Windows 7 Installation - Transfer to a New Computer

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  1. Posts : 25
    win 7 64 bit
       #460

    success! just got it to work using Aomei, but I just used the regular system image-not the sysprep one. for simplicity and for my situation maybe it makes sense for me to just keep doing it the way I did w/o sysprep. Is there something I am missing here, for my specific situation is there some benefit to using sysprep as opposed to what I mentioned I did above "when I go to the new pc I load windows 7 first, install the LAN driver from disc and then install Aomei. "??? I am sure I will need to update & tweak a few things, plus activate my new windows key-I skipped this on the new PC... So far things seem to be working fine, but I will keep everyone posted...

    Still wondering if there is an easier way "Is there an easier way to do this when I can somehow boot to my external HD on the new PC and initiate a system restore-like this but I need more than a CD option (due to system image size): AOMEI Backupper Helps to Create Bootable CD
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 325
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #461

    Freetvee, a couple of points that might clear up your confusion. And don't fret being confused at first, happened to me too.
    1. Sysprep: this is done to strip off drivers that can cause the Windows system to fail if you try to boot it on a new computer with different hardware. If you're transferring a HD to the new PC the Windows systems on the HD is sysprepped first. If you are using an image for the new PC, you do the same sysprep on the old PC, then take an image and restore that image on the new PC. In either case sysprep should be set to shut down the PC upon completion.
    If the PC's are identical in hardware, sysprep isn't needed. Just registration with MS.
    2. Imaging. The Bootable CD you mention won't contain the image. It contains the imaging software.
    It will boot to that interface, not Windows. For making the image you point at what you are imaging (old PC HD that has been sysprepped) and point it to where you want the image stored (your external HD.)
    If your imaging software allows naming the image, call it Sysprepccyymmdd. Otherwise rename it to keep it identifiable. You should take an original image before you sysprep the HD, so you can restore the old computer back to its original look. Think you did that already, but learn to make your image using the bootable CD. It's not difficult. Take your time.
    For restoring the image of the sysprepped HD you then connect your external HD to the new PC, and use that same CD to boot the new PC.
    Then you point to the image of the sysprepped HD that you've created on the external HD, and point to your target partition on the new PC to do the restore of the image. Then you can boot the new PC from the HD. This is all assuming you know how to set boot order in your BIOS. I recommend setting the CD drive as 1st boot device, the C drive as 2nd. On my PC that gives a prompt of about 3 seconds to "hit any key" to boot to CD. Normally I ignore it and boots from the C drive. But if I want to boot from the CD I just hit a key. Yours may work differently, but you won't have trouble figuring it out.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 10,796
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bits 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
       #462

    freetvee said:
    Thanks for all of the details Victor, this clears up a lot & I apprecaite you help greatly!

    1. I think the reason this worked for me was that my hardware virtually remained the same-which should normally be the case for my situation... It seems like this make my process even easier then-no need to sysprep if the hardware is staying the same, right? I might have a different motherboard model # but it is still an asrock mobo so basically the same-no worries then?

    2. Soooooooo the bootable CD contains the imaging software, which means I can just create a bootable disk then and save even more time! If I skip all of the sysprep, can I just create the bootable CD within windows 7 like normal or do I need to do this differently?

    Then on the new PC, if I understand correctly I can setup my bios to boot to CD (finally something I know how to do!), put my bootable CD I created into the new DVD drive and then it will kick me straight into the Aoemi UI where I can then select which system image I want to use to restore my new PC (old PC system image on my external HD), correct?

    If the old PC has a HD partition C: & E: will it automatically keep the same partition/file locations on my new PC, or do I need to do something to accomplish this?
    Most of the time installing "Standard SATA AHCI Controller" prior to swap gives you NO problems at all. After succesfull boot:

    • uninstall drivers no longer needed. See device manager
    • install drivers for new motherboard. Check device manager
    But if your motherbaord dies all of a sudden you can't install "Standard SATA AHCI Controller" anymore. Then you have to use some physical to physical adjust OS software to install drivers (inject them) offline
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 25
    win 7 64 bit
       #463

    Not understanding what this "Standard SATA AHCI Controller" is that you speak of? Is this something I should download somewhere and add onto my old PC before doing a system image of it, or is this built into the BIOS of my mobo or what??
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 10,796
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bits 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
       #464

    freetvee said:
    Not understanding what this "Standard SATA AHCI Controller" is that you speak of? Is this something I should download somewhere and add onto my old PC before doing a system image of it, or is this built into the BIOS of my mobo or what??
    I assume your disk is a SATA disk and BIOS is in AHCI mode. Run device manager, expand "IDE ATA/API controllers" . Right click on your controller driver->update driver. "On my computer"->"pick from list". Put checkmark at "show compatible devices". Now select the standard compatible driver from microsoft

    Translate from Dutch so maybe not 100% correct!
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Windows 7 Installation - Transfer to a New Computer-naamloos.png  
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 25
    win 7 64 bit
       #465

    Kaktussoft said:
    freetvee said:
    Not understanding what this "Standard SATA AHCI Controller" is that you speak of? Is this something I should download somewhere and add onto my old PC before doing a system image of it, or is this built into the BIOS of my mobo or what??
    I assume your disk is a SATA disk and BIOS is in AHCI mode. Run device manager, expand "IDE ATA/API controllers" . Right click on your controller driver->update driver. "On my computer"->"pick from list". Put checkmark at "show compatible devices". Now select the standard compatible driver from microsoft

    Translate from Dutch so maybe not 100% correct!
    You are correct I am using Sata disk in AHCI mode. Are you saying to do this on the old PC before doing a system image-because it will prevent issues on the new PC? or are you saying to do this on the new PC after imaging it to make sure everything works properly? fyi-havent done any of this and it seems to be working fine currently-thinking if it ain't broke dont fix it maybe... ;-) Is this necessary only if I change the hard drive manufacturer or model # or why should I do this?
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 10,796
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bits 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
       #466

    freetvee said:
    Kaktussoft said:
    freetvee said:
    Not understanding what this "Standard SATA AHCI Controller" is that you speak of? Is this something I should download somewhere and add onto my old PC before doing a system image of it, or is this built into the BIOS of my mobo or what??
    I assume your disk is a SATA disk and BIOS is in AHCI mode. Run device manager, expand "IDE ATA/API controllers" . Right click on your controller driver->update driver. "On my computer"->"pick from list". Put checkmark at "show compatible devices". Now select the standard compatible driver from microsoft

    Translate from Dutch so maybe not 100% correct!
    You are correct I am using Sata disk in AHCI mode. Are you saying to do this on the old PC before doing a system image-because it will prevent issues on the new PC? or are you saying to do this on the new PC after imaging it to make sure everything works properly? fyi-havent done any of this and it seems to be working fine currently-thinking if it ain't broke dont fix it maybe... ;-) Is this necessary only if I change the hard drive manufacturer or model # or why should I do this?
    You have to do it before imaging the old drive. For example the old mainboard has an intel sata chipset and win7 has an intel sata driver. Maybe the new system has another sata chipset..... the intel sata driver is totally confused and system crashes with stopcode 0x7B. It has nothing to do with harddisk itself!

    If you didn't do it and new system is working fine.... no action is needed. Check device manager if all drivers are installed!
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 25
    win 7 64 bit
       #467

    Kaktussoft said:
    freetvee said:
    Kaktussoft said:
    I assume your disk is a SATA disk and BIOS is in AHCI mode. Run device manager, expand "IDE ATA/API controllers" . Right click on your controller driver->update driver. "On my computer"->"pick from list". Put checkmark at "show compatible devices". Now select the standard compatible driver from microsoft

    Translate from Dutch so maybe not 100% correct!
    You are correct I am using Sata disk in AHCI mode. Are you saying to do this on the old PC before doing a system image-because it will prevent issues on the new PC? or are you saying to do this on the new PC after imaging it to make sure everything works properly? fyi-havent done any of this and it seems to be working fine currently-thinking if it ain't broke dont fix it maybe... ;-) Is this necessary only if I change the hard drive manufacturer or model # or why should I do this?
    You have to do it before imaging the old drive. For example the old mainboard has an intel sata chipset and win7 has an intel sata driver. Maybe the new system has another sata chipset..... the intel sata driver is totally confused and system crashes with stopcode 0x7B. It has nothing to do with harddisk itself!

    If you didn't do it and new system is working fine.... no action is needed. Check device manager if all drivers are installed!
    got it, good to know. my system is still using intel, and even the same mobo-asrock (different model #) & HD manufacturer-just a different HD model # with 3TB as opposed to the old 2TB, so I guess I should be ok with out doing this?
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 10,796
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bits 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
       #468

    freetvee said:
    Kaktussoft said:
    freetvee said:

    You are correct I am using Sata disk in AHCI mode. Are you saying to do this on the old PC before doing a system image-because it will prevent issues on the new PC? or are you saying to do this on the new PC after imaging it to make sure everything works properly? fyi-havent done any of this and it seems to be working fine currently-thinking if it ain't broke dont fix it maybe... ;-) Is this necessary only if I change the hard drive manufacturer or model # or why should I do this?
    You have to do it before imaging the old drive. For example the old mainboard has an intel sata chipset and win7 has an intel sata driver. Maybe the new system has another sata chipset..... the intel sata driver is totally confused and system crashes with stopcode 0x7B. It has nothing to do with harddisk itself!

    If you didn't do it and new system is working fine.... no action is needed. Check device manager if all drivers are installed!
    got it, good to know. my system is still using intel, and even the same mobo-asrock (different model #) & HD manufacturer-just a different HD model # with 3TB as opposed to the old 2TB, so I guess I should be ok with out doing this?
    If it works...it's fine
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 25
    win 7 64 bit
       #469

    Victor S said:
    Freetvee, a couple of points that might clear up your confusion. And don't fret being confused at first, happened to me too.
    1. Sysprep: this is done to strip off drivers that can cause the Windows system to fail if you try to boot it on a new computer with different hardware. If you're transferring a HD to the new PC the Windows systems on the HD is sysprepped first. If you are using an image for the new PC, you do the same sysprep on the old PC, then take an image and restore that image on the new PC. In either case sysprep should be set to shut down the PC upon completion.
    If the PC's are identical in hardware, sysprep isn't needed. Just registration with MS.
    2. Imaging. The Bootable CD you mention won't contain the image. It contains the imaging software.
    It will boot to that interface, not Windows. For making the image you point at what you are imaging (old PC HD that has been sysprepped) and point it to where you want the image stored (your external HD.)
    If your imaging software allows naming the image, call it Sysprepccyymmdd. Otherwise rename it to keep it identifiable. You should take an original image before you sysprep the HD, so you can restore the old computer back to its original look. Think you did that already, but learn to make your image using the bootable CD. It's not difficult. Take your time.
    For restoring the image of the sysprepped HD you then connect your external HD to the new PC, and use that same CD to boot the new PC.
    Then you point to the image of the sysprepped HD that you've created on the external HD, and point to your target partition on the new PC to do the restore of the image. Then you can boot the new PC from the HD. This is all assuming you know how to set boot order in your BIOS. I recommend setting the CD drive as 1st boot device, the C drive as 2nd. On my PC that gives a prompt of about 3 seconds to "hit any key" to boot to CD. Normally I ignore it and boots from the C drive. But if I want to boot from the CD I just hit a key. Yours may work differently, but you won't have trouble figuring it out.
    Thanks for all of the details Victor, this clears up a lot & I apprecaite you help greatly!

    1. I think the reason this worked for me was that my hardware virtually remained the same-which should normally be the case for my situation... It seems like this make my process even easier then-no need to sysprep if the hardware is staying the same, right? I might have a different motherboard model # but it is still an asrock mobo so basically the same-no worries then?

    2. Soooooooo the bootable CD contains the imaging software, which means I can just create a bootable disk then and save even more time! If I skip all of the sysprep, can I just create the bootable CD within windows 7 like normal or do I need to do this differently?

    Then on the new PC, if I understand correctly I can setup my bios to boot to CD (finally something I know how to do!), put my bootable CD I created into the new DVD drive and then it will kick me straight into the Aoemi UI where I can then select which system image I want to use to restore my new PC (old PC system image on my external HD), correct?

    If the old PC has a HD partition C: & E: will it automatically keep the same partition/file locations on my new PC, or do I need to do something to accomplish this?
      My Computer


 
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