said:

Is it possible to switch between different versions of Windows 7, let's say from "Home Premium" to "Ultimate"?

No. You can use the Windows Anytime Upgrade to upgrade the current Windows edition to a superior edition any time you want to, before or after moving Windows to a new computer.

Tutorials:

• Windows Anytime Upgrade - Enable or Disable
• Windows Anytime Upgrade - How to

MeiRct said:

Same question about switching from 32bit to 64bit, or the other way around.

Switching the bit version once Windows is installed is absolutely not possible. The only way to do this is a clean install. A 32 bit Windows will always remain 32 bit, to upgrade it to 64 bit version you need to do a fresh, clean install with a 64 bit install media and vice versa.

MeiRct said:

If it's possible, what are the special or additional steps for achieving it?
(I'm asking about Sysprep as well as Easy Transfer)

Sysprep has nothing to do with upgrades, see the answers above.

Kari

wranglers1 said:

I know this is a windows 7 forum, but can I ask if the sysprep method described above would work for windows 8.1 retail?

Hi Wranglers, welcome to the Seven Forums.

Yes. In all Windows version from Vista to Windows 10, this generalizing method is the only one recommended by Microsoft to move the installation to a new computer or hardware setup.

Do you you know our sister site the Eight Forums? If you get any issues doing this on Windows 8 or 8.1 start a thread there and let me know about it.

Windows 8 Forums

Kari

Hi Bill, welcome to the Seven Forums.

Windows Backup is a bit tricky to start with and in Audit Mode sometimes impossible. In later versions of Windows it does not work at all when in Audit Mode, starting from Windows 8.

I recommend all users to choose Method Two using any third party imaging software instead of Method Three with Windows Backup. I use Macrium, you Clonezilla, other users other programs.

Good to know that you got your image anyway :).

Kari

dsa44 said:

Hi, thanks for this tutorial. I will be putting in a new mb/memory/cpu and was curious as to what would be the difference between doing the sysprep, or simply running the "repair" option from the win7 install disk after replacing the mb.
Thx

Before trying to answer your question, look what Microsoft has to say about it. This quote from the very beginning of this tutorial:

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.

OK, let's forget the Microsoft's way to use the words "You must". It's just their way to tell you that this is the tested, working way to do this and that they recommend using it.

That being said, any a bit more advanced geek can remove all hardware related information manually, not needing Sysprep or any third party tools. In addition, sometimes the move of the Windows system hard disk to another PC or changing a motherboard simply works without any whatsoever issues.

The decision is yours. The Sysprep method as told in tutorial works and is the official and only method recommended by Microsoft. All other third party methods to do the same are at least to some extent based on Sysprep (re: tools to capture your Windows installation from HDD and move it to SSD).

It's your computer, your choice. It might just work doing it as you described.

Kari