Move existing Windows 7 or 10 installation to new computer?
Solution 1:
Short answer: you have to run sysprep on your old PC, shut it down and move the drive to the new PC.
Long answer: Sysprep is one way only and it strips Windows from all hardware drivers, once you run it, you'd have to install drivers on your old PC as well. You need to create a backup of your Windows in case something will go wrong.
Use the following procedure if you have a spare new drive:
- Clone old drive to the new disk, connected via USB to old PC (use gparted or clonezilla live CD)
- Swap disks and boot old PC from new drive
- Ensure you have the product key as Windows 10 may require it after booting in new PC
- Run sysprep on old PC with new drive, shutdown old PC
- Put the new drive in new PC, boot and see how and if it works. This way you will still have an untouched old drive that you can still use.