Swapping Hard drives??

[Cornish Jack]

2 x HP SFF Desktops, one with 4Gb RAM and a newer one with 8. Older runs Win 7 64 bit, newer supplied with Win 10 installed (since removed). Used Paragon HD Manager to migrate OS from old HD to newer one, successfully. Newer HD then plugged into newer PC but cannot get it to run., even using valid W7 disc to boot/repair. I have a nasty feeling that what I intended (upgrade machine by swapping hard drives) doesn't fit in with Microsoft's 'business plan'!! Can anyone confirm that I'm wasting my time (and money! ) or suggest how I can manage the HD swap, please?
TIA

[Guest 112233]

Win 7 update

C J - Although both PC's are of the same Brand and model, internally; they may be using different components (think of those RAM specifications and speeds) and system drivers. Unfortunately Microsoft also ties the installation of Windows to the specific computer motherboard its installed on

Swapping mirror images of the drive of the old PC to the newer one will not work. You need to download and install a Win 7 ISO (edit: from a reputable source) to the newer PC and then activate the new installation with a valid windows key. In the circumstances you may need to call Microsoft to activate the new install.

A disk image transfer will not work. Beware some later Intel chips are no longer supported in windows 7.

CAT III

[VP959]

I can confirm exactly what CATIII-NDB has said, but can add that there is a work-around to get Windows 7 to work perfectly on the newer Intel Kaby Lake processors.

Intel have done a deal with Microsoft to try and block the use of Win 7 on machines using these newer chips, to try and force people to run Win 10 (and the changed revenue model it's bringing in). However, in reality, some editing of the driver names allows Win 10 drivers to work perfectly with Win 7 on a fast Kaby Lake processor (I've done it recently - have to say the performance and low power consumption of the Kaby Lake i7 processors is pretty amazing).

[boguing]

If the only difference is the 4/8Gb of RAM, that shouldn't cause any major problems. It's true that (since XP I think) waking up an hdd in a different computer will cause Windows to question its own legality, but it starts up perfectly and then asks you if you've altered something and, if not entirely happy with your answer may ask you to call them. I've had to do that a few times and MS have always happily given me a new code to type in.

So going back to your problem, have you tried running it back in the original machine, and is it working OK in that?

[Cornish Jack]

Thank you all. Some interesting info to absorb there - I have now managed to get a fresh W7 to install on the 'new' machine but it won't connect to the 'net and the screen appearance is 'elongated' ... presumably drivers again. Will try some more 'fiddling' - before resorting to the more reliable club hammer!!

[oldbeefer]

I tend to use the free version of Slimdrivers when an OS reinstalled. Has worked OK for me for years. SlimDrivers Free - Free download and software reviews - CNET Download.com