clone dead system to new hardware

[pcpete]

We used to be a clean load for everything shop. Back in the win7 days it made such a difference. For the past couple of years, we have just been cloning 10 to an SSD and doing a tuneup with great success. Customers are super happy with the outcome and we are making more money for less work.

I know windows 10 is pretty forgiving when switching the os to new hardware. Have any of you had success with cloning drives of computers with bad motherboards(or just older) to an ssd and putting them in a new system?(it has worked well for the odd computer we have tried) I think if you just updated drivers and activated it if needed, it would work well on most. We could charge a premium for saving their entire configuration. This would seem like a super profitable service to offer. We may start experimenting more with this.

 

[Diggs]

I've never had much luck cloning into new hardware. Too many BSODs.

 

[pcpete]

I've never had much luck cloning into new hardware. Too many BSODs.

even with newer win 10 computers?

 

[Porthos]

I know windows 10 is pretty forgiving when switching the os to new hardware. Have any of you had success with cloning drives of computers with bad motherboards(or just older) to an ssd and putting them in a new system?(it has worked well for the odd computer we have tried) I think if you just updated drivers and activated it if needed, it would work well on most. We could charge a premium for saving their entire configuration. This would seem like a super profitable service to offer. We may start experimenting more with this.

Do it all the time with 100% success as long as the OS you are moving is in perfect shape. Also as long as you are going from home to home or home to pro or pro to pro. You can not go backward.

You also have to be aware of MBR and UEFI differences. Learn how to identify the source just by looking at the disk layout in the device manager.
Some newer computers do not have the ability to go to MBR in the Bios and you are stuck with data transfer only.

 

[pcpete]

Do it all the time with 100% success as long as the OS you are moving is in perfect shape. Also as long as you are going from home to home or home to pro or pro to pro. You can not go backward.

You also have to be aware of MBR and UEFI differences. Learn how to identify the source just by looking at the disk layout in the device manager.
Some newer computers do not have the ability to go to MBR in the Bios and you are stuck with data transfer only.

great info. Thanks!

 

[Sky-Knight]

Just popped into backup Porthos, everything he said here matching my experience as well. Though, if I'm honest I still don't like doing it. Windows 10 is designed around a disposable endpoint premise. If things are configured correctly, the user just logs into a new machine and gets all their stuff.

 

[MudRock]

I always nuked and paved with mobo/cpu changes before. I just had one on Tuesday. Mainboard fried, they upgraded to intel from AMD (Which USED to be biiiig no no). I know you can just reinstall windows from the boot media, and it leaves data there, no apps, etc. Well, I missed hitting the key at boot up to choose boot device. Windows goes 'Updating hardware devices' and after 15 minutes, booted. Warned client might not be good. You know what? Just talked to them. Running 100%...

 

[Porthos]

I always nuked and paved with mobo/cpu changes before. I just had one on Tuesday. Mainboard fried, they upgraded to intel from AMD (Which USED to be biiiig no no). I know you can just reinstall windows from the boot media, and it leaves data there, no apps, etc. Well, I missed hitting the key at boot up to choose boot device. Windows goes 'Updating hardware devices' and after 15 minutes, booted. Warned client might not be good. You know what? Just talked to them. Running 100%...

This is what I do when I sell a newer/better refurb to replace an older slower computer. The replacement always has a new SSD of course.
Still if the computer had software issues to begin with I go the clean install route if an upgrade to the current version does not smooth things out.

 

[Sky-Knight]

Those upgrades are wonderful at fixing all sorts of things though. I just had a Win8.1 box in here last weekend that generated an SSL error whenever Outlook tried to send or receive mail. Upgrade to Win10 1903 later, and POOF, everything just works.

 

[Porthos]

Those upgrades are wonderful at fixing all sorts of things though. I just had a Win8.1 box in here last weekend that generated an SSL error whenever Outlook tried to send or receive mail. Upgrade to Win10 1903 later, and POOF, everything just works.

Close to a fresh install twice a year. Providing you do not have other 3rd party software that mucks it up.

 

[Sky-Knight]

Close to a fresh install twice a year. Providing you do not have other 3rd party software that mucks it up.

Yep, and I HATE it, I really wish it was only once a year. But it really does wonders to keep the old Windows creep at bay.

 

[Porthos]

I really wish it was only once a year.

In a way it is now about 18 months. Beginning now the only ones getting "force" upgraded are 2 version behind (1803 and older). 1809 is optional till EOL. 1809 users can click check for updates and just get monthly/prevue CU's updates. You have to click the download and install link below the main button to recive the feature update.

 

[pcpete]

We have been doing $99 for data recovery(with a fairly healthy hd), We then were telling people we could recover their files and transfer the files to a new computer(use fabs) for a total of $169, so we made an extra $70.

We are going through and raising rates where we can. We are now going to offer data recovery for $119, then offer $59 extra to transfer the files to the new computer, or $99 more to transfer everything including their programs for a total of $218

 

[Porthos]

or $99 more to transfer everything including their programs for a total of $218

Be sure to evaluate Both the old and new computer for issues and OS compatibility/before you offer/promise that.

I always say it is a good possibility that everything can be transferred. I do not offer different pricing though. Cheap clients will take the cheapest way out even if it means more work/hassle for them.
Other things to consider, Some programs like Office are MB/computer aware. Just last night I had to call MS to reactivate Office 2010 for a client. 2010 online reactivation is gone now.
In my case, Malwarebytes is that way as well now.(Already had the chance to deactivate in advance)

 

[Sky-Knight]

In a way it is now about 18 months. Beginning now the only ones getting "force" upgraded are 2 version behind (1803 and older). 1809 is optional till EOL. 1809 users can click check for updates and just get monthly/prevue CU's updates. You have to click the download and install link below the main button to recive the feature update.

Yeah, but 12 months from now we're back to the six month march, we're just a year behind.

 

[Porthos]

At least if your up to 1809 you can choose/plan the upgrade after precautions like can you say image backup.
1803 and previous versions are getting upgraded automatically at this time. (already had a few)

 

[Sky-Knight]

As they should be, 1803 dies in Nov. 1809 next spring... etc.

 

[pcpete]

Be sure to evaluate Both the old and new computer for issues and OS compatibility/before you offer/promise that.

I always say it is a good possibility that everything can be transferred. I do not offer different pricing though. Cheap clients will take the cheapest way out even if it means more work/hassle for them.
Other things to consider, Some programs like Office are MB/computer aware. Just last night I had to call MS to reactivate Office 2010 for a client. 2010 online reactivation is gone now.
In my case, Malwarebytes is that way as well now.(Already had the chance to deactivate in advance)

thanks for those pointing out those pitfalls. it is all about expectations

 

[Porthos]

it is all about expectations

For sure.

 

[NviGate Systems]

Acronis and Paragon both have Enterprise versions that include Bare Metal Restore where for both VM's and Physical Machines, they analyze registry for boot drivers and modify to generic versions for current system.

They are not cheap but can be a lifesaver.

For Windows 7 there is a VBS script that can do that for you automatically. As long as 7 can boot on the new hardware you can do an offline upgrade to 10.

These Enterprise versions can also change between UEFI and MBR if you get the right versions.