Huge problem: Tranfer HDD from an old PC ot new PC

[RouterOne]

So, this is what happen, I had this PC very old, so I decided to build a new PC, everything new, motherboard, CPU, RAM, Video Card, except the HDD, so I put it together all the new hardware, and I knew that I had to do some migration setting but I didn't after 20 PC builds you get kind lazy to install a new software and all of that even if you make an ISO... so what I did was, I just put the old HDD in to the new hardware, the old HDD had Win7 and about 300GB on installed programs, so whatever... and I put it together, to my surprise everything was working just fine or so I thought, all my programs, video games everything fine, which it shouldn't happen!!! but it did... so the problem now is that, any other new program will crash my PC!!, and i was wonder why!, so ran AMD Catalyst System, and the result was, "We couldn't find any installed system" WTF!... sooooooooooo! how is that I'm running Win7 if it's not installed!!... Virtually... ooohhh... that's a new one.. Question: How can I "re-install" windows 7 without loosing the installed programs!? ...
I have had this "new" pc for the last 4 moths and yea I just noticing that...

[Silicon Vampire]

Never a good idea to transfer a OS install from one computer to another unless they are Identical. NEVER.

This is exactly the reason why.

[RouterOne]

yea, lesson learned, but that is not it!... the new PC has some mayor power overclocked, turbo.... you named... still there is some stuff that shouldn't be happening, a fast example: MO:3 should be running at 40+FPS(at least) all max-out but it doesn't it only give me 30+- ... Deus EX should be fine all setting at max but it does lag the system sometimes... so now I know the "why" ... question is, how do I fix it... still looking for a solution...

[Silicon Vampire]

You move your games and other data to another storage device, wipe the hard drive, re-install Windows, update everything and start re-installing all your stuff.

[Staryn]

I never recommend doing this, for these kinds of reasons. If it boots, you will have all kinds of strange issues with hardware. If you move a hard drive to a new computer, or replace the motherboard, you want to reformat and install Windows fresh. Often the problems are simply too many and too complicated to repair any other way.

[RouterOne]

Thank you guys, it seems that I have no other choice but to install everything, =( ... OMG, I pust so many hrs to find, audio codecs, video codec, free software, and so many tools! =(( I'm gonna died!!!!!!!

[Silicon Vampire]

Well, at least you have a better idea of what you are looking for now... small consolation, I know. I made the same mistake. Once.

[RouterOne]

引用自 Silicon Vampire：

You move your games and other data to another storage device, wipe the hard drive, re-install Windows, update everything and start re-installing all your stuff.

Wait a min... you just gave me an idea, if I move my installed software all my programs to another HDD, like copy/paste, am I gonna be able to just call them from the new drive? right now everything is installed on C:/ if I move all from C:/ to let say F:/ and install a new HDD, install win7 and then call my programs from F:/ would they still work? or I have to re-install all of them?...
This is what I have: http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/230487_139819886163701_265250911_n.jpg
if I install a fresh copy of Win7 on one of my HD's then,may be, big may be!!! I don't have to "re-install" everything again... I'll see what happen...

[Silicon Vampire]

Only the steam stuff will work that way. I have found virtually zero other programs that work that way on Windows. They need to be installed, you can't just run a copy of them.

You are going to waste more time and effort.

[RouterOne]

yea, I figure that much, well, I guess I'm gonna have to call Microsoft, my win7 licenses was for only 2 PC's and I'm out of it... last time I called was for an XP key and that was a long time ago, they questioned me like you wont believe just to get me a new key... you know, Microsoft have a bad reputation on costumer service, hell I'm a afraid to call them .. lol...

So yea, I'm gonna have to re-install everything again, so I guess I'll see you guys tomorrow may be... Thank you guys.

[_I_]

toss in your win7 disc and do the repair install, that will fix some of the hardware issues, and then install all of the mobo/gpu drivers

then it will keep all of your games and installed stuff

[Silicon Vampire]

引用自 _I_：

toss in your win7 disc and do the repair install, that will fix some of the hardware issues, and then install all of the mobo/gpu drivers

then it will keep all of your games and installed stuff

Nope.

Sure it may fix some of the issues but it's just a waste of time in the long run. Sure, it could probably get straightened out completely but I promise, it will be twice the time and 20 times harder.

[Omalley v.01]

format it, start fresh...your just prolonging the inevitable and giving yourself your own problems by being lazy. The lazy man ends up always doing things twice. its the internet bud, everything can be redownloaded.

[RouterOne]

Hi guys, here is the update:
At first I was ready to do a fresh install, but I didn't want to lose any of my programs some of them are very hard to get, you have to test and try, and try, until you get the right program, sometimes it can take a week to find the right one.
So fresh install was not an option just yet...
I went to different forum searching for another option to get some sort of fresh install, hell I even called to Microsoft support, and let me tell you, are they playing dumb or they just avoiding my question because they didn’t know how to do it or are they really that dumb!? … what’s wrong with you “Tech-support …Microsoft”…
So to make this short, and after almost 7hrs of research I can say that the 90% agrees with you guys, Fresh Install is the way to go, not for me not just yet….
So this is what I did:
I uninstall every single driver on my PC, video, audio, network, usb, support for 3TB system, I mean everything… then I re-booted in safe mode, just to get a few more drivers… then, I re-booted again but this time from the CD-R with the win7 CD in it… and I ran the Fix Window option, I forgot to mention that I had to uninstall a huge chunk of Windows Updates, you know how it is, almost every week you download updates from Microsoft…
So… reset, reset, reset, login, install drivers, reset, more drivers, reset again, and there it IS!, I notices a few things
My Fraps went from 30-40FPS playing n’ recording, to 80FPS playing n’ recording and 140+FPS playing no recording, settings on Deus EX all ON and at max… setting on WW3 all Max, I have no problems on any video game, I can say that it runs faster now…
Another thing that I notice, is, the GPU temp was 60-70 and 80’c while playing, now, is only 40 to 60’c! How cool is that!
Why I didn’t do a fresh install?
Well, my HDD is kinda old, it works great never had any problems, it has 500GB at 7200 RPM 16MB Cache, windows has rated at 5.9 data transfer… I have 2 of this and 2 more of 1 TB each, one is internal and the other external, I got all almost full as you can see on the image…
I want to save some money to get at least 3TB of SSD’s, of curse all in a raid… so, my real fresh install is gonna be on pure SSD’s!
Time spend, 6 to 7 hrs on research, and about 3hrs uninstalling and re-installing…
Next move: making ISO files of my installed programs, so I don’t have to go and search for them ever again!
Thank you all!
Wash your hand and eat your vegetables... ^.^
I’m here every day, I do specials on weekends, don’t forget to tip your host

[X Afro]

Sadly the process needed to copy programs from one computer to another is very difficult. I had a ancient app from a old fix-it utility that would root out programs all the way to registry and allow you to uproot it into another computer. This is assuming the programs do not have built in security that checks the install of course. If you cant do that, than there is no way to save the old programs. You will have to reinstall fresh system. Also many Microsoft generic OEM will sometimes run even if you migrate completely to a new system but they will not activate, meaning not much of anything will completely work. It allows you the opportunity to buy another copy of Windows through the internet that’s about it.

[RouterOne]

that is correct, some programs will ask for authorization on the new PC, even if it is the same PC with a fresh install, some others, will re-install them self as you open... and some others will give you a message like "We didn't find a key for this machine, please register your product",.., like you said, it's difficult, now, if you have pirated software then there is nothing to worry about, but if it is legit then prepare your self, is gonna be a bumpy ride...