Win 7 Computer Transfer

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Mark D.
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2014/02/02 10:55:02 (permalink)

Win 7 Computer Transfer

Hello. I'm getting a new PC to replace an old Win 7 PC with Win 7 Ultimate, Sonar 8.5.3 64 bit, and Pro Tools 9 that I'll want to fully migrate to the new desktop. I only use PT to receive projects I export with OMF to Sonar. I also have ILok. I'd done PC tech support, but I'm rusty, and total migration is new to me. I want this done in the fewest steps possible.

In the past we'd re-install everything. It wasn't possible in to transfer XP, but now there are Windows Easy Transfer & other options for Win 7 (see first link below). Third party companies do make it easier, and do more, just connecting PCs by USB transfer cable to migrate Win 7, programs, plugins, drivers, authorizations, etc. (see second link below).

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/135077-windows-7-installation-transfer-new-computer.html
http://pc-migration-software-review.toptenreviews.com (Has anyone used any of these products?)
 
The new PC will be Win 7 Ultimate with identical disks/partitions as the old, with larger partitions, as new PCs must have equal or larger partitions. So software that looks in C:, D:, E: or F: will continue to. Two HDs in each PC, and two partitions each. C: (OS, programs) D: Data, on HD 1. E: (Pagefile, backup of C:) and F: (identical data as in D:) on HD 2.
 
No RAID. I save files twice. So if I overwrite in error to D: or a new save is corrupt, I go to F: to copy the previous version back to D: (RAID overwrites both) and I have an external back up. Has anyone done such a migration? How has the new PC, Sonar (any version) and plugins worked? Were re-installations needed? ILok and Pro Tools also if you've done those.
 
The new install should think it's the old. I understand having to reauthorize Win 7, Sonar, PT and things like that are fine. I just don't want to be re-installing and reauthorizing endless plugins, drivers and software. Eventually I would upgrade Sonar and Windows too, but only after this migration has been completed and verified as working. Thanks.
post edited by Mark D. - 2014/02/02 10:57:45
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    fireberd
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    Re: Win 7 Computer Transfer 2014/02/03 13:45:17 (permalink)
    If the old system has a "retail" version of Windows 7, you should be able to use a program such as Macrium Reflect (paid version) and backup the boot drive (partitions) to an external drive.  Then use Macrium to "restore" to the new hard drive.  Then just copy all the data on the other partitions, one at a time to the new hard drive partitions. 
     
    The first time you boot up, Windows will probably ask you to enter the Windows 7 Product Code and you will have to install (or install some) of the hardware device drivers for the new PC.  And you will have to activate Windows again. 
     
    I just did that when I replaced a motherboard in a system with a different motherboard.
     
    If the old system's OS is an "OEM" version then you can't reuse it (can't activate).  In that case most of the programs will have to be reinstalled, you can't just copy them over from one to the other.  There are a few that can be transferred with Microsoft's Easy Transfer but they are only a small number of Microsoft programs.
     
    Actually, the "new" (clean) install is better, although it will be a hassle.  The new install gets rid of all the unwanted/unused stuff.   
     
    One comment, when you "backup" to a partition on a hard drive and then backup again to a different partition on the same physical hard drive, you are not 100% safe.  If the hard drive fails ALL is lost.  You can backup to a partition on the hard drive, but also backing up to a separate hard drive.  Then if a drive fails you still have the data on the other drive.
     
    My 2 cents

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    slartabartfast
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    Re: Win 7 Computer Transfer 2014/02/03 16:39:53 (permalink)
    You could clone to the new computer boot drive from the old computer boot drive ( BUT it would no longer be Win 7 ultimate--you would destroy the existing OS during the clone AND it would not necessarily have the drivers for the new machine in the old OS. Might not even boot.
    If you want to avoid trouble, re-install everything de novo on the new machine. It will take longer to do so, but you may save a lot of time troubleshooting a problematic clone.
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    Mark D.
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    Re: Win 7 Computer Transfer 2014/02/03 19:09:53 (permalink)
    Thanks for the responses. I am taking all of it into consideration. Now, as far as my backup method, I have two physical drives in the old machine. Both 500 gb, both with 50 gb and 450 gb partitions. Drive 1 is CE (OS)n and D: (data). Drive 2 is E: (Paragon Backup of OS) and F: Identical to D:. So every double save will ensure that if one drive has a catastrophic failure, I don't lose anything. If both drives fail at the same time, I have an identical USB 2 drive, identical in having two partitions (you guessed it). H: (Paragon Backup of OS) and I: Identical to D: & F:. So the data and OS live in three places.

    It's saved me so often that it was not a RAID. Having the ability to get the old version off the internal data partition on Drive 2 is huge. I'll actually write to F:, not drive D:. This way the OS is only running on Drive 1. I'll then double save to D:, and later I then back up things to the I:. Oh, the OS came pre-installed on my old DELL. I have a disk, but it is likely OEM. I wonder if PC mover addresses this. If I get failure with that, I can always re-install it all the slow way. It's not so much having to re-install. It's the re configuring of things, it's having to re-authorize endless plugins. It's a lot of work.
    post edited by Mark D. - 2014/02/03 19:23:56
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