Migrate the Operating System on New Hardware

Introduction

The time for migration of the complete operating system, including all applications and settings, has come whenever old small storage devices or slow computers are replaced by new hardware. 

Such a migration has become more complicated since modern Windows installations do not only include the system partition (usually having the drive letter C:) but in addition require several service partitions to organize the boot process. 

Likewise, it is not possible to move the program and settings files of an existing Windows version to another OS installation because programs and settings need to be included in the Windows Registry. This means that the complete operating system must be migrated with all settings and applications must be migrated to the new hardware.

Methods

Basically, such a migration can be performed by two methods:

1. ...by backup and subsequent restore (recommeded, since safer and applicable on 99.9 % of all scenarios and configurations)

2. ...by direct copy (only applicable if source and destination disks are connected locally to the same device)

The difference between a backup and a copy (clone) is explained in this article: Backup vs Copy.

Method 1 - By backup and subsequent restore (recommended)

Please note, that this article gives only a rough outline of the steps to do, but exceptions may exist or additional actions may be required depending on the individual configuration.

1. Create a backup of the complete system disk including all partitions to another locally connected disk. 

Note: You an also only select the system partition as object to back up, and our software adds automatically the related service partitions, but this does not work e.g. with dual boot systems or other non-standard installations. This is why we recommend to create a backup of the complete disk including all partitions.

2. Create, if not yet done, a WinPE recovery media. 

3. Boot the new computer or the old computer after having built in the new system disk from this recovery media. 

4. Restore the complete disk image to the built-in new system disk. The latter is completely overwritten by the restore operation.

5. Boot the new system. 

Note: If the restored system fails to boot in the beginning, boot again to the recovery environment to prepare the OS for the new hardware (Find and adjust OS) and to renew the Windows boot configuration (Boot Corrector). 

6. After these adjustments the system should boot, and missing drivers can be added under Window as usual. 

Method 2 - By direct copy

Please note, that this article gives only a rough outline of the steps to do, but exceptions may exist or additional actions may be required depending on the individual configuration.

1. Create a disk copy of the existing system disk, including all partitions, to an other locally (internally or externally) connected disk.

Note this important setting: In the parameters of the copy operation you must decide whether the Windows boot entry should be immediately rewritten stipulating that Windows will boot from now on from the new and no longer from the old disk!

2. Build in the destination disk, if it has been connected externally by now, since Windows cannot be booted from external storage devices.

3. Boot the new system.

Note: If the restored system fails to boot in the beginning, boot again to the recovery environment to prepare the OS for the new hardware (Find and adjust OS) and to renew the Windows boot configuration (Boot Corrector). 

After these adjustments the system should boot, and missing drivers can be added under Window as usual.