Changed Hard drive--Windows 7 RTM Activation

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  1. darkassain
    Posts : 2,899
    Windows 7 Ult x64(x2), HomePrem x32(x4), Server 08 (+VM), 08 R2 (VM) , SuSe 11.2 (VM), XP 32 (VM)
       New #11

    try to open a elevated command prompt and

    type
    Code:
    cd sysprep
    and then
    Code:
    sysprep /generalize /reboot
    and see if that helps...
    it will make it think its going to be repackaged and force you to reactivate...
    The System Preparation tool, Sysprep.exe, is used to prepare an installation of Windows for imaging or delivery to a customer.
    How Sysprep Works
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  3. chuckr
    Posts : 1,112
    XP_Pro, W7_7201, W7RC.vhd, SciLinux5.3, Fedora12, Fedora9_2x, OpenSolaris_09-06
       New #12

    darkassain said:
    try to open a elevated command prompt and

    type
    Code:
    cd sysprep
    and then
    Code:
    sysprep /generalize /reboot
    and see if that helps...
    it will make it think its going to be repackaged and force you to reactivate...

    How Sysprep Works
    Nice...

    Does he need the WAIK for that, or is it in everybody's Win 7 RTM ?

    The checking algorithm must not like the HDD differentials...
    Pretty stringent to me.
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  4. darkassain
    Posts : 2,899
    Windows 7 Ult x64(x2), HomePrem x32(x4), Server 08 (+VM), 08 R2 (VM) , SuSe 11.2 (VM), XP 32 (VM)
       New #13

    ChuckR said:
    Nice...

    Does he need the WAIK for that, or is it in everybody's Win 7 RTM ?

    The checking algorithm must not like the HDD differentials...
    Pretty stringent to me.
    yep it has been integrated starting in XP (you had to download a big chunk of data in 2000 though (well at the time its was a big chunk)....)

    you would have to do this all the time in XP because of how the HAL worked before...
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  6. 24c
    Posts : 486
    Win7 x64 Ult
       New #14

    FWIW -

    I have a Western Digital 74GB Raptor as C:, with Windows 7 Professional Installed - TechNet Subscription. I use Acronis True Image Home to do backups of the drive.

    Restored a backup to a Maxtor 640GB HD, which is my 4th HD used for storage. Maxtor was formatted prior to backup restore.

    Upon restore completion, rebooted, entered "set up", turned off HDs 1, 2, & 3 and booted to HD4. Windows 7 ran CHKDSK, first time I've ever seen that, booted OK and Windows was activated and "good to go".

    I'm not sure how/if this relates to the topic, other than I was able to boot to Windows 7 on a HD other than the one it was installed on originally.

    I thank the OP for this topic - now I know how to replace C:\ with a new HD - thanks toneefresh.
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  7. toneefresh
    Posts : 5
    Windows 7 RTM
    Thread Starter
       New #15

    Sorry guys...I went home and did a repair install. I'm good to go now. I'm very curious about the sysprep stuff though. Almost tempted to re-clone from my old drive to repeat the problem :)
      My Computer
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  8. harpua
    Posts : 1,011
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64 (Retail)
       New #16

    I've cloned my entire C drive using Acronis TIH 2009 to another drive and then swapped the clone into the laptop (removing the original drive obviously), and 7 booted up like nothing had changed, activation and all. Also did this numerous times with Vista. Never had any issues with losing activation or having to reactivate.
      My Computer
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  10. DJG
    Posts : 1,008
    Windows 7 RTM x64
       New #17

    I've also used Paragon Drive Backup to restore Windows including XP and never had a hiccup with Windows having to re-activate. It's probably due the difference between cloning and restoring and how each treats the target disk signature, which (I'm guessing here) is copied for a restore but is re-assigned for a clone.
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