moving to a new system Win 7 64bit

[sybaris]

Hi

Just wondered what happens if you take an image on 1 PC and try to restore it to another PC?

I have a new computer coming and I want to move a lot of apps that have been customised and set up to my preferences, from the old box to the new one.

However I understand if I use sysprep it will render the old box unusable.
I want to keep the old box as a backup as its a business PC, and yes I have multiple licences for Win 7 64 Pro.

2 lines of thought.
a) Set it up manually from scratch and it will be 100% as I want it but will take a month to do.

b) Find a short cut or easier way.

 

[marc2003]

i'd connect up the hard drive from the new pc to the old one. take an image using something like macrium reflect (i've not used it but i've seen plenty of recommendations here).

now unplug the old hard drive and let the old pc boot up with the new drive. run sysprep with the oobe/generalize options and shutdown. now remove the new drive and connect the old one back up. the old pc should now continue to work exactly as it did before.

add the new drive back into the new pc and it will go through a mini setup detecting all the new hardware and you have to enter your new license key, computer name, etc.