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    Mirror opperating system settings/files/ programs onto new notebook?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Radiating, Jun 26, 2010.

  1. Radiating

    Radiating Notebook Geek

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    Here's a weird request. I want to take my Asus G1sn which runs Windows Vista 64, and mirror all my operating system settings onto a new Envy 15 which I intend to run Windows 7 Pro 64.

    The plan is to partition the Envy 15 into 2 logical disks, then Mirror the Asus G1's C: drive with Vista and set it up for dual boot. I'm sure Vista will give a "need to authenticate" error because the hardware will change, but I believe I'll have enough time to boot it in safe mode and update all the drivers. I'll then put in a fresh copy of Windows 7 Pro, do the upgrade process, then update the drivers again, the upgrade process should maintain my settings. Finally I delete the original Envy partition and turn it back into being 1 disk.

    The windows 7 upgrade guide says if you do an "upgrade" that it will keep your settings, files, programs, accounts etc.

    So this should work, in theory.

    Will it work?
     
    Radiating, Jun 26, 2010
    #1
  2. goofball

    goofball Notebook Deity

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    Is that a retail version of Windows Vista on the Asus? Or the Asus OEM install?

    I wouldn't recommend doing that, too many different hardware components going from the Asus to the Envy.
     
    goofball, Jun 26, 2010
    #2
  3. Psyloid

    Psyloid Notebook Evangelist

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    could be that it won't boot at all (BSOD) and if it would work, it would take very long and give you a very messy win 7 to work with. I would encourage you to not do that ...
     
    Psyloid, Jun 26, 2010
    #3
  4. Radiating

    Radiating Notebook Geek

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    It's the Asus OEM install, which I can't imagine being coded differently than normal vista 64. :confused:
     
    Radiating, Jun 26, 2010
    #4
  5. Psyloid

    Psyloid Notebook Evangelist

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    its the same, but your serial is OEM (meaning you can't transfer it to another computer), but you can perform a win7 update on it, so that's not the issue, but I'll tell you that you better do a clean install and transfer your data via portable hdd, and do all the soft installations and settings again, it's much work, but it will be better in the end
     
    Psyloid, Jun 26, 2010
    #5
  6. Nick

    Nick Professor Carnista

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    Defiantly just do a clean install. It will will work much better.
     
    Nick, Jun 26, 2010
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  7. Radiating

    Radiating Notebook Geek

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    I do software programing I'm sure I can handle this. If it doesn't work out I'll do a clean install, but this would just save me a bunch of time. If it works great, if not great.
     
    Radiating, Jun 26, 2010
    #7
  8. TANWare

    TANWare Just This Side of Senile, I think. Super Moderator

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    Famous last words.......... :)
     
    TANWare, Jun 26, 2010
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  9. Nick

    Nick Professor Carnista

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    Doing the upgrade won't save time. I find that doing a full install is faster.
     
    Nick, Jun 26, 2010
    #9
  10. newsposter

    newsposter Notebook Virtuoso

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    many of the small linux-based diag distros can handle drive cloning.
     
    newsposter, Jun 26, 2010
    #10