Backing up windows to an image file then restoring - possible to different hardware?

[Combat squirrel]

As title im changing mainboards and CPU's soon so will reinstall windows, however I really like my install I have now and don't wish to reinstall everything, I have everything setup just right.

I am going from a 3770k setup to a 4930k as I need more cores for video editing.

Windows 8.1 system image backup isnt working at all, and cba fix it.

So I will get free image backup software - what do you recommend OCUK and also if I install windows 8.1 clean again, can I just then reinstall the free software and 'recover' the backed up origonal image with all my software and everything ready to use as it is now ?

 

[malachi]

You can do a straight swap with Windows 8 and it shouldn't fall over with the new motherboard and CPU installed. It will only ask to reactivated Windows.

But you can use Macrium Reflect free edition and it has an option somewhere to restore image with new hardware changes.

http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx

 

[Philtor]

Free version of Macrium reflect. Great bit of software.

edit: too slow