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Transferring Operating System and programs between identical computers

My wife has Compaq Presario CQ61  with Windows 7 OEM version (I assume it is OEM because the computer was originally supplied with Win 7 installed).  It’s fairly old but does everything she needs, perfectly.  Well, that was until   the computer developed an intermittent motherboard fault and at this stage I am doubtful that it is fixable (although I am still trying).   Call this Computer 1.  I also have a spare hard drive on which I have currently put an Acronis full image back of Computer 1.  i.e the normal Acronis full back up, not the Universal Restore which I certainly can do if there is any benefit.

I have just purchased on eBay for low cost, an identical CQ61 working computer also with Win 7 installed, with the intention of making one fully functional computer out of the two.  Call this Computer 2.

But I have read that due to Windows licensing and the fact that I have OEM version operating system,  that it is impossible for me to simply swap my existing Computer 1 hard drive (or my back up hard drive)  into the second unit, or transfer my original operating system and license from Computer 1 into the Computer 2 because the operating system is inherently linked to the original motherboard, and it will be impossible to activate it again on the “new” computer.  Is this true?

I have tested Computer 2 and it appears to be fully working but with no programs other than the Win 7 operating system etc
I guess I can re install all the programs on to Computer 2 same as if I was starting with a brand new computer. That is always a huge amount of work  - I absolutely hate having to start from scratch again with any new computer.  When you run as many programs as me and my wife does, it takes weeks (probably months) to get it fully back up and running.
   
However on this occasion both computers are identical.  Based on that, is there an easier and and quicker way to transfer all programs and associated registry settings and other related settings etc. over to the second computer which already has its own licensed Win 7 operating system,  without me having to completely start from scratch?  

Programs include Office and probably other “single user” programs.  Do these also generally link to the motherboard as regards licensing same as Windows does?
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Compaq Presario CQ61 is just a model number for a product series and the hardware spec might be different for the dead and living notebook.
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http://www.laplink.com/pcmover/pcmover.html          
PC mover

I have tried the above before and only one thirds of applications can be moved and it cannot move the licence of MS Office.
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bunkhound

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Thank you all, for your comments and suggestions.
 
As Jackie Man predicted, not all Compaq CQ61 are the same or use the same hardware.  Turns out the second computer has Intel chipset and the first computer uses AMD.  So much for me thinking they were identical computers.  Guess I stuffed up there!

Anyway,  I put the mirror hard drive from Computer 1 into Computer 2. Despite the hardware differences it booted up OK and the computer is essentially operating and running.  There were two obvious conflicts (aside from the obvious Windows licensing), that I have found so far between the Intel hardware and the AMD based files on the hard drive from Computer 1.  Otherwise at this stage it seems to be basically working fine as a replacement to the original computer.

1/ Intel Video adaptor on the motherboard wouldn’t work.  Device Manager said there was a problem. “This device cannot find enough free resources that it can use. If you want to use this device, you will have to disable one of the other devices on this system (Code 12)”  After a lot of stuffing around I deleted the AMD PCI Express Filter driver in Systems Devices and replaced it with the generic “PCI bus”, and now the video is fine.

2/  But I have a problem with the USB controllers.
I got this error message “Windows cannot initialize the device driver for this hardware.  (Code 37)”

In device management there is an error message next to all of the Universal Serial Bus Controllers

Under universal serial bus controllers.
Intel (R) ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2934
Intel (R) ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2935
Intel (R) ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2936
Intel (R) ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2937
Intel (R) ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2938
Intel (R) ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2939
Intel (R) ICH9 Family USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 293A
Intel (R) ICH9 Family USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 293C

I deleted every driver and rebooted. Windows starts it loads them again  but says failed for each one,  same as before.  When I go in to Device Manager and look at the driver files,  they still include some original AMD files. Nothing has changed by deleting and re booting.  I have downloaded and replaced the  overall Intel chipset drivers  from HP website (I assume they contain the USB drivers  -  it’s not specifically mention on their documentation) shown on HP web site for this specific CQ61 Compaq,  but no change.

Can I please get some help here?  If I can get this solved then I think I am in business!

As  regards the licensing issue, yes it is telling me that I have three days to activate.  I tried entering in the product code of the license on the second computer but it would not accept it.  But I’m at the stage where I would be willing to purchase a new license if I can get my mirror image hard drive from the first (intermittent) computer, and get it working on the second computer.  To me that’s still better value than having to start from scratch and reinstall all the multitude of programs and associated settings etc that my wife has accomplished over the years……..!
first things first - there must be a model code for each one - look that up first on both
Computer 1    Comapq Presario CQ61-311AX
Computer 2    Compaq Presario CQ61-107TU
In hindsight it was not smart of me to purchase the second computer but at that stage I thought they were 100% identical.
However with the hard drive from Computer 1 installed in Computer 2 motherboard it seems to be working fine including video, audio, Internet, Wifi, and programs etc.  The only problem I have is that none of the USB ports work,  as per my description above.

As regards the WIndows licensing,  I will resolve this with Microsoft,  although I do understand that there is a good chance that they won't "come to the party" seeing as it is an OEM licence and I may have to purchase a new key.

If only I can get the USB issue solved.........
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Yes, I already updated the Intel Chipset drivers and the Intel Video drivers.   Then deleted all the USB drivers and  restarted the computer and let them re install them again.   Device manager says they are the correct and latest drivers.  But I will do it again - just in case........

I didn't update what looked like non related drivers such as audio and  wifi  etc  because they were working fine.   Should I do them anyway?

But even after that,  Device Manager still shows reference to AMD driver files - presumably from the previous computer.
USB-adaptor-1.docx
>>  i recommend to update all drivers   << is that not clear?
no need to post picture is doc format - just attach them or insert them
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I found that the USB problem.  It was similar problem to the Intel graphics adaptor not  originally working.  Both due to redundant Windows Services still running from the  original AMD based motherboard.  

With the video it was the AMD PCI Express Filter Driver,  and with the USB it was the AMD USB Filter Tool.  Deleted them both and now everything is working.   There was also an audio problem,  but updating all the drivers to suit the  Intel based motherboard fixed that.

Also used Driver Genius Tools to clean out  all old drivers.

Otherwise,  my wife has a working computer back for minimal outlay so she is happy.  But  If I knew what I was getting in to, in attempting to  simply  restore a  full disk backup from one motherboard to another with totally different chipset,  then I doubt I would have attempted it.

Still  not sure about the licensing issue with the swapped motherboards.  It's still working although there is a message in System that says it's not activated.  Cross that bridge when I come to it I guess.  I would hate to have got this far and then find out it's not even possible to buy a new license/product key for the original  Win 7 operating system  that I now have transferred,  with all programs etc. etc.  to the other Computer 2 motherboard,  that I now have running fine.
Update on the licensing issue.  After my last post the replacement computer with the hard disk and operating system from the original computer continued to work up until two days ago (it was saying that the operating system was not activated)  but I decided to let sleeping dogs lie all the while it was working.

The day before yesterday (this is true)  it came up with a window saying the operating system was not licensed, was non-genuine and that we had to activate it or purchase a new license.  Trying to activate it with the product code from either computers would not - it wouldn't even accept them. Turns out later that I was typing in the wrong numbers.  It was wanting the 5 blocks of 5 digits printed on the OEM label. As it turns out that would not have activated it anyway because of the discrepancy between the operating system on the hard drive and the OEM registered license for the mother board etc in the second computer.

Then tried to purchase a new license by clicking on the box. That didn't work. It went to a web page link and just hung up  - never did anything.  Tired several times.

So..... we found the Microsoft Australia phone number for licensing.  I wasn't expecting  much success but they answered in very quick time and we got to speak to someone - a real person! (didn't even have to go through a long list of automated questions speaking to a machine).  We gave them the 5 blocks of 5 digits code and she confirmed that that computer had a valid licensed operating system and then passed us on to another support person who took over.

We explained the situation regarding the original failed computer and how we had taken that hard drive out of it and put it in a second near identical computer.  He then requested that we allow him access to the computer by Remote Desktop which we did.  He then went through a series of processes changing  things etc .  I didn't see it all,  my wife was really handling it at that stage but it did see various DOS windows popping up  and things being edited. A couple of restarts were required.  The phone dropped out at one stage and he promptly phoned us back  and continued on.  It must have taken best part of an hour. Our internet is slow at the best of times and there were a couple of apps that he needed to download and run on it.

The outcome was that we now have a new valid  activated license on the replacement computer,  based on the fact that that the replacement computer originally had a valid license.  They did not transfer the license from our original computer  operating system which I had been expecting.  This was good,  just in case I can ever repair the motherboard fault in the original computer.   It's license remains intact.

I have to say I was absolutely amazed by the service Microsoft provided us on this occasion.  We had one of their support staff tied up for nearly an hour sorting out our licensing problem (which really was of our own making). Still can't believe it that they went to all the trouble of taking it over by Remote Desktop to make the changes that were needed to solve the licensing issue.  And then we got follow up phone messages and emails asking if we were happy with the support and that if there were any problems contact them and they gave us a case number.   I'm simply stunned!

I truly thank both Experts Exchange and Microsoft.  Couldn't have achieved it without the support of both parties.
This is a difficult one to close, with six experts and 16 posts, but I'll make a run at it. I think that all of the posts were helpful in leading the asker to a solution. Although the asker said that he is "Still not sure about the licensing issue", from a technical perspective he has transferred all the programs to the other computer that he now has "running fine". I am selecting all the posts by the experts that I believe helped the asker to the solution and am splitting the points evenly. Regards, Joe