What all can a Backup Software restore? [Windows 7 Ultimate x64]

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Achint2000

Achint2000

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Long story short,
had an old build with Win7 which stopped working,
new build with same win7 and same pre-activated OEM key,
tried to load old win7 to see if it might magically work, and somehow it said "30 days until automatic activation, activate windows now".

Tried lots of stuff, somehow did "slmgr -rearm" in cmd, license disappeared. 2 rearms remaining. Only solution - reinstall windows so that the setup pre activated OEM key works automatically.

No, I won't re-set everything again. Already did that 3 times this year, and that's ENOUGH.

I need a Windows 7 Backup of my current version, to work exactly the same with the themes and changed icons and custom cursors, and installed programs and licensed games like GTA 5.

I plan to backup, reinstall windows 7 and restore the backup to the new installation. And I expect the backup-restore to work as if nothing ever changed except the core license files and other things.

I think that a "system image" restores everything including the license info, which I dont want.

Does the backup restore everything to the deep detailed things like Service Pack 1, DirectX, MS Visual C++ Redist, MS .NET Framework, etc?

If not, what all can a normal backup restore?
 
Solution
Tom Tancredi
Well may I suggest, if you update to Windows 10, once it is done installing itself it will then register with the Microsoft Servers. Once it does that, once you want to 'move' to another system, you will just download W10 from www.windows.com, onto a thumb drive, build that new system, then when ready to 'move' look at activation, deactivate the laptop, then activate on the new build. If there is any issue, it will provide the number and you can explain you did deactivate the old system and the new system needs to be activated. They will see it on the server and allow the move.

There isn't a "backup software" all in one that works like you want, especially for applications, You HAVE to reinstall them all, and as I noted for games...
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13thmonkey

13thmonkey

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I doubt that's how it will work, it'll be an overwrite, not selective at all.

Where'd you get the OS License key from?

The License is probably keyed to your old hardware, as it is OEM.
 
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Achint2000

Achint2000

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I had an original Windows 7 Ultimate install disk since forever, maybe from 2009 as it says so in the setup. The key isn't tied to the old hardware as the old hardware is dead and locked up. I never used two of the same licensed Win7 at the same time, however this case when I tried to boot the old one, my new installation's key got deactivated or something.

The OS license key was always there. The guy who built a PC for my dad about more than 6 years ago, he said that it's "pre-activated" and everytime I reinstall it from that old disk, it's license says "activated" as soon as I connect to the internet. And I've reinstalled it more than 60 times in past 5 years because im always messing around xD

I seriously don't wana reinstall everything again as it takes me 2 weeks to get all those setups from the internet, re-download games like GTA 5 and COD: Ghosts and set them up again with all the old savegames, not mentioning the themes, the perfectly set and working drivers, etc...

Is there any backup software which can work with this issue?
 
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13thmonkey

13thmonkey

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It is tied to your old machine, MS has a database of key hardware vs license code, yours does not match anymore, you need to go through the authorisation process, they may allow it, they may not. That's the point of an oem key, is locked to one set of hardware.
 
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Achint2000

Achint2000

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I've passed on the same key like this, system to system through 4 desktops over all these years and each time it just connects, deactivates the old one, activates the new installation and works. I don't know of things changed over time with the licensing but I know very well that if I reinstall Win7 on this SSD again, as soon as I connect to the internet it'll activate on itself. All I need is that backup software which gives me full selective control or something.
 
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bignastyid

bignastyid

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"he said that it's "pre-activated" and everytime I reinstall it from that old disk, it's license says "activated" as soon as I connect to the internet."

That sounds alot like a pirated copy of windows. Do you actually have a coa sticker with a product key on it?

You shpuld be putting your games and other data on a seperate hdd or partition seperate from windows so you don't have to redownload them.

BTW OEM copies of windows 7 are technically locked to the motherboard they are originally installed on, only retail copies have the rights to be moved to another system. If you have a valid key you'll likely need to contact Microsoft about activating it on another system.
 
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Achint2000

Achint2000

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Well, over all these years I lost that original cover on which the key was. I definitely remember there was some stickers on it. I was just a 11yo kid when I last saw it. All I have is a scratched install disk that's barely working... I don't think it's pirated and if it is, how do I get all the windows updates every time and it only works when I connect to the internet, also showing a dialog box "activating windows" and showing a success message (which I dont really remember, too used to it)

Can we please switch to the topic of a backup software which backs up everything except the license key or other core windows files?
 
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Tom Tancredi

Tom Tancredi

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Under the LICENSE terms for OEM copy (i.e. Old Build was a Dell, HP, etc. computer, new build is NOT the same maker, model, parts inside) that is BUILT INTO WINDOWS you can not use that copy of Windows in any other computer BUT the original build. Hence why "30 days until automatic activation, activate windows now".

Your only solution is to BUY a new copy of Windows NOT included with the PC, which means "off the shelf". Currently only Windows 10 is allowed to be sold (which is quite good, as BTW W7 is NOT supported and the coding for drivers, apps, etc. for W10 wont' work alot of times on W7 systems, so you do need to replace it anyway). Which will require a fresh install, but you can buy them on Amazon, go into Walmart, or just check www.pcpartpicker.com for the best pricing.

Tom's Hardware has a policy on trying to circumvent licensed software issues, and I would advise you to follow this advice.

Yes you will need to reinstall (and resetup) all the programs, as for not re-downloading games from legitimate sources (Ubisoft, Steam, etc.), there is several threads on google to follow how to copy the game from the directory to a spare drive, then after Windows is reinstalled and setup, reinstall the app (UPlay, Steam, etc) then shut down the app, copy over the game directory, reopen the app, and then point your 'game' towards the folder and it will just 'update' the 'missing files' if any. Otherwise if these are more Pirated titles (aka you got them as torrents) then again your violating TH rules.

The rest of your music, documents, pictures, etc. you would do the same thing (drag and drop) or can try the old WET tool that allowed you to back those up to a spare drive or network source then restore them into Windows 10 (again no matter what you need a LEGEAL copy of Windows to start with).
 
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Achint2000

Achint2000

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My bad, I've been staring at my laptop's backup of screenshots all this time, of which, the product ID has some numbers and OEM in between them, saying "Windows is activated". My themes, wallpapers and desktop resolution is exactly the same on my laptop and desktop. Also read some stuff about OEM keys on google, it just can't be on my desktop as when it was bought all the years back with the OS, it was a custom built PC, not a branded one.

My Win7 DVD just fell down, scratched and not working anymore so I'll have to get a new Windows, and it's license anyway. I'm from India and it's 1 AM right now so tomorrow's gona be a long day.

After I get my new Win7 DVD and license tomorrow, which backup software to use?

Also, with the backup, will things like fixed drive letters (I have 3 external HDDs full of games, having a fixed letter assigned) also be restored?

Didn't read the 12 mins ago edit. So overall, I'll have to reinstall everything even if I use a backup software?
 
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Tom Tancredi

Tom Tancredi

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Well may I suggest, if you update to Windows 10, once it is done installing itself it will then register with the Microsoft Servers. Once it does that, once you want to 'move' to another system, you will just download W10 from www.windows.com, onto a thumb drive, build that new system, then when ready to 'move' look at activation, deactivate the laptop, then activate on the new build. If there is any issue, it will provide the number and you can explain you did deactivate the old system and the new system needs to be activated. They will see it on the server and allow the move.

There isn't a "backup software" all in one that works like you want, especially for applications, You HAVE to reinstall them all, and as I noted for games there IS a short cut to downloading LEGITIMATE sources as I mentioned.

As for normal 'backup methods' with Windows Vista forward, there was very little choices I am aware of, because the security level changes since Vista's release completely changed how to 'backup everything', especially if your spanning across 3 drives. See with the new security model you have to do a BIT LEVEL backup, and that means all the software connection points are included with the backup: i.e. ALL 3 DRIVES need to be backed up into the 'backup image" as a way to restore exactly the same with the themes and changed icons and custom cursors, and installed programs and licensed games. Which would mean if you had 3 1TB drives, you would need a 4th drive of 3TB to back that all up to and restore from. Also there isn't any room unless you got a much larger drive (4TB) for any 'differential changes" (how your system looked and setup in March as compared to July without redoing the entire image). Further to do that MUCH of a backup takes not a few hours or 'overnight' but can take a FULL WEEK because of how many HUNDREDS of GIGABYTES of data we are talking about making a perfect copy, AND you can't use the computer until it is done.

So the normal method at this point, also since people use a SSD as the OS only, then Data on the 2nd drive model, is to just restore Windows on the C drive when needed (which under W10 there hasn't been a real reason too, and since W7 there isn't a need to 'refresh' windows every 3 or 4 months like XP used to do) , install all the base apps, then just (as I pointed out above) follow those steps to repoint to your data (change C:\Users\MYNAME\Documents to D:\Documents etc.) and game programs.

If your insistive on backup software you can try a simple google search like this result http://www.techradar.com/news/the-best-free-pc-backup-software that lists several. Again there isn't the old Symantech Ghost solution since Vista's release, so there isn't a solution as simple and straight forward due to the way the security is embedded in Windows since Vista
 
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Solution
USAFRet

USAFRet

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Once you get an actual valid activated OS installed....Macrium Reflect will do your backup thing.

From your current borked up license...you can't back that up and have it actually continue to work.
A backup is the entire thing, license and all.
You can't apply a backup to a whole new OS install. Doesn't work like that.
 
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