I found myself in need to move my hard drive to another computer without re-installing windows 7. I took me half a day to figure things out using extensive Google searching.
Before you start the process, backup any important information and your user folder (make sure you set in explorer to view hidden folders and files) from C:/users/your user
What do you have to do:
1. Press Start
2. Type CMD
3. You will see C:\Users\Your User. Type cd.. enter and then again cd.. enter to get to your drive letter.
4. Write cd c:\Windows\System32\Sysprep /generalize /shutdown
5. A window will pop out and select: Enter system bla bla (OOBE) (IF here you get an error that it cannot start because an app update, just go to control panel and uninstall solitaire and reboot)
6. Checkmark generalize
7. Select shutdown.
Now, after the process finishes and the PC shutdowns, get your HDD to the other computer and plug it in.
Start the PC and let it load:
1. You will see a screen where it says that windows will configure registry.
Every time I used this I had 1 problem. Setup says it cannot continue. If you get this press shift+f10.
Navigate to your windows install:
1. cd c:\windows
2. cd Panther
Now you will be in c:\windows\panther
So type this:
1. tracerpt setup.etl -o logfile.csv (this will generate a logfile to see whats wrong)
2. when the logfile generation is completed type: notepad logfile.csv
3. Use search for failed to process
Usually this points out a print registry entry that’s faulty so you’ll have to delete it.
At this point go back to the command prompt and type: regedit
A registry window should pop up. Use the path in the logfile to trace down the registry entry. If theres also a registry key provided use f3 to search for it and delete it.
You might still get the error after you clean up all the errors and restart. Just to make sure, redo the process and search again for errors (usually the second time you get the error, the keys are closed in { }. Search for them and delete)
After I no longer had any “failed to process” errors I was still getting that prompt. So the workaround for me was this: Restart and keep pressing f8 untill a boot screen will appear with multiple choices. Select Start in Safe Mode; you will get a prompt that setup cannot continue using Safe Mode. Just restart the PC and it should work now. If after Safe Mode you still get that error select “Disable driver signature enforcement”.
You will be prompted to the regular install screen. Here you will need to set up a new user, just make a test user and finish the process.
Your USER will still be there and you can log on to it.
You will notice that your taskbar icons and other small settings like messenger password Username disappear but you can restore those.
Thats about it.
