Can I clone one HDD to another? Before I reinstall Windows 7.

[Shark Dentist]

https/www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYK-C4rIxrI
Would that work?
I'm getting a new motherboard but I want to keep my HDD,I don't want to lose all my stuff when I reinstall windows 7.
Is there a way to copy everything to another HDD,reinstall windoes 7 on my main HDD and then copy all my stuff back,all data in it's rightfull place..data in right directory etc

 

[ss202sl]

Make a backup of your data. With a new motherboard, you'll have driver issues if you try to use an image from an old install. You need to install Windows, then install drivers and applications, then restore the data.

 

[Shark Dentist]

Make a backup of your data. With a new motherboard, you'll have driver issues if you try to use an image from an old install. You need to install Windows, then install drivers and applications, then restore the data.

So a clean re-install would be much better?
I'll uninstall the programs,but is there a way to safely copy my files,saves,folders to my other HDD on this PC I'm using now and then copy them back to my main HDD after I've re-installed Windows on that drive?

 

[orlbuckeye]

Do you have a retail version of Windows? If you have an OEM version you legally not allowed to transfer OS to a system with a new Mobo. If you have the retail you will have less problems registering Windows. Copy the files programs (data, pictures, movies music) and apps will have to be reinstalled.

 

[Shark Dentist]

Do you have a retail version of Windows? If you have an OEM version you legally not allowed to transfer OS to a system with a new Mobo. If you have the retail you will have less problems registering Windows. Copy the files programs (data, pictures, movies music) and apps will have to be reinstalled.

Yeah,my Windows 7 is retail.
Although I don't have the disc for it anymore.

Is not having the disc ok?
And is there a windows 7 option to restore files/folders when re-installing?

 

[orlbuckeye]

How are you going to reinstall? If you have a Key it will work with anything except an OEM version.

 

[Shark Dentist]

How are you going to reinstall? If you have a Key it will work with anything except an OEM version.

I got the KeyFinder program and found out my key,then I'm going to put windows on a .iso file,then burn that .iso onto a blank disc.

 

[orlbuckeye]

Now watch for malware if you got Windows from torrent.

 

[ss202sl]

How are you going to reinstall? If you have a Key it will work with anything except an OEM version.

I got the KeyFinder program and found out my key,then I'm going to put windows on a .iso file,then burn that .iso onto a blank disc.

You probably already know, but make sure that you create a disk from image, and point to the ISO as the Image for the disk. A disk with the ISO file itself won't boot.

 

[Shark Dentist]

Now watch for malware if you got Windows from torrent.

lol Don't worry,it's legit.
I may have asked this before (I don't remember :| ) but
is there a windows 7 option to restore files/folders when re-installing?

 

[orlbuckeye]

No you have to do it after. An install formats the drive then installs Windows. You even have to do the Windows updates after the reinstall.