Resolved Migrating Windows 7 to new hardware

I bought a used desktop PC, without any software disks from a private individual through ebay and would like to install the harddisk on a new motherboard as this HDD also has a licenced copy of Office Home and other licenced software. This PC works fine and the software are validated copies.

I do not know if this is an OEM or full version of Windows 7 but I do have the product key, obtained by using a free software program.

I could just put the HDD and CD/DVD writer onto the new motherboard but I am scared of damaging the software if the OEM version cannot be loaded onto new hardware. I have made backup copies and diskcopies of the HDD on its present motherboard, but do not have a great deal of confidence in the ability of these to restore my HDD if the software was to be damaged.

Basically I want to upgrade the motherboard and CPU to a faster(3GHz Athlon II 250 on an ASROC N68-S M/B) CPU with onboard graphics and ethernet. The HDD is a 160GB SATA disk. Both M/B have 4GB RAM and SATA CD/DVD writers.

What would be the advice and consensus from BBS members?

Thanks to all.

I know it is possible to change/add/replace some items on an OEM version, but what about the M/B?

 

Hi I'm sure someone will be along to give you the best advice, but while your waiting please have a read of this post in the XP section.

"Baffling refusal of windows Setup to start windows "

Basically some was doing a similar operation as you and you may find it useful even though you are using W7 and not W XP.

You need to find out what setting in the bios the drive was using in the old motherboard firstly.

The HD controller on your new board will be different and although I have swapped many myself I would wait for the experts to have their say before doing anything.

About COA's there supposed to die with the machine!

Sorry if this isn't much help but please have a read of the other post in the thread I mentioned, he got it working eventually. I only mess with HP's and Dell's not clones and don't know your MB/CPU at all.

Regards, Ian.

 

Thanks guys for your input. I know what you have said Arie is in the EULA. However I can't understand the logic(?) because if you buy something, you should be able to use it as you will. If you have one licence, fair enough you should not use the software on more than one computer at any one time. I do not intend to.

Ianamal, thanks for your suggestion. I looked at the thread but a) I do not know zip about XP, and b) I found the thread so confusing that in the end I gave up trying to understand what was being attempted. I accept that I will be unable to migrate my Windows 7 32-bit to a faster Motherboard.

However, if changing the CPU, RAM, HDD, Video, Mouse, Keyboard etc is permissable, why not the Motherboard? What is the difference between the software on an OEM installation disk and a full licence commercial variant? Money - Greedy Microsoft. Is is not enough that they continually 'upgrade' Windows allegedly to improve the 'experience' of the user, but actually to cause peripheral manufacturers to update their product software, or not in many cases and make the peripherals obsolete. My workshop is full of printers, scanners and other hardware which is all perfectly serviceable but cannot be used because drivers are not available for the latest versions of Windows.

So you know what I do, I use Ubuntu Linux which seems to have the ability to find legacy drivers, in spite of a new upgrade every 6 months. I don't suppose that Microsoft have thought of writing their new versions of Windows so that older hardware drivers can be used. Believe it or not I have a good 9-pin dot matrix printer which will not work with any software after Windows 2000! I have realms of fan fold paper which I can't use and a number of ribbons too. What a waste!

Windows OS is the last Microsoft software product which I use at present. I have given up on all the rest including IE, Outlook, Windows Mail, Office, etc and use either free software or other sourced, and cheaper, programs. I think it is possible that when Windows 7 is no longer supported, I shall give Microsoft up completely. I just hope I live long enough to have that satisfaction!