Windows 7 system restore problems

March 20, 2016 1:05 PM

I attempted to transplant my Windows 7 system drive (SSD) to a new motherboard/CPU, have failed and left the system drive in a state that Windows will not successfully start on either the old or new systems. I need help in understanding how to restore the system drive to where it will work as it did before I started.

The story:

I created a disk image of my system drive (C:) on a secondary HDD (E:) on the old system.

I used Sysprep with the Out Of Box Experience /Generalize /Shutdown options to prepare Windows for the transplant.

I created a system recovery CD burner (D:).

Moved SSD to new system; booted into BIOS fine, Windows would not start and auto repair was not successful.

Moved SSD back to old system; booted to BIOS, Windows would not start and auto repair not successful.

Booted old system with recovery CD. Option to restore to saved disk image is there, but does no good as only drive visible to recovery is the CD/DVD drive. Using command prompt, I can see the C: and E: drives, but don't know how to get recovery process to access.

So:

As a first step, I'd like to restore my old system from the image I saved.

Second, (and much less pressing!)I'd like to learn how to successfully transplant the SSD system drive to the new machine.

I'm hoping to hear I'm ignorant and the fixes are simple!

Thanks

posted by skyscraper to Computers & Internet (3 answers total)

For future reference, the sysprep part is unnecessary.

Windows 7 and newer version are pretty good with updating themselves when the hardware changes. Here's how I've moved drives from one computer to the next:
1. Remove drive from old computer.
2. Install drive in new computer.
3. Turn on computer and Windows 7 will see the hardware changed and update it's system drivers.

Make sure you have your new network driver handy as you can't get online without that. Once you're online though, Windows will fetch the drivers its needs for the most part. Otherwise get them from your motherboard manufacturer.

As far as fixing your messed up drive, refer to the software you used to the make the disk image. I've always found the recovery CD process kinda useless.
posted by LoveHam at 6:20 PM on March 20, 2016

Response by poster: Thanks LoveHam. I did try the straightforward transplant first and it did not work, triggering the more elaborate attempts. My frustration is that I have a disk image but can't get to it from any restore process.
posted by skyscraper at 6:31 PM on March 20, 2016

If I'm understanding right, maybe something like Clonezilla will see (and be able to restore from) the image on H:?
posted by quinndexter at 5:31 PM on March 21, 2016