"Jack Gillis" <> wrote in message
news

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>
>
> "Seth" <> wrote in message
> news:hngnmp$7nu$...
>> "Jack Gillis" <> wrote in message
>> news:...
>>>
>>> I have converted to Windows 7 from XP and already know I will miss the
>>> "repair/install" or "in place upgrade"
>>> feature of Windows XP. Under XP I could replace my motherboard/Processor
>>> and run the "repair install" from the XP
>>> CD and have the new mother board boot and run XP with no problem. All
>>> the installed programs, such as Office and
>>> Firefox were still there and functional. Under Win 7 they do not get
>>> carried over to the new MB computer according
>>> to post here and elsewhere and will have to be reinstalled. Under XP, I
>>> did have to reactivate with a 'phone call
>>> to MS but that was no big deal. Apparently
>>>
>>> As I understand it, Paragon's Drive Backup Professional 10's P2P Adjust
>>> feature will allow me install a new MB or
>>> other major hardware and restore EVERYTHING from a Paragon backup to the
>>> modified computer without having to
>>> reinstall my programs.
>>>
>>> Yes. I know Win 7 has a repair install feature that will make an
>>> unbootable Win 7 run on a 'repaired' machine. But
>>> from what I read here and in the Windows 7 forums, if I use it, it
>>> apparently will not incorporate my Office 2003,
>>> Firefox and other such things into the 'repaired' system as XP did. I
>>> will have to reinstall them.
>>>
>>> Am I wrong? I hope so.
>>>
>>> Has anyone used Win 7's repair/install to rejuvenate Win 7 and user
>>> programs after replacing an MG in the way XP did?
>>
>>
>> Just like XP, Win7 (and Vista) have the ability to be prepared for new
>> hardware. The MS supplied SYSPREP utility sets the installation to a
>> hardware neutral state. Shutdown, replace motherboard and when you
>> startup again the OS does hardware scan just like it did during initial
>> installation.
>>
>> This is the same methods large companies use to have a single image work
>> on all the hardware they own with all the common software already
>> installed.
>>
>
> Thank you Seth.
>
> I am familiar, but not experienced, with the Sysprep method you mentioned.
> However it seems complex compared to what I had to do under XP. Under XP
> I could simply reboot the machine using the XP CD after installing the new
> MB and doing a Repair/Install (sometimes called an Upgrade Install.) The
> process would make the necessary changes to XP and give me a running
> system just like it was before the MB change out. I used that method at
> least 5 times on two different boxes over the years. It was almost too
> easy. Apparently Win 7 doesn't offer that method, at least that is what I
> infer from poking around the web.
Sysprep should be just as easy. Before swapping boards, SYSPREP machine and
shut down. Swap boards. Boot up and everything else is automatic.
You don't have to image the machine. Imaging is only required if you want
to capture the build with installed applications for mass distribution.
When I do image it (cause that's what I do. I'm the lead Windows desktop
engineer for 140,000 machines) I use ImageX. Also free from MS.