I have made a system image backup that I would like to use for a new hard drive that I have installed on my system. The old drive is still installed with Windows 8.1, but I need to deploy the OS to the new drive and would like to do so without having to do a clean installation. Is it possible to use the system image restore and change the drive? I cannot see the path/drive info in drive management for the new drive which has already been partitioned. If this is not the correct way to deploy this image, please advise. Do I use WinPE? I haven't been able to find instructions for applying a system image backup on a new drive, only on an existing drive.

Thank you!

Hi Pam Boling,

I use "Acronis TrueImage" for backup/create an image(file) of drive, and restore the original drive or other drive(in case of you, "a new hard drive").
I've used it for nine years (from Jan. 2006), and have no problem.

I believe "Acronis TrueImage" is one of best software for backup/restroring image, but it is not free.
Please refer to below, if you're interested.
http://www.acronis.com/
Best regards,

Thank you for your quick response. I downloaded the trial, but it doesn't allow single-disk image, only entire system. I would like to try it before purchasing and in my current state of having a damaged hard disk as my primary OS, that really isn't the best option for me. I do appreciate your input. (I have a third drive that is huge, so making an image of my entire system to try the software makes no sense.)

Hi,
You're also quick.

Yes, "Acronis TrueImage" can make an image of whole drive.
(in this case, "drive" means a partition, like "C" drive, "D" drive...)

And you can restore a part of it, i.e. selected folders/files will be restored.
(I have not used its feature yet.)

And also it can backup with "folder/file" level. (see images of Acronis TrueImage 2014)

Hope this would  help you.

If old HDD is OEM, I suggest contact OEM manufactured regarding this (PC or laptop)

maybe 3rd party software will solved all the migration OS and files, but its not good practice for OEM PC or laptop

• Edited by britishdhez 4 hours 21 minutes ago

If old HDD is OEM, I suggest contact OEM manufactured regarding this (PC or laptop)

maybe 3rd party software will solved all the migration OS and files, but its not good practice for OEM PC or laptop

• Edited by britishdhez Tuesday, June 02, 2015 3:00 AM

If old HDD is OEM, I suggest contact OEM manufactured regarding this (PC or laptop)

maybe 3rd party software will solved all the migration OS and files, but its not good practice for OEM PC or laptop

• Edited by britishdhez Tuesday, June 02, 2015 3:00 AM

Hi,

First, I need to say that since third party clone software frequently cause system corruption and its not fixable, we only recommend one way for system installation on new hard disk: performing a clean install on your hard drive.

And yes, using windows system image restore could restore your whole system to your new hard drive but it need reactivate Windows.

You could refer to following link for more information.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/restore-computer-from-system-image-backup#1TC=windows-7

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/help/videos/restoring-your-pc-after-a-hard-drive-failure#tab=system

(These webpage applies to Windows 7, but the whole process are almost same in Windows 8.1.)

Regards,

D. Wu

Hi britishdhez,

You've mentioned "but its not good practice for OEM PC or laptop". 
But I've done migration from OEM PC(including Desktop and Laptop) to another OEM PC or the same PC, many times without failure.
Migration from one PC to another by using 3rd party software, does not depend on whether the PC is made by Manuractures or not.
And I'm afraid OEM manufacturer will *not* support in such case as Pam Boling's. 

Regards,