Move HD with Windows 7 to new computer?

[Fjodor2001]

Hi,

I have a computer running Windows 7. I'm considering getting a new motherbord + CPU + RAM. Now I wonder if I can just keep the existing harddrive with Windows 7 installed and use it with the new hardware? Will Windows 7 boot up correctly, detect the new hardware automatically, install the required drivers and so on? Or do I have to make a new clean Windows 7 install (I would really like to avoid that!!)?

 

[Nothinman]

Try it and see? Sometimes it just works, sometimes an in-place repair will fix it and sometimes you just bang your head on the desk till you pass out.

 

[JackMDS]

It might boot and readjust itself, or it might not. While the probability that it would work id higher than it was with 200/XP/Vista it depends on how further away are the new chipset is from the old one.

However there is Nothing to loose by trying as long as you backup your data to second drive before trying.

If you want to migrate and make sure that it will work you can use this method.

Backup the Drive with Acronis TrueImage and restore it to the new drive using the TrueImage Universal Restore.

The Universal Restore plug-in strips the incompatible drivers and loads the OS generic Drivers instead. ( http://kb.acronis.com/content/2149 ).

Thus after Universal Restore Windows Boots up regardless of the chipset (hardware) and adjusts most of the drivers.

Few might Not adjust (Could be Audio and some special devices), but at that point the drivers can be updated from inside the OS with No need to any real changes.

Depending on the size of the Drive you can end up with functional copy of a New computer in 30Min.

 

[Fjodor2001]

Thanks!

Since you recommend backing up the data before attempting the upgrade anyway, the True Image route sounds like a good solution.

BTW: Assume that you try the other route and just put the HD in the new computer and it successfully readjusts. Is there any disadvantage to that solution? Will the Windows install be less "clean"? Or is the difference only that there will be some obsolete/unused driver files (associated with the old hardware) left on the HD wasting space?

Finally, do the solutions that have been discussed work regardless of whether it's an OEM or "full" Windows license?

 

[JackMDS]

Trueimage Universal Restore strips the old drivers off when it restores the new drive. So in theory the new image should be more stable without the useless incompatible drivers.

I did few times both ways and did not find an apparent difference between Win 7 boot and self correcting, and the Universal Restore. However, YMMV.

 

[Nocturnal]

If you have Acronis you can use the universal restore feature which removes the storage drivers and you may have to reactivate Windows and some of your programs.

 

[tweakboy]

It will not work because you have different motherboard.

Or get the same mobo and hope it doesnt die and what not..

 

[tweakboy]

There is no way this will worok for you, sorry double postl. Just wanna warn guy.

You can change CPU or RAM and your system is fine and boot into OS. Its the motherboard that will trip out. Get the same motherboard, or you gonna have to redo everything, Use windows backup create system image onto a external and your safe..

 

[Nothinman]

It will not work because you have different motherboard.

Or get the same mobo and hope it doesnt die and what not..

Not necessarily. As mentioned, sometimes Windows handles it fine on it's own and there's always the Acronis Universal Restore option as well.

 

[Emulex]

i use vmware converter to P2V machines - it works with SYSPREP (which you will need) to do as best job as possible to return the machine to its original shape.

One thing to keep in mind i don't really recommend mucking around with HAL changes that much. IE going from unicore to multi-core or going from 2 core to 8 core. I've seen some wierd things happen that by all means should not have happened. Thankfully these were P2V so i just redid them over.

Universal restore is essentially what vmware converter does - its witchcraft at best - if it is officially supported by microsoft then yes - it is solid - but i guarantee its not officially supported.

 

[dr.tikitimes]

I think everyone has given you good advice. However, you never mentioned what version of Windows 7 you have. Retail, OEM or Manufacturer. If Retail or OEM, Acronis Universal Restore has worked for me in the past. (approx $70 US). You will most likely have to reactivate via online or telephone. Manufacturer? Forget it. Microsoft will refer you back to Dell, HP etc...
If you have backups of all your stuff, I recommend that you bite the bullet and do a fresh install. Yes it is time consuming, but just do baby steps. OS, updates and AV.
Next day install apps, restore files and fine tune.
In the big picture you will be better off. I always like the smell and feel of a new car.
Just my two pennies. Good-Luck..

 

[Fjodor2001]

To solve the problem of migrating a HD with Windows already installed to a new computer, I think it would be nice if Microsoft added an "upgrade to new hardware" option when installing Windows. It should work as follows:

1. Put the HD (with Windows already installed) in the new computer.
2. Boot up the new computer from the Windows install DVD (that DVD should have the same Windows version as already is installed on the HD).
3. Select an option "upgrade to new hardware".
4. The Windows install then detects what hardware the computer has, strips away all obsolete drivers, and adds new drivers for the hardware that was found.

If you're reading this Microsoft, put in on the wishlist for Windows 8... or better yet, Windows 7 SP1 or SP2... :awe:

 

[BTA]

I just swapped out everything but the HD and Video Card in the wife's PC. Switched from an Intel based system to AMD.

System was already installed with ACHI turned on.

Booted into the existing Win7 ultimate 64bit install, it installed whatever it needed, rebooted a couple times. Done. No issues what so ever. I then installed the couple of drivers that it didn't already have (USB3 mostly).

I did have to re-activate though.

I also did the opposite because I had installed the AMD stuff with a seperate hard drive. This was a clean Win7 install just to test the AMD hardware with. I then plugged all the Intel stuff I had just taken out of the other PC and let Windows do its thing and after a couple reboots that system too worked perfectly.

I'd only be worried if I were using an odd hard drive controller or something.

 

[JackMDS]

. The Windows install then detects what hardware the computer has, strips away all obsolete drivers, and adds new drivers for the hardware that was found.

If you're reading this Microsoft, put in on the wishlist for Windows 8... or better yet, Windows 7 SP1 or SP2... :awe:

You are right in a sense that it would make sense to incorporate the Sysprep process into the installation of the OS.

That said, to make every else working you need Doc. Brown from “Back to the Future”.
Doc. Brown should then cooperate with Scottie from “Star track” so they can “beam down from the future” the drivers for the New Hardware that was released after the OS was, or to guess Drivers of hardware that the manufacturer did not bother to submit to Microsoft to begin with.

 

[Nothinman]

You are right in a sense that it would make sense to incorporate the Sysprep process into the installation of the OS.

That said, to make every else working you need Doc. Brown from “Back to the Future”.
Doc. Brown should then cooperate with Scottie from “Star track” so they can “beam down from the future” the drivers for the New Hardware that was released after the OS was, or to guess Drivers of hardware that the manufacturer did not bother to submit to Microsoft to begin with.

Or MS could just release updated install media with more and newer drivers, kind of like Linux has as a side-effect of having 99% of all drivers with the kernel.

 

[SimMike2]

I think the upgrade and full version of Windows 7 handle this better than previous versions of Windows. You will still have to activate, which might require a phone call and not just over the Internet. The OEM version might be more tricky.

I've done this is the past with lots of versions of Windows and it worked quite a few times. Sometimes just before shutting down, I remove drivers in the System Devices. Or I uninstall some drivers.