Putting Existing Windows 7 Pro onto New System confusion

dollseyes

Commendable
Feb 15, 2016
18
0
1,510
Hi Guys. I have a new PC being built. It will have no OS. My current PC has Win 7 Pro 64 bit.
I own the Win 7 Pro Retail dvd with Product Key NOT the OEM version.
I wish to put this onto my new PC. I understand I can do so but will need to uninstall from current PC first.
Now my confusion comes from wanting Win 7 Pro on both PC's. Ideally I'd like the same version (Retail) on both so in the future should I decide to upgrade both I can where as with OEM version you cannot.
I have looked online for Retail versions and the only place I've found so far that has it in stock is Amazon Ca and they are charging $323! (I live in Canada) . They are plenty of stores that sell the OEM version (NewEgg etc).
That to me is really expensive especially considering the Win 10 Pro dvd on Amazon is $248.


Also another related question which is really confusing me is that I have a System Image Back up on an External Hard Drive for this current PC. I would like to put this on my New computer too.
Is it possible?
IF I uninstall existing Win 7 and put that onto my new PC can I restore the backup to the new PC also?
IF I manage to get a NEW Win 7 Pro installed on my new PC could I restore the back up to it?

In short I want both computers to have Windows 7 pro (Retail) for both to have the same content.
Worse case scenario is the new PC will have the System Image restored, but here's my confusion kicking in. IF I get a Win 7 Retail, install it to my new PC it should be straight forward to put back up onto that and my current PC left as it is with the content already on it.

As always I appreciate any help, advice and suggestions



 
Solution
If you restore a system from a backup you are returning that computer to the state it was in when you made the backup. If the computer was running Windows XP Media Center when you made the backup then it's Windows XP Media Center that is restored, the same goes for your Windows 7 Pro Retail. It's probably worth noting that the system image restore cares what configuration your hardware is in, not your software, when you restore from an image.

The point of "backup and restore" is to create a snapshot in time of your computer so you can return your computer to that moment should it catastrophically fail.

pauls3743

Distinguished
Let's try and answer some of your questions.

OEM vs Retail
An OEM licence is tied to the hardware it is first activated on, it cannot be transferred to another machine, although this was relaxed with later versions of Windows so it could be transferred a limited number of times.
A Retail licence is much more flexible and has the advantage that it can be pretty freely transferred between different physical machines.
Both types of licence can be upgraded to newer versions of Windows.

Win 10
If you're planning to go to Windows 10 you may as well do it now. It's also worth noting that the window for a free upgrade from Windows 7/8.1 to 10 closes in about 5 months.

Backups
I would keep separate backups for each PC (you can keep them in the same location if you want). That way you have less trouble with conflicting drivers and programs needing activation.
You can restore a backup to a computer it wasn't taken from but you can run into problems depending on the state the computer was in when the backup was taken (UEFI vs BIOS mode) and the hardware in the PC the OS needs to install drivers for.

Shared Media
I would consider shared folders, or even a server, rather than trying to keep both PCs in sync with each other.
 

dollseyes

Commendable
Feb 15, 2016
18
0
1,510
Thanks pauls3743

I am against using Win 10 just now. I have spoken to friends and colleagues and they say hold off for a while . The OS is only 6 months old and still buggy.
I will stay with Windows 7 for now.

What I would like to ask is this -
As I originally posted not many places carry the Retail Boxed Ver of Win 7 Pro .
I am now thinking of buying OEM version of Win 7 Pro. Then I will Uninstall the Retail ver from my current PC and install the OEM version.
By doing this will I be able to restore the system image backup from my external hard drive that I created?

I will then use Retail version for a clean install on my new PC.
As for restoring it to the new PC I will not bother for reasons listed in the first reply.


 

pauls3743

Distinguished
If you restore a system from a backup you are returning that computer to the state it was in when you made the backup. If the computer was running Windows XP Media Center when you made the backup then it's Windows XP Media Center that is restored, the same goes for your Windows 7 Pro Retail. It's probably worth noting that the system image restore cares what configuration your hardware is in, not your software, when you restore from an image.

The point of "backup and restore" is to create a snapshot in time of your computer so you can return your computer to that moment should it catastrophically fail.

 
Solution