Windows 7: Make Windows 7 bootable after motherboard swap

Hey sorry if this is been answered, but I couldn't find it via search....


Does this work for Win10 installations too? My motherboard shit the bed and I'm waiting on my replacement mobo and processor. This would be a lifesaver if it works for me.


thanks!

That particular one only works for os up to win7.

You might find win10 will adjust itself ok to the new hardware.

If not, Paragon 15 products will be able to adjust it for you. NOTE: That feature is only available in the paid paragon15 offerings.
Paragon Backup & Recovery Home - Features & System Requirements

There is also a free paragon rescue kit 14 - adjust to new hardware is included in the Linux based boot disc that comes with it. Not sure if the Rescue kit 14 supports win10 for that function.

You could test it to see. https://www.paragon-software.com/home/rk-free/


Aomei Backupper is an imaging program which includes restore to new hardware. However, you would have had to make an image first, because it performs the adjustment as part of the restore process.

It is the only imaging program to include that in the free version.

Does this work on Windows 10?

If you upgraded a retail win-7 or 8.1 possibly jury is still out if a retail version of windows 7.. turns into a retail win-10.
Probably need to contact M$ either way and plead your case as to why you swapped mobo's.

I don't know if anyone else has addressed this, but I have found another handy use for the Paragon Adaptive Restore... I build and refurbish over 100 computer per year and waiting for all the Windows Updates (particularly for Windows 7) to download and install is a time consuming task. Here's my solution...

1. Perform a clean, complete installation of the operation system with all patches and updates (do NOT enter the activation code.)
2. Clone the drive to a smaller 40-80GB hard drive, label it with the Windows version and date.
3. Next time you need to do a clean install, clone the drive you set aside to the new machine.
4. Use Paragon Adaptive Restore to set up the new drive.

I have created image drives of most variations of Windows 7 and used this method regularly. It's much faster to clone the drive (I use Acronis 2013) than it is to wait on all the updates.



IMPORTANT! Do NOT try cloning the drives via a USB connection. This may make the new drive unbootable. I use my shop "test" computer and install both drives in it to do the cloning. Rarely ever have an issue.

.. thanks a lot, putermaker .. I only install a few computers a year, so your post is most welcome !!

Tameer

EDIT: Microsoft blocked my product key, regardless of the fact I have 4 "rearms" left available.

the disc tray pops open when selecting the os and then when i choose automatic, it just sits there and nothing happens, does it take several hours for the bar to start moving?

I've been an owner of Paragon Hard Drive Manager for several years, and I've noticed the P2P Adjust feature (also called Adaptive Restore) but never used it before. Now I have a good opportunity with an installation of Win7 x64 and would like to. However, I've long wondered about MS licensing policy about this, and questions that were alluded to many times in this thread, but not really discussed. It seems I may have misunderstood what the policy is, but no poster ever really explains it here. One of the recent posters mentioned the idea that one has a certain number of reinstalls available. I've heard something like that, but I thought even so, this applies to the SAME equipment.

I assumed that if it is possible to make a P2P transfer to a new motherboard and hardware, one would need not only to reactivate the install, but that you would actually also need a new, unused Product Key for the OS. I thought that MS assigns a product key to live forevermore with a particular motherboard, and though I've heard you can call them and get them to move it if you have a failed motherboard (sort of like a special dispensation from the Pope), I didn't think it's so easy as it is made to sound in this thread.

Can anyone enlighten me about how this works and what the expected licensing and re-activation rules are for a Windows 7 OS?

Thanks,
Michael

I've wondered the same thing about Adaptive Restore and frankly don't know what licensing jams you might get into.

I've looked at Adaptive Restore, but never actually used it. It's part of a Paragon program I have, but I've never used the feature.

Here's my assumption: if you had a retail Windows license and changed motherboards, you'd be in the clear. If you had an OEM license and changed motherboards, you'd probably have to contact MS and hope they showed some mercy because OEM licenses are at least theoretically wedded to the motherboard. That's the way it would work if you did a clean install and I wouldn't think Adaptive Restore would be an exception to the rule.

Problem is---you will have trouble finding anyone on these forums who has actually used the Adaptive Restore feature. Offhand, I can't recall any discussion of it, other than in passing.

I'd like to be proven wrong as I've always been curious about how well it works in actual practice.

Maybe Paragon has a forum where you could ask the question?

I was tempted to try it a couple of months ago, but instead just carried over a hard drive with a retail Windows installation onto a new motherboard. Didn't have the nerve. I instead spent 5 or 10 hours reconfiguring the new setup--mostly drivers and display issues. I was able to avoid spending dozens of hours reinstalling and configuring a bunch of applications.