Windows 7 Installation - Transfer to a New Computer

All I want is my application preferences to stay intact. I've read that Kaktussoft method works - just uninstall unwanted devices and shutdown. Replace hardware, boot up windows so it installs proper drivers for the current setup.

It should work, the IDE/SATA driver is the most important driver to uninstall.

Sysprep should be used as a last resort.

I used this tutorial a few months ago when I was trying out a new motherboard... Works very well.

But my situation now is that my mobo sizzled after my water cooling tubes came loose and it "rained" all over my board. Even after drying the system completely there are major issues. So I bought a new mobo last night and since I can't boot into my Windows installation, wondered if I might try booting with the drive attached to the new board, but in Safe Mode, and run Sysprep at that point. Now that I've written the idea, it seems unlikely that it would work but I don't know what else to try.

Thanks,

I strongly suspect so, too. All my data is safe. Using a boot disc, I'm going to try to at least save off a <dir> list of my Program Files folders; that's always helpful when building from scratch. B-)

Hi Kari,

Thank you for the clearest, most succinct explanation of sysprep and how to create a system image that I've seen so far. (I'm not a full-time IT person, so I appreciate keeping it simple.)

I'm working on upgrading about 10 new computers. I want them all to "look and feel" the same. So, losing the personalization with sysprep is a problem. My new pc's have oem licenses, which I'd like to use again. But with my installation of Win 7, personalizations, applications, etc.

Do you know of a workaround to either include the personalizations, or to replace them once I've used sysprep and restored the image?

What would you recommend ?

Thanks!

Phil

Kari,

Thanks for the quick response!

I could try sysprep without generalizing and then use Acronis with Universal Restore to image and restore, using Universal Restore to load drivers for the different PC's. Would that work?

Is there an alternative to sysprep that would allow me to enter the OEM product key for each pc? I don't really need the oobe. For these workstations, I use the same account for all users on all of the pc's. I only need to change the computer name. Everything else can be the same as all the others.

Thanks again for your help!

Phil