Skip to main content

Restore system with dissimilar hardware from backup

Thread needs solution

I have recently upgraded my system with a change of motherboard, cpu and ram.

Just prior to making the changes I took a full backup of my Windows 7 installtion C drive (64GB SSD) in the hope I would be able to restore and not have to reinstall all my software and windows updates from scratch.

The backup is on a separate drive and I have had to reinstall Windows 7 onto my SSD drive to get back into my system (my old Windows installation is still there though).

Could someone tell me first if a restore is possible and second how I go about it?

Do I have to install Acronis again to make a bootable image of some kind?

Thanks for any help!

0 Users found this helpful

Have you made an Acronis recovery CD?

If TIH isn't installed at the moment, you can download an ISO copy of the recovery CD and burn that to CD.

Boot from the CD and you would be able to restore your image, however, Windows probably won't boot because the motherboard drivers it has installed (from the image of your old system) won't be the correct ones for your new MB. It would be worth trying to see if you are lucky.

What you need is the Plus Pack which allows you to add drivers and restore to dissimilar hardware. However, apart from the fact you'd need to purchase the PP, you normally install it and then make the recovery CD.

I'm actually not sure if the downloadable ISO under the Plus Pack includes the base plus PP or just the base.

Thanks for the advice.

Didnt make a recovery CD just a full backup but I'm guessing the backup wouldnt boot anyway as when I tried to boot from the drive with my new hardware Win 7 didnt seem to like it.

Would the plus pack allow me drop my current drivers into an existing Acronis backup file?

Hmm for £25 and the hassle of trying to figure out how to use it might be best off biting the bullet and reinstalling Windows 7!

First, checkout the US site for the price of the PP and see if the conversion price works out cheaper than buying direct form the UK site.

When you run the CD with PP there is a choice to add drivers, but the drivers must have inf files otherwise it won't see them.

If you have the W7 install DVD you could try running a repair install, but if Windows is stopping with a BSOD and a code such as 0x7B then it is a driver issue and the Windows repair CD won't do much.

Another option you have, long winded though, is to re-install W7, install TIH 201x, make a new CD (if PP has been purchased) and then recover your image using the add new drivers.

Where is the booting of W7 failing, do you get as far as being able to press the F8 key? If you are able to do that, you could then try booting in Windows Safe mode and see if you can install your new drivers from there, I don't hold out much hope though on that last idea.