# Transfer Windows 7 install to new computer? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 10, 2013, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transfer-windows-7-install-to-new-computer/673536 "2013-11-10T01:14:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2013, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transfer-windows-7-install-to-new-computer/673536/1 "2013-11-10T01:14:40Z")
I have a (somewhat old) computer running Windows 7. I have a somewhat newer computer running nothing. I want to transfer my existing OS and installed programs to the new one. I tried moving the HDD over. The new computer would not boot. I put in the Windows disc and tried to recover the installation. It still wouldn’t boot. I moved it back over to the old computer, and _it_ wouldn’t boot. Luckily, running the recovery tools there did get it booting. I’ve looked around on the internet, and there seems to be no existing obvious way to do this. I’m used to Macs, where when you get a new one, you just put it on the same network and run a program and then you’re done. Is there really no built-in way to do this aside from reinstalling everything and setting everything up again? Does it exist in Windows 8? I’m willing to buy the upgrade if it’ll save me this mess. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2013, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transfer-windows-7-install-to-new-computer/673536/2 "2013-11-10T01:26:40Z")
Did you replace the existing drive on the newer computer with the Windows 7 drive, or did you add the Windows 7 drive as a secondary drive? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2013, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transfer-windows-7-install-to-new-computer/673536/3 "2013-11-10T01:48:16Z")
No, it won’t work unless the two computers have exactly the same hardware. The windows installation is customized for the hardware on the old computer, and will not work on a new computer with a different CPU, display adapter, sound card, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2013, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transfer-windows-7-install-to-new-computer/673536/4 "2013-11-10T02:24:31Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > No, it won’t work unless the two computers have exactly the same hardware. That’s not _strictly_ true. If the critical hardware is reasonably close in type, then it will boot and try to find drivers for everything it doesn’t recognize. I don’t normally do that though, partly 'cause it doesn’t always work, and partly 'cause if it does, I don’t know what drivers and programs are hanging around causing problems. Windows has “Easy Transfer”, which bundles up your desktop / application data / personal / etc. directories and various settings to restore on another PC. It will _suggest_ various programs to re-install afterwards, but won’t transfer any. You could use Easy Transfer, save the file somewhere, then re-format on the new PC and re-install programs. I normally have lots of hard drives around so I almost never have to try what you’re trying, so I hesitate to recommend one way or another. ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2013, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transfer-windows-7-install-to-new-computer/673536/5 "2013-11-10T02:42:16Z")
> [@iamthewalrus\_3](#): > > I’m used to Macs, where when you get a new one, you just put it on the same network and run a program and then you’re done. Is there really no built-in way to do this aside from reinstalling everything and setting everything up again? This is one of those little side corners where the Windows experience is just abysmal compared to the Mac. Not only are the OSes non hardware-agnostic (so you can’t just move the HD to a new system), but the settings transfer stuff, while it exists, is so clumsy that just rebuilding is usually the easier course. And that’s not even getting into the licensing – even if you managed the transfer, it’d likely fail to activate once you were done because the hardware changed. However, it’s worth trying the “supported way” for files. Boot both systems on the same network, and look for “Windows Easy Transfer” – it won’t move the OS itself, but it’ll transfer settings for you (albeit extremely slowly). If it hits any sort of error at all, you’re done; there’s basically no recovery mechanism. I’ve never had it successfully move installed programs, but files, music, video, etc. seem to transfer OK. Windows 8 (and 8.1) are a little better about letting you move the HD , but it’s still pretty fragile. Much better to consider it a “cleanup opportunity” and re-install everything as you need it. As a side benefit, this will prevent transferring old registry entries and unused/uninstalled app settings. Oh, and in no case erase the old drive until you’re 100% sure that you’ll never need anything from it again. Even when Easy Transfer works, it may not transfer everything, especially documents and such that aren’t in the magic places Windows expects them (Documents folder, music folder, libraries, etc.) ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_York](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_York](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_York)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2013, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transfer-windows-7-install-to-new-computer/673536/6 "2013-11-10T02:54:31Z")
I bought a laptop with only a 80gb HDD so I used a program called Acronis true image to copy the hard drive onto to a 160gb drive and then switched them over. It worked fine. I believe Norton Ghost will also do the job too. I’m fairly confident it would work on a desk top PC. The only problem in your case is that you are putting the copied drive into another PC. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2013, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transfer-windows-7-install-to-new-computer/673536/7 "2013-11-10T21:07:10Z")
Thanks for your suggestions. Looks like I’m reinstalling everything ☹ ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2013, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transfer-windows-7-install-to-new-computer/673536/8 "2013-11-10T22:44:48Z")
You can get the windows key from the old pc using a free utility. Goggle lists several. Then reinstall windows on the new pc. Since your transferring the OS it’s legal. That’s assuming that it’s removed from the old pc. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2013, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transfer-windows-7-install-to-new-computer/673536/9 "2013-11-11T02:09:57Z")
I sincerely hope you haven’t started yet and are still reading this thread, as the information you have gotten so far is incorrect. I’m planning on doing this soon once I get another faster computer of mine working (power supply blew). I found a guide how to do it on “Seven Forums,” a forum about Windows 7 (and now 8): [Windows 7 Installation Transfer](http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/135077-windows-7-installation-transfer-new-computer.html). To summarize, BEFORE YOU MOVE THE HARD DRIVE, you put Windows 7 in a special mode called “System prep” which means it is ready to be deployed on any system. You then switch the hard drives, let it install new drivers, and then install any extras. It won’t work if you are moving an upgraded installation, though. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2013, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transfer-windows-7-install-to-new-computer/673536/10 "2013-11-11T04:44:37Z")
That is a fantastic link, **BigT**. I’ll give it a try and report back in a few days. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2013, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transfer-windows-7-install-to-new-computer/673536/11 "2013-11-14T19:23:07Z")
So, this has a boring ending with a bunch of annoyances. I bought a new 3TB drive, and I was planning to install on that, but it turns out that you need to convert the drive to use a GPT as the boot record to use address more than 2.2TB. I did that, but whenever I would try to create a partition from the Win 7 installer, it would only make a 2.2 partition. I didn’t want to split my huge drive into multiple partitions like that, so I swapped out the 3TB drive for a 2TB one in my backup system, and tried to clone to that. I wanted to upgrade the drive as long as I was moving because the drive I have Windows on is currently getting fairly old. So I tried to clone it using DriveImage XML. This copied everything over, but I couldn’t boot off the drive. Then as I was investigating another program to do the image, I realized that I should upgrade from 32-bit to 64-bit anyway, so I decided to install fresh. I did the fresh install on the 2 TB drive. Then, as I was building up the rest of the system, I realized that I can’t put my video card in the new system. The video card takes up two slots of space, and the PCIe x16 slot in the new mobo is the top slot. So, I gave up on the new computer and I put my old one back together. Yay. ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2013, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transfer-windows-7-install-to-new-computer/673536/12 "2013-11-14T20:28:34Z")
> [@iamthewalrus\_3](#): > > Then, as I was building up the rest of the system, I realized that I can’t put my video card in the new system. The video card takes up two slots of space, and the PCIe x16 slot in the new mobo is the top slot. > > So, I gave up on the new computer and I put my old one back together. Yay. The card should plug into that slot, with the cooler taking up the slot underneath. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2013, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transfer-windows-7-install-to-new-computer/673536/13 "2013-11-14T23:31:09Z")
It doesn’t. The cooler on the wrong side of the card. And it’s not even the heatsink/fan. There’s space for that, I think. The edge of the card with the metal slot that screws into the case won’t fit because it extends up one slot, and the GPU slot is the top slot in the system. I briefly considered removing the metal slot, hacksawing it in half (there are no connectors on the other half), and proceeding from there, but I feel like when your computer upgrade plans involve a hacksaw, it’s time to take a step back. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2013, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transfer-windows-7-install-to-new-computer/673536/14 "2013-11-15T00:15:08Z")
Just FYI, there’s no reason you can’t clone to the smaller partition size, and then later expand the partition. You can even do it from within Windows 7 with the disk partition utility. ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2013, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transfer-windows-7-install-to-new-computer/673536/15 "2013-11-15T00:30:55Z")
> [@iamthewalrus\_3](#): > > It doesn’t. The cooler on the wrong side of the card. > > And it’s not even the heatsink/fan. There’s space for that, I think. The edge of the card with the metal slot that screws into the case won’t fit because it extends up one slot, and the GPU slot is the top slot in the system. > > I briefly considered removing the metal slot, hacksawing it in half (there are no connectors on the other half), and proceeding from there, but I feel like when your computer upgrade plans involve a hacksaw, it’s time to take a step back. Yeah, step back and get a sawzall 🙂 I haven’t seen a card like that before, what model is it? ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2013, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transfer-windows-7-install-to-new-computer/673536/16 "2013-11-15T00:41:03Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > I sincerely hope you haven’t started yet and are still reading this thread, as the information you have gotten so far is incorrect. I’m planning on doing this soon once I get another faster computer of mine working (power supply blew). I found a guide how to do it on “Seven Forums,” a forum about Windows 7 (and now 8): [Windows 7 Installation Transfer](http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/135077-windows-7-installation-transfer-new-computer.html). > > To summarize, BEFORE YOU MOVE THE HARD DRIVE, you put Windows 7 in a special mode called “System prep” which means it is ready to be deployed on any system. You then switch the hard drives, let it install new drivers, and then install any extras. It won’t work if you are moving an upgraded installation, though. Wow. That’s a great bit of info. Is there anything similar for Vista? (yeah I actually like vista, shuddp) ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2013, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transfer-windows-7-install-to-new-computer/673536/17 "2013-11-15T02:23:19Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Just FYI, there’s no reason you can’t clone to the smaller partition size, and then later expand the partition. You can even do it from within Windows 7 with the disk partition utility. I could be wrong, but it appeared to me that Win 7 could only install with an MBR, but you need to set the drive up as GPT to have a 3TB partition, and switching between one and the other nukes any data you may have. It’s possible I misunderstood this, but after spending a half hour reading websites and trying commands I decided it was time to move on. My video card is an AMD Radeon HD 6670. And I was super confused for a little bit here, then realized that the problem isn’t my card, it’s the other computer! It’s a Dell, and the mobo is mounted on the left wall of the case rather than the right, so where in my current computer (and every computer I’ve ever built), the cooler is below the card, in the Dell, it’s above because everything is mirror imaged. Grr. ---
**Author:** ![emarkp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3be4f8/32.png) [@emarkp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emarkp)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2014, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transfer-windows-7-install-to-new-computer/673536/18 "2014-01-02T21:31:19Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > To summarize, BEFORE YOU MOVE THE HARD DRIVE, you put Windows 7 in a special mode called “System prep” which means it is ready to be deployed on any system. You then switch the hard drives, let it install new drivers, and then install any extras. It won’t work if you are moving an upgraded installation, though. Just wanted to pop in with thanks for this. My kids’ computer was dying and getting flakey. I ran this (there was some fiddling because MS security essentials doesn’t cleanup properly on uninstall) and managed to move the old hard drive over to the new chassis (slightly less-old system). Worked like a charm, and made me hero of New Year’s Day.