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Windows 7 System Image Backup...On Windows 8.1, restoring to different computer?

Hello,

I am wondering if Windows 7 System Image Backup wizard that still exists burred in Windows 8.1 (thank goodness really) can be used to restore your full OS, system state, files and folders to a new computer with different hardware? IE sort of similar to Apple's Time Machine? Even though it's much easier to do this on an Apple since they control the hardware.

Thanks

Larry Struckmeyer MVP

This will depend entirely on how different the hardware is. Doubt you could restore to a Commodore 64 or such. Best luck with similar motherboards where the storage driver is in the same family.

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McKnife

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nobus

your windows will probably become unactivated, since OEM versions are tied to the hardware

noxcho

I would suggest you using third party backup & recovery tools such as Paragon Backup & Recovery 14 Free with its WinPE which will 1)create better compressed image 2)Let you move the system to dissimilar hardware via its WinPE Recovery CD.

CnicNV

ASKER

Yeah, I am familiar with this tool and have used it many times, but always to restore to the same computer in a failed hard drive scenario. The video you have linked is great because it addresses exactly what I am after, pointing out that the exact same process can be used to do a "bare metal" restore to dissimilar hardware and as Windows 7 and 8.1 are actually really good a auto detecting hardware (all things considered) it would be no different than installing a retail copy of Windows only in the sense that it would re-auto detect your hardware. With the addition that you get to keep all of your settings and files, without wasting time re-installing everything.

Thanks a lot.