Can i put windows 7 on a desktop and then move it to a labtop

Mark Martin · Mar 25, 2013

I have a retail version of windows 7 and my labtop is at my girlfriend house and she mess up the dvd drive. I have the labtop hard drive with me now and I've got it hook up on my desktop at the moment so I can put all my files on to a usb drive. Can I do a clean install on the desktop and then transfer it to the labtop.
I know that I could do a usb install but I've never done it before and I've done
many clean installs on a desktop and put I've put os on new builds. I'm comfortable doing it this way. I just dont want to mess up the labtop. Both the labtop and desktop run windows 7 ultimate 64 bit.

Feldmarschall · Mar 25, 2013

Just use WinToFlash from Novicorp. I've been using it for some time to resolve problems like yours. It works perfectly. All you need is Windows installation disk in your PC and 4GB Usb stick. It will transfer installation to your stick and you'll be able to boot on laptop same as from dvd. It will take 1 hour more to install due to speed but this is the fastest and cleanest way.

Feldmarschall · Mar 25, 2013

Or connect it to PC via SATA or ESATA... run windows installation, install and follow these steps to replace your installed hardware with laptops http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/135077-windows-7-installation-transfer-new-computer.html

but 1st method is easier.

USAFRet · Mar 25, 2013

Mark Martin :

No.
The USB install is the best, easiest way to do it.

Proximon · Mar 25, 2013

NO, you cannot install Win 7 onto your hard drive and then put the hard drive back into your laptop. You must install Win 7 while it is connected to the laptop.

When you install Windows, it configures itself to the hardware. You are installing it on a COMPUTER, not a hard drive.

If your optical drive in the laptop doesn't work, this is your only option:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2432-usb-windows-7-installation-key-drive-create.html

Feldmarschall · Mar 25, 2013

Proximon :

It's not quite right. Since is SATA connection boot will be able to perform, and tutorial stated above is meant to replace hardware installations with new ones if you ever replace motherboard for example.

Proximon · Mar 25, 2013

Sysprep whitepaper
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc783215%28v=ws.10%29.aspx#w2k3tr_sys_what_srdg

HAL compatibility

You can perform an image-based installation with Sysprep only if the hardware abstraction layer (HAL) on the disk image is compatible with the hardware on the destination computer.

Now, I'm fairly certain the HAL on a laptop is fundamentally different, but aside from that you aren't really covering all the steps.

Changing the WAK for instance.

So, the way this might work would be to disconnect the current drive on the desktop and then do a fresh install using the laptop drive. Then the transfer using sysprep. But why risk it, when you can simply install on the laptop?

So, far better to just make the USB key

Feldmarschall · Mar 25, 2013

It's stated that USB method is best, but this is an option nevertheless

And it would work.

Mark Martin · Mar 25, 2013

I know it will boot. I did one two months ago but it was a dell labtop and the desktop was a dell to. I went and redid the bios when I transfer the hard drive and it works great. The PC that I was going to do it on now is a custom build and the labtop is a tobisha. That why I was asking.
I've already put the os on to the usb drive and I'll do it that way. I'm reading up on it now since this will be my first time installing on a usb drive.
So thanks for the comments guys and Feldmarschall thanks for the 411.

piyush15 · Mar 26, 2013

dont ever use win2flash. its a malicious software . please check my post http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1635446/data-recovery-due-lost-data-cos-win2flash-software.html
i again request u guys dont use this software. annd if possible spread this news

Feldmarschall :

Feldmarschall · Mar 26, 2013

piyush15 :

If you don't know how to use it, don't. I used it 30 times at least and never had that problem. You need to be sure which drive letter are you setting to format.

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Can i put windows 7 on a desktop and then move it to a labtop

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