Imagine a situation: you are changing the motherboard or transferring the hard drive with the installed system to a new computer. And of course, the system does not start on new hardware. What are many doing in this situation? Reinstall the system. However, there is another way: to pre-prepare the system for migration using the sysprep utility.
Starting with Windows Vista, sysprep is included with the operating system.
Sysprep cleans up all unique information about the installed system. This includes clearing information about installed drivers. This does not affect the user's programs and settings.
Yes, I want to warn you right away - among other things, the activation information is also cleared. After the transfer, you will have to activate the system again. Special attention to those who had Windows preinstalled with a computer (OEM version), after transferring to new hardware, it will not be possible to activate the system automatically via the Internet, only by phone. And then they can refuse, tk. an OEM license is tied to the hardware of the computer sold to you.
So, let's run sysprep on the system we are going to port. It must be done BEFORE TRANSFER... You must only use the version of sysprep that was installed with Windows.
In the command line, open as administrator, run:
% windir% \\ system32 \\ sysprep \\ sysprep
In the window that opens, make the following settings:
- in the "Actions to clean up the system" select the option "Go to the system welcome window (OOBE)" and check the "Prepare for use" option;
- in the "Shutdown Options" select "Shutdown". You can select "Reboot" if you want to immediately take an image of an already prepared system disk by booting from DVD or USB. The main thing is not to allow booting from the prepared system disk, otherwise the whole process will have to start over.
After clicking OK, the system cleaning process starts, after it is finished, the computer turns off. Now you can transfer the hard drive to a new system, change the motherboard, etc.
At the beginning of the download, you will see the inscription "Preparing the system for use", then "Installing devices":
The system may reboot and continue with the installation - this is normal.
In the end, you should see the regional settings window (the appearance of this window already indicates that the transfer was successful):
Enter the name of the new user. In order not to confuse the settings of existing users, enter a name that has not been previously used (for example, Test). This user can then be deleted.
Next, we perform the standard settings for the date and time, automatic updates, etc. As a result, you will be taken to the desktop of the Test user. Now you can log out and log in with your regular account. The final touch is driver updates.
That's all. The transfer is quite simple and fast.
How widely can the parameters of the equipment be changed?
Microsoft advises using this technology only for computers with similar configurations (seemingly). Those. this method may not always work. For example, it is completely incomprehensible what will happen if the image is made on a system from Intel and transferred to AMD and vice versa (who will try, please unsubscribe). On the other hand, I created an image on a virtual machine (Virtaul PC 2007) and successfully transferred it to computers with a wide variety of configurations. True, it was all from Intel to Intel.
Quite often, users of computers and laptops have situations when they replace existing equipment (for example, a motherboard or hard drive). Naturally, the old OS will not accept a new "motherboard" or an uninitialized hard drive just like other built-in or peripheral equipment, for which you just need to install drivers). Some argue that the easiest way is to reinstall the system. Yes, indeed it is. But after all, in the old OS, which, moreover, works quite well, the programs that the user needs may be installed, the re-installation of which may take too long, or the user simply does not have their installation distributions. This is where the need to transfer Windows 7 to another "hardware" or even to a new computer arises if the old upgrade is not subject to.
But everything is not so simple here. The fact is that, as some believe, creating an image will not give any effect, since the OS itself is, as it were, "tied" to the equipment that was installed earlier. And it's not a fact that just copying the system from an image to a disk with a volume of 2 TB or more, which have not MBR, will be possible. However, to perform such actions, you can use several options of actions, which we will talk about later, but the main emphasis will be on the built-in tools of the system itself, so as not to resort to installing or using third-party software.
Is it possible to transfer Windows 7 to another "hardware": options
To begin with, let's briefly dwell on possible situations on which further user actions will depend. The most, it is believed, the simplest option is associated with replacing the motherboard. In this case, the installed equipment will need to be "untied" from the system in order to bring it to the state as if it was just beginning to recognize new equipment (most often this may be due to the replacement of the motherboard). In the second case, when you need to transfer the working system to a new 1TB hard drive or any other size, the actions are somewhat more complicated. But, if you follow all the instructions below exactly, there should be no special problems.
Checking the hardware of a new computer or laptop
It goes without saying that the configuration of the new hardware that is installed on the motherboard should also be considered. For example, what processor is needed for a 64-bit G7?
Naturally, only the one that has the appropriate architecture, otherwise the system will simply not work. In a sense, this can also apply to hard drives, only here the problem rests on the style of the partition. A hard drive with 1TB of memory of any OS of the seventh version is recognized without problems, but devices with volumes of 2TB and higher can be detected only partially (not all available disk space will be available) or not recognized at all (not to mention SSD disks). We will dwell on actions with hard drives a little later, but for now we will focus on some important aspects related to preliminary preparation.
Utilities Used
As for the software used, you can use a variety of utilities, for example from Acronis, or even run a complete one with a production system. However, if such tools are not at hand, you can use the built-in native Windows 7 Sysprep tool. With its help, the transfer, however, can take a little more time, nevertheless, in most cases, the use of this particular tool looks most acceptable for any user.
Preliminary actions
Finally, before proceeding with the transfer of Windows 7 to another "hardware", it is advisable to completely uninstall all installed antiviruses, as well as applications for working with disk images or virtual drives like UltraISO or Alcohol 120%, since their presence during the transfer can provoke conflicts or unexpected errors.
Also, just in case when transferring Windows 7 to another computer, which will use the existing hard drive, it is advisable to create an image of the original system in advance. If something goes wrong, you can recover from it quickly enough.
How to transfer Windows 7 to another hardware with an existing hard drive?
Now directly about the actions performed. First of all, we launch the Sysprep utility (Windows 7 will start migration only the next time it starts).
We call the command line on behalf of the admin, enter the command of the same name, then in the window that appears from the list of actions, select the entry to the welcome window (OOBE), check the box for preparation for use and set the shutdown mode. At this point, the running service will remove all hardware IDs, activation information, and so on.
After turning off the computer, remove the hard drive, replace the motherboard and reconnect it (or install it on a new PC). After turning it on, the system will independently update the registry parameters, launch the necessary services, install the equipment and test it upon restart.
Setting system parameters immediately after transfer
After that, as with the first installation of the system, you will need to select a language and region, and then create a new user registration.
It is imperative that it be different from those already in the system! This entry can be deleted later. Next, you will need to follow the standard procedures for setting the time, Internet, etc. When the system starts up, in the welcome window, select the registration that was installed in the system earlier (and not the one that was created at the stage of transfer) and delete the temporary "account".
Note: Please note that the system will need to be reactivated. If you do not have a license, use the KMSAuto Net utility or similar, although this is considered, to put it mildly, illegal or even illegal action.
Transferring the system to a new HDD
In the case of transferring Windows 7 to another disk, the actions performed are completely similar to those just described, only the disk with the system is connected as external media and is set first in the BIOS boot priority. After starting the OS, you need to go to the backup and restore section in the "Control Panel" and create an image of the system. To save the image, you will need additional third media (for example, an external USB HDD). You can skip the recovery disc creation step. After that, you need to disconnect the original disk, boot the system from the installation DVD, select the recovery partition and specify recovery from the previously created image.
Then the found image will appear on the external disk, which you need to use. This will be followed by the start of the process of transferring all the parameters, at the end of it the computer will reboot, but after the restart you will receive the system in the form in which it was on the old hard drive. As you can see, the Sysprep utility in Windows 7 (or any other OS of this family) is not as difficult to use as it might seem at first glance.
What should be considered when porting an OS to large disks?
Finally, a few words about the hard drives themselves. Firstly, if you transfer the system to a new HDD, please note that quite often you may need to create a primary and a simple volume (for example, after connecting the old disk to a new computer as an external one).
Secondly, it is advisable to split the new disk into partitions in order to leave not all the space for the system, but as much as it needs. Thirdly, for large volumes (2 TB or more), you should use exclusively 64-bit Windows paired with UEFI, not BIOS. Otherwise, the transfer of Windows 7 to another "hardware" will be impossible. As a last resort, a large hard drive can be partitioned into more than two logical partitions (but no more than four), setting each of them to the MBR style, not GPT. It goes without saying that in order to correctly perform the transfer, as mentioned above, you should take into account which processor is used, how much RAM is installed and what is the bit depth of the OS itself. And in general, does the new or upgraded PC meet the minimum requirements of the portable version of the "seven".
A new computer or even a simple hard drive upgrade for many means the inevitable process of installing a new operating system. Despite the deceptive simplicity of the Windows Setup Wizard, preparing a new PC for full operation is always tedious and time-consuming. It's not enough just to install Windows, you also need to transfer all the data from the user profile, as well as install a considerable number of applications that you are used to for a long time working on an old PC.
Fortunately, there is a way to save you time and speed up the boring procedure of installing and configuring work programs. Using special utilities, you can transfer old data to a new hard disk, and in some cases, even migrate from one version of the operating system to another, while preserving user files and the entire arsenal of previously installed software... Read below about the tools you need for migration.
Windows Easy Easy Transfer
The most obvious way to transfer all of your data to your Windows 8 computer is to use the built-in utility called Windows Transfer Tool. It is included in the operating system from Microsoft, starting with Windows XP, it is also in the latest Windows 8. With it, you can transfer files, system and user settings. Windows Easy Transfer is designed as a wizard. First you need to run it on your old computer and choose one of the ways to save data. If you have two computers at your disposal, which are on a local network or are connected with a special cable, files can be transferred without using an external drive. But if you want to install Windows 8 on an old computer, then you can't do without connecting an external drive.
After determining where to save the files, you need to choose what exactly you want to save. By default, Windows Easy Transfer prompts you to save all files stored in a user's profile (documents, music, videos, pictures, application and system settings), as well as items that the user has shared. It should be borne in mind that using the standard data transfer application, you can copy any files and folders to the new system, not just those that can be seen in the wizard window. To do this, you need to go to the advanced settings and manually mark all the elements in the file manager. The wizard displays the total size of the data to be copied.
All data is saved in a single MIG file, which can be password protected for safety reasons. As you might guess, the size of such a file can be rather large, so before using the drive, it is worth checking which file system is used on it. If FAT32, you need to format the flash drive or external drive in NTFS, because the size of the MIG file will most likely exceed the 4 GB maximum allowed on FAT32.
After the data is copied to the drive, you can run Windows Easy Transfer on the new system. Specify the path to the MIG file, if necessary, enter the password and you can choose which files you want to transfer to your new computer. Keep in mind that copying custom content may also require you to enter the password for the account you use on your old computer. All this, of course, is done for security reasons. After the process is complete, Windows will show detailed statistics indicating the number of transferred accounts, programs and documents, and will also generate a list of applications that were installed on the old computer, but which are not on the new one. You will have to install them manually, but the program will tell you what is missing.
Windows 7 data transfer
So, click on "Start" and select: All Programs\u003e Standard\u003e Utilities\u003e Windows Easy Transfer.
This will open the "Data Transfer Tool" window, which contains a list of what you can transfer at all, it can be documents, messages, music, etc.
We are offered 3 options. I propose to consider briefly each of them, in general it should be noted that the "Data Transmission Tool" contains, in which the data transfer algorithm is described step by step.
1. Data transfer cable - using a special USB cable, you can connect two computers and transfer data. Just don’t think this is the wrong USB cable that connects from your computer to your printer.
If you decide to transfer information using the data transfer cable, then it should be noted that on another computer you will also need to run the Data Transfer Tool. The computers will be connected for some time. If there are no connection problems, Data Transfer Tool will transfer data to another computer.
2. Net – if computers are connected to a local network, it will be possible to copy information from one computer to another. We continue to consider -
This method involves the transfer of data to other computers connected to each other through a local network. When you click on the "Network" link, a window will open in which you will need to click "Next".
As you can see, the data transfer algorithm is described point by point, I think it will be clear to you.
Then the "Data Transfer Wizard" will generate a key that will need to be entered on a new computer, thereby connecting both computers to each other.
After a successful connection, the data transfer compatibility will be checked, and then the transfer of information from one computer to another will begin.
3. External drive or USB - flash memory device. This method assumes you are using a USB flash drive or external hard drive.
We will need to indicate what action we want to perform with the data. That is, either the data must be copied to a computer, or the data must be transferred from this computer to another medium. In our example, select "This is my computer" and click on the link - This is my original computer.
As a result, a window will open in which you will need to indicate which data we want to transfer. Using the checkboxes, we mark the documents we need, which must be sent to a flash drive.
Then in the next window you will need to set a password. For example, I set the password 12345 and click "Save" and select the external drive ( flash drive) to save. In general, in such simple ways, you will know what, in general, is Windows 7 Data Transfer.
Thus, a folder in .MIG format will be created on your USB flash drive. In order to transfer the saved MIG folder, for example to another computer, you launch the "Data transfer tool" and when the data transfer tool wizard asks you to specify a computer (as shown in the figure below), you should click on the first link "This is mine you want to transfer files and settings to this computer. "
Well, I hope the information in this tutorial on the topic Windows 7 data transfer was useful to you. That concludes, see you in the next lesson!
And finally, here's a Video for you
Data Mover is a simple tool, but knowing some of the intricacies of how it works will save you bitter disappointment. My tips will help you save and restore your data, bypassing all the pitfalls.
To avoid problems, you need to ask yourself four simple questions:
- what needs to be transferred
- will it all be saved
- how to transfer something that is not automatically saved
- will it be possible to restore everything on the new system
And then you will not have the questions that Herzen and Chernyshevsky once asked. However, I will also try to answer them.
Today in the program
Note about Windows 8.1 and Windows 10
Unfortunately in Windows 8.1 the data transfer tool does not have the ability to save files and settings. It can only restore them. This is likely due to the integration of OneDrive into the operating system, as well as the wide range of sync options. Unfortunately, cloud sync does not allow transferring a number of user settings and program settings.
IN Windows 10 there is no data transfer tool at all. Alternative - console utility USMTincluded in the ADK. It is quite simple, and the question is solved by studying a couple of its parameters.
What data is saved automatically
Microsoft has provided for the automatic saving of all your settings and data, as well as files stored in the profile.
Standard libraries. If these libraries include folders located outside the system partition, they are also saved.
All user environment settings, including File Explorer settings, the view of folders, the desktop, the taskbar, and the Start menu, including any icons pinned to them.
In addition, under the Windows Settings item, the following data from the AppData folder is included in the migration file:
- saved passwords managed by Credential Manager
- network connection parameters
- all personal data from Internet Explorer (including history, passwords, cookies, etc.) and RSS feeds
- windows Media Player, mail and speech recognition options
- saved skins
This list is not obvious from the GUI when saving the migration file, but you can test my claims with a little wit. For especially inquisitive readers, I suggest telling you in the comments how to do this :)
Files and documents not included in the standard libraries, namely:
- all other libraries with their contents
- desktop, downloads and contacts
- folders you created in the root of the profile
- internet Explorer favorites
Along with the general data from the% public% folder, all folders located at the root of all internal drives are automatically saved. Exceptions are:
- Windows and Program Files
- backups in the WindowsImageBackup folder
- hidden and system folders
So, the list of saved data looks impressive, and you don't have to worry about all your settings being transferred. But there is one important point, ignorance of which can blur the impression of this wonderful tool.
How to transfer program parameters
I have seen several times in the forum complaints that the data transfer tool "does not transfer everything". If you dig a little deeper, it turns out that program parameters are lost.
All in your hands
Meanwhile, the program report, which is displayed after restoring all settings, reports on the successful transfer.
In this case, we are dealing with two sides of the coin. On the one hand, the Transfer Tool does save program settings, but only those stored in the custom registry key (HKCU). If the program stores your preferences in the registry, they will be carried over.
On the other hand, many of the really necessary parameters are left behind the scenes. therefore you need to include program settings in the migration file yourselfthat you want to transfer.
AppData folder
At the root of your profile is the AppData folder for storing program data. For example, the Opera browser is installed in Program Files, but your profile is stored in the AppData \\ Roaming \\ Opera folder. And Google Chrome is installed entirely in AppData \\ Local \\ Google.
The situation is aggravated by the fact that after clicking the link Additionally, you might not see the AppData folder in the Data Transfer Tool Explorer.
In this case, turn on the display of hidden files and folders in File Explorer and click the link again.
As you can see in the picture below, the folders Roaming and Local marked with a blue flag. It means that only some subfolders are selected inside. You can make sure for yourself that in fact only the virtual storage and IE parameters are selected.
I highlighted the folders of several of my programs in yellow. Moreover, if you do not know the exact location of the data you need, it makes sense to save the program folders from both locations - Local and Roaming.
Why hasn't Microsoft made it standard to migrate program settings? Most likely due to considerations of the size of the migration file.
My AppData folder takes up more than 2 GB, although there are not many programs installed. But I have seen applications that alone eat more than a gigabyte of disk space!
By the way, this problem does not arise when reinstalling the system over an existing one, since the entire profile is copied. And I think the Roaming folder should be included in the default migration file.
Program Files folder
Old or illiterately configured programs can store data in their folders. If such a program is installed in the Program Files folder, then when UAC is enabled, data is redirected to the virtual storage. And it is saved automatically, as I said above.
If you have User Account Control turned off, the manual workload of data migration has just increased.
Working in Windows 7 "as in XP", i.e. as an administrator and with UAC disabled, you allow programs to write parameters to their folder (for example, to an INI file). You will need to transfer the data of such programs manually.
When data transfer won't help
There are a couple more pitfalls, knowing about which will save you frustration.
You will not be able to transfer files and data from:
- 64-bit Windows to 32-bit
- one language version to another
And if the first point is more or less obvious and even described in the help, then the second one becomes a surprise. Moreover, an error when launching a migration file in another language version of Windows does not at all suggest regional problems. It sounds like this: The file does not contain data available for transfer.
Extracting data from a migration file using the migrecover utility
Let's say your migration file is at D: \\ MySettings.MIG
- Download the utility migrecover for Windows 7 / USMT 4.0 or Windows Vista / USMT 3.0
- Unpack the archive to your desktop.
- At the command prompt, run set mr \u003d% userprofile% \\ desktop \\ migrecover% mr% \\ migrecover.exe D: \\ MySettings.MIG% mr% \\ recovered
A new computer or even a simple hard drive upgrade for many means the inevitable process of installing a new operating system. Despite the deceptive simplicity of the Windows Setup Wizard, the procedure ...
When buying a new PC, users often ask the question of how to transfer Windows 7 to another computer. This is very important, because you really do not want to deprive yourself of all installed programs, accounts and personal files.The fundamental ability to perform this operation will be helped by the system sysprep utility. It will help prepare an image of the entire system for transfer to a new PC. ...
For everything to work out, it is advisable to port to a compatible architecture. Those. migrating Windows from AMD to Intel and vice versa may not work. Having started the same transfer, it is advisable to create a backup image of your system so that in case of an unsuccessful transfer, you can recover from it. Before creating an image, you need to remove all virtual hard disk emulators (UltraISO, DAEMON Tools, etc.)
First, on the command line, you need to run the command slmgr / dlv.
After that, a window will open where you can see the number of Windows transfers to other PCs.
The next step is to enter the command C: \\ Windows \\ System32 \\ Sysprep \\ Sysprep.exe... This command will open the system utility, which will begin to prepare Windows 7 for "deportation" to the new hardware.
You need to set everything up exactly as in the screenshot above.
It is necessary to put the system into the mode OOBE, which will ensure the activation of the transfer mode at the next start of the system already on new equipment.
You need to check the box “ Preparation for use". This means that all information that the utility will not use for copying, namely (activation information, security identifiers), will be deleted from the system. All programs must be transferred in full. Next, a window will appear on the screen, which will display the process of preparing Windows 7 for transfer to a new computer. This operation will take several minutes, after which the PC will turn off.
The next step is to remove the hard drive from your old PC by carefully dismantling it. After the drive is fixed and connected to the new computer, the PC must be turned on. Windows 7 will then start updating registry configurations and starting services. If you get an error, then you need to restart the PC for the setup to start again. As a rule, errors occur if emulators or antivirus programs remain in the operating system that needs to be transferred. If everything is ok, the system will start installing devices and apply the configuration parameters.
This will be followed by a regular reboot and setting the account settings. It is very important to enter a new username here. For example, the old PC had the name Sergey. To avoid a conflict in the system during transfer, you need to enter any other name, since this account will be temporary. Further, standard operations for setting up the system - password, time zone, accept the license terms. In the window " windows setup"Select the item" postpone decision". At the first boot, the system will offer to start from several accounts. If the old PC had, for example, two accounts, then Windows will be offered to start from three, including the new one that was created in the previous paragraph. Once downloaded, this account can be deleted.
How to transfer Windows 7 to another computer or local drive. detailed instructions
This article will discuss how to transfer Windows 7 from local drive C to local drive D. This method is a universal instruction and is suitable for solving the following problems:
1. Transferring Windows 7 to another computer
2. Transferring Windows 7 to another hard drive or local drive
I want to warn you right away! This article is primarily aimed at advanced computer users. If you are familiar with the computer, then there should be no problems understanding the instructions for transferring Windows to another disk or hard drive. If you are a novice user, then read the article carefully from cover to cover. If you understand all the points of the instructions and you do not have any questions, then great. If you find it difficult, then think well! Maybe it will be much easier for you to install the new Windows on the desired partition!
Well, they would sort of figure it out) Well, now we breathe in and let's go ...)
Why is porting Windows 7 better than just reinstalling it?
Sometimes a situation arises that you do not need to reinstall the Windows 7 operating system, but transfer it to another computer or another drive, for example, from drive C to drive D, and at the same time save all settings, installed programs, drivers, etc.
Of course, a clean system can also be installed. But then you have to install drivers, programs, etc. In general, it is long and painful. And if we move Windows to another drive, then we will save all the settings plus a lot of time, effort and energy. Wherein the system will remain exactly in the state you are used to, but already on another local disk or hard drive.
Let's now take a closer look at the process of transferring an operating system from one local disk to another disk (or from one computer to another).
Instructions
Step 1 - Create a Windows 7 Backup
We have two local drives. Drive C and Drive D. The operating system is installed on drive C, and it needs to be transferred to drive D. First of all, before transferring the system, you need to make a backup copy (backup) of it.
For this, I use Acronis True Image. After creating a backup, you will need to place it on another local drive (E, F, G, etc.). Only not on the C drive (since it is the system one) and not on D, because we will install Windows there.
By the way, when using Akronis, you need to be careful - the program labels disks in its own way if it works from a bootable USB flash drive or disk, so be careful. In this case, I am guided by the size of the disks, and not by the letter.
Making Backup
Making a backup is very simple. Launch Acronis True Image and follow the steps shown in the photo below:
We start the backup:
We indicate the drive on which Windows is installed:
Create a new archive (backup):
Disable scheduling:
We select the incremental backup type:
Here we leave everything as it is (by default):
You can set up password protection for your backup:
Reservation settings (default):
Step 2 - Transfer Windows to another disk (computer, hard drive)
OK. The backup was created and located on a third-party local disk or hard drive. Now you need to restore it to local drive D.
It's very easy to do! Start Acronis True Image again. Now instead of paragraph "Backup" choose item "Recovery"... And you perform actions that practically repeat the steps of creating a backup:
Select the Windows 7 backup we created and click "Restore":
Select the item "Recover disks or partitions":
Despite the fact that we need to put the system on drive D, in this window we still select the local drive C !!!: 
Change the location for unpacking the backup:
Select drive D to install Windows 7 into it from our backup:
Settings changed! The system will now be unpacked to the local drive D !!!:
Press the button Start:
After that, the computer will go to reboot!
Acronis True Image will download automatically, so don't worry, just wait! After the program has loaded, start the recovery and, if necessary, repeat the steps described above!
If you transfer Windows to another hard drive!
I would like to note that if you do not intend to use your old hard drive anymore, then before deploying the system to a new hard drive, it is better to remove it - this will avoid conflicts when two identical operating systems appear on the computer..
After the deployment has happened (hopefully successfully) to the D drive, the computer needs to be restarted.
As a result, you have two working operating systems on your computer: on Disk C and on Disk D, or on another disk, if you unpacked the backup on another hard drive.
Step 3 - Removing the old operating system
After rebooting, the old system will still boot. To only work with the new one, you need to remove the old OS. Consider the procedure for deleting through.
Windows 7. You get a menu with two items - Install and System Restore. We need the second point:
In the recovery options, you need to select the first item "Use recovery tools ..." and click Next. After that, another menu appears and in it selects the last item - "Command line".
We enter the Bootrec.exe / RebuildBcd command, which scans all hard disk partitions for the presence of an operating system. The command finds the second version of the system on the F drive and offers to add it to the boot list. You need to confirm your selection with Y.
After confirming the addition to the download, type Exit in the command line and you will see a boot menu for the operating systems you have installed. After that, you choose the second system (restored). After booting, the boot disk is automatically named C, not D, as it was.
Please note - your old C drive has disappeared from Explorer altogether. But in fact, it has not gone anywhere, it just does not have a label. You can assign it manually through Disk Management. Entering here, you will see an unmarked disc. Manually assign it a letter of your convenience, say F and that's it, it will appear in the explorer again.
Assign a letter to the local drive:
That's all the instructions for transferring Windows to another local drive.
By the way, after recovery, most likely your Windows 7 may ask for reactivation.
