Transferring HD

[Len Cuff]

Is there any way I can move a perfectly working installation of Vista
to a new PC? Friend has decided to upgrade hardware at last but
doesn't want to lose all he has already installed. As it's really only
the drivers that will have changed, is there any way I can get Vista
to update the installation. I know in Xp you can do a repair which
basically appears to reinstall 'over the top' and leaves everything
intact but I can't find the same sort of thing in Viats?

TIA


cheers,
Len

 

[NotEvenMe]

I would use the data & settings transsfer wizard.
Run it, burn the resulting file to a CD or DVD.
I would also burn whatever data files I wanted to save to a CD to be safe.
Then move the HDD to the new machine, let it try to boot and give you error
messages.
Then boot from the Vista DVD and try running the boot repair.
You will have to reactivate if it works.
If it doesn't work, install Vista on the new machine and restore the
settings from the CD.

 

[Frank Holman]

Is there any way I can move a perfectly working installation of Vista
to a new PC? Friend has decided to upgrade hardware at last but
doesn't want to lose all he has already installed. As it's really only
the drivers that will have changed, is there any way I can get Vista
to update the installation. I know in Xp you can do a repair which
basically appears to reinstall 'over the top' and leaves everything
intact but I can't find the same sort of thing in Viats?

You can't find it because it doesn't exist.

Sorry, but a clean install is the only option.

 

[Richard G. Harper]

This has never been a good idea. When changing hardware, especially a
drastic change such as this, a clean reinstall is the only way to eliminate
any leftover dependencies from earlier installs and hardware configuration.

 

[Charlie Tame]

Is it vista ultimate ? then go ahead and use "Back up Computer" under
"Backup and Restore Center".

If not, use some third-party imaging softwares like norton ghost.

you can try for free version.

Good Luck.

Quite likely Vista will demand reactivation as it will detect major
hardware changes, however you try to do this. Personally I'd go for a
reinstall if your friend has a retail copy and the DVD - if not then be
prepared to lose everything as placing the HD back in the old machine
after the activation has been demanded will not work. What you could do
is clone the HD using something like acronis and try using the clone -
but for heaven's sake backup any vital docs and stuff before doing the
swap else it will likely end in tears (or rage).

 

[Len Cuff]

Is there any way I can move a perfectly working installation of Vista
to a new PC? Friend has decided to upgrade hardware at last but
doesn't want to lose all he has already installed. As it's really only
the drivers that will have changed, is there any way I can get Vista
to update the installation. I know in Xp you can do a repair which
basically appears to reinstall 'over the top' and leaves everything
intact but I can't find the same sort of thing in Viats?

TIA


cheers,
Len

Thansk all, thought that was going to be the answer. I have already
made an Acronis image of his boot drive just in case !!


cheers,
Len