Migrating Windows 7 OEM installation

Hi guys, quick question. I have an Alienware laptop that has a clean Windows 7 installation using the OEM disk that came with the laptop. I recently purchased an MSI laptop and rather than starting from scratch with a new Windows installation I'd like to migrate my current system image from the Alienware laptop. I know it's not possible to use the install disk that came with the Alienware but would it be possible for a Dell OEM Windows installation to migrate to a non-Dell machine? Or would I have to purchase a new Windows 7 disk and change the serial number in my current installation before migrating?

Sorry if my question isn't too clear... Btw, I'm using Macrium Reflect to restore to dissimilar hardware.

 

OEM copies are specific not just to the manufacturer, but the machine that they came with.

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So purchasing a retail copy of Windows and changing the serial number in the current installation wouldn't work either?


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If you purchased a new serial key, you can change it in windows using "slmgr /ipk SERIAL-KEY" in an elevated cmd prompt. Ensure it is for the same version of Windows you are using. You'd have to activate thereafter.

 

I just realized I have to buy a new serial key, otherwise I won't be able to resell my current laptop... Will a system builder OEM key allow me to update the serial number or do I need to buy the full retail version?


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Again, the OEM key would be specific to its machine and cannot be used that way. You can't enter in an OEM key with the product key change command I mentioned above.

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Got it, thanks. Looking for a retail copy of Windows 7... One more question, can I use a non-SP1 retail key on an installation with SP1 as long as it's the same Windows edition? The OEM disk I used originally has the SP1 version and I can't seem to find a retail package with SP1...


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If you do this, you can still expect to have to install a bunch of drivers.


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I know, I'm devoting next weekend to dealing with it Right now I'm trying to determine if there is an SP1 retail version of Windows 7...


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There is different types of OEM. Vendor specific cannot be transferred to another brand, it won't re-activate.
Store bought OEM license (system builder) handles like Retail but it shouldn't be transferred to another machine. Techically it can be transferred but it shouldn't.

So what adyghost could do... (well, how I would do it anyways).
Transfer HDD from Alienware to MSI, at this point Windows deactivates since brand changes. Insert the system builder license key to the installation and activate it (maybe by phone). Done.

Insert new HDD into the Alienware, install windows (use the system builder disc and Alienware's license). Sell the laptop. Done.

Non-sp1 and sp1 keys work both. This is not Windows XP...

 

Found a retail version, only discs and key, no box, for $85. I will change the product key in my current installation before migrating it to the new computer. Thanks for all the help guys!

 

Enjoy! And like stated, the service pack won't stop you from using a key of the same Windows edition.

 

For anyone who attempted restoring to dissimilar hardware, should I strip the backup image of system drivers? I know it's not required but figured it might make things go smoother...

 

Running sysprep is one way to do it.

 

Can I change the product key directly on the Alienware before migrating the image to the MSI laptop or will that deactivate the OEM Windows license that was tied to Alienware? I need to have the original Windows 7 OEM on the Alienware in order to sell it...

 

Then let me ask you this, I installed the current Windows image on legacy boot mode. I assume I can't restore it on another machine with UEFI enabled, correct? What about UEFI with CSM?


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While this is a simple (to me) thing, it's pretty hard to explain At least in english...

If your current Alienware installation is factory OEM, it does not use the license key in the sticker.
Instead it has a generic key that's tied to the Alienware bios. (Optional, use ABR to backup this activation)
When you change HDD to a new computer, bios and installed key do not match anymore = windows deactivates itself.
Then enter the new key you bought.

When you put new hdd into Alienware, you can either restore activation with ABR or manually enter key from the sticker.

That was the easy way. As usual, there is always buts.
...but if your current windows install isn't factory OEM but self installed and you used the bottom license key already...

After you have changed the drive, you just need to replace the old key with a new one.
Click on the Start Button and type: CMD (into the 'Search programs and files' field in the Start Menu)
The Start Menu will show 'CMD.exe',
Right-click the CMD.exe file and select Run As Administrator.
In the CMD window, type: slmgr.vbs -ipk <type your product key here>
To activate windows after changing the key, type: slmgr.vbs -ato

I wouldn't replace the key before changing drives because in the worst case windows activates it over the internet to the old machine. Then you need to call the activation center... another unnecessary bump in the road.

No idea I guess it doesn't work.

Oh... I also figured one more lazy man's way to do this. Assuming you had the original install with recovery partition and such.

1. Clone your current drive to the new hdd.
2. Change old drive to the new PC and proceed as explained before.
3. Install new hdd into the Alienware, run recovery to install a fresh windows.

 

Thing is, I'm not changing the hard drive to the new laptop as it has it's own hardware. The Windows 7 image is on an external drive and I'm using a Windows PE flash drive to restore the image on the new laptop. So I'll change the product key after I migrate the backup image.

I know I have to disable UEFI since I originally installed Windows in legacy boot, but would restoring on UEFI with CSM work?



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You'll be the first (that I know of) to try it so tell us how it went?

I've installed Win8 in legacy mode and then changed to uefi mode with secure boot and it has worked without without problems. But Win7, never

And it doesn't really matter if you're cloning the drive or replacing it, the general idea how the activation works stands

 

System restore was successful. However, I had to set the BIOS to Legacy in order to load Windows 7... Researching the issue online while it was restoring basically confirmed as much. In any case, I noticed as soon as I loaded Windows for the first time it started looking for drivers automatically, even though it was set not to in the update settings. Is there a way to prevent this behavior, like when you plug in a USB device and it automatically installs drivers for it?

 

Figured it out, Macrium Reflect had an option to inject the missing drivers in the PE environment