Transfer win7 image to new computer

[BevGoodGirl]

----Hello   helpful people     Dec12 2018

Hard question  ( DO NOT want to start over with a new desktop with nothing on it)

BACKGORUND-- Have H9 1215T  WIN7Home 64bit with a 200GB  Cdrive with 75GB free space with much much software that I do not want to re-load onto a "empty" new computer.

GOAL------------- Buy a new desktop such that I can simply re-image my Cdrive onto it and have it work.

RESEARCH--- I have looked at W10 downgradeable options but really do not know what to buy exactly.

FINDINGS :   Best i7 that will run WIN7 is the i7-6700 so I need that for sure !

                       Once I transfer my old Cdrive image to new computer,  I will have to use the WIN product

                        number for the new computer ( so the image transfer wil have the old prod number

                         on it-------------THIS seems POSSIBLE ??!

                          I might have to find some drivers for the new computer as the drivers on the H9-1215T image

                          might not all be AOK.  So finding drivers is required.

                           Cannot find a new HP i7-6700 that has HOME--they all have WIN 7 Pro.   I do not see this

                            as a problem since I will be putting a completely different image on the new computer.

HELP-----------If you can give me any hints about trouble ahead in this effort, would be thankful.

( I do not want to start with a new 'empty'  computer.    I do not know how long I can keep this 1215T alive

but so far it is the best-"est"  computer have ever had and it is "set up"  perfect.

((  I have over 20 images of C drive made throughout the years))   --- I would hate to have to

"start over on a new computer with all the video and music software that is properly set up ))

--------- wow   what a chore that would be......................................

BevGoodGirl       Dec 12 2018                                                   of course, it must be a HP new computer !!!

[WAWood]

@BevGoodGirl

There are two ways to "transfer" an image from one PC to another:

The first is to move the HDD from one PC to the other.  This will invariably run into problems in two areas: drivers and activation. If you are able to load Win7 drivers for the new PC onto a USB stick, there then may be a way to install those drivers after moving the HDD and if that works, then you will only be faced with the second problem -- activation.

Unfortunately, if the first PC was using the HP preinstalled OS, you can NOT transfer the license because it is tied to the PC, not to the owner. So, you would have to (1) buy a new, retail license, and (2) do something known as a Repair-Install to install the Retail version ON TOP OF the existing HP OEM version -- and this is likely NOT to work. So, the first approach is probably NOT going to succeed.

The second is to use a utility to "migrate" the apps, data, and settings from the first PC to the second.  I have done this several times using an app known as Laplink PC Mover.  That works great in Win7, but not well in Win10.  You need to purchase this to use it, and you get to use it ONLY ONCE.  To use this, you must already have a licensed version of Win7 installed and running on the second PC.  You should check the LapLink site for more details and tutorials on how to use it.

[BevGoodGirl]

WELL ... thank you Mr WAWood for taking the time to enlighten !!

any computer with WIN 7 is becoming " hard to find" ----

so now I wish I had bought TWO  HP 1215Ts and put one in a closet for future use in 2018 --2025.

BAck then water cooled i7 500wattsPSU  was $710.  about $1400 now but with WIN 10. i7 8700.

Reloading software will be 8 or 9 day job partime.

1)  So, the first approach is probably NOT going to succeed.

(( WOW  what an idea I never thought of-- just switching out the drive-- but alas, no good chances ---yuk !))

2) use a utility to "migrate" the apps

(( thanks, I kinda see , so will read up on that way ))

QUESTION --  so I know the best CPU possible so WIN 7 is the i7-6700, So--- it might be better chances of success

if new desktop is with retail Win7 rather than OEM Win7, and certainly not OEM Win10.  kinda right ?

Is the chance of success an even match tween  WIN7 OEM and WIN7 Retail ?

3)  So my thoughts to take an existing C drive Image and simply transfer to the new computer

has ZERO chance of getting the job done----hummm   re-imaging is soooooo easy on the

existing computer using ACRONIS.

Preciate ya comments much

[BevGoodGirl]

Suddenly,  my HP Community ranking is  TUTOR  ??!!! ??

-----------  somebody better re-visit the implications  of me being a  T u t o r  ??

--------    that be funny ......

bevgoodgirl      DEC 12  2018     merry----ah no----- ...happy holidays,         in whatever form you desire....

[WAWood · Accepted solution]

@BevGoodGirl

The HP forum ranks basically reflect your level of participation in the forum, and since HP had to pick some "sheme" for ranking, they chose the Academic levels -- so you start out as a Student, and finally, end up as a Provost.

[BevGoodGirl]

FYI

thanks for the help.

MY solution --- buying a HP Z230 i7-4th gen 400watt desktop with win 7---with 512 SSD and  2x8 GB upgradeable to

32GB...will upgrade to win10 in 3 years maybe,  as drivers ares available. Could not find a decent DTOP with

win10 downgrade Win7 ( which would have been rather ideal).

Too bad MSoft did not make a true win7 functionality within Win10----they could have scored huge with 

the public; so many things in MS just do not make sense---it is rather like they get no user input before they

built software----- ((  I have to keep all my 30 shortcuts in a special folder for replacement when WINDOWS

decides to remove my shortcuts at random))  yes I can turn off sys maint but what a zany way to solve a problem.

/ / / /      = = = =      again   thanks  I learn something everytime I come here !

--happiest holidays 

BevGG

[BevGoodGirl]

Well well

Went download Z230 drivers ( to make sure) and there in only win7 drivers on HP.

----- I have seen many Z230 win10 for sale--------------

Now I see huge section of folks with problems upgrading Z230 to win10  !!

and quote :

NOTE: 

HP does not provide Windows 10 drivers on HP.com for HP computers sold prior to August 2013. Microsoft has made most of the component drivers for these products available via Device Manager once the product is running Windows 10 with an active Internet connection. To see if your HP computer was tested to work in Windows 10, go to

HP Products tested with windows 10.

So the issues just keep a rolling.

Maybe I should go to win 10 now with i7-8700 and be done with whole matter---------

I never had these kinds of problems with my AMIGA ....                                My brother left the

                                           battle and bought an APPLE--- he says  "it just works " ....