Convert Dual-Boot Win7+Win10 to two separately bootable OS's+User-info

Looking for pointers on how to convert Dual-boot PC to two separately bootable OSs (Win7 and Win10) while retaining a distinct user profile for each. May want to only backup Win7 sufficient to run on a used-part rebuild of another LGA 1150 PC, or to run a VM.

Context: baseline PC built with Win-7 Pro Retail, used TenForums Tutorial to implement Dual Boot Win10-Win7 (Win7 Boot Manager for both). OSs on two separate SSDs; both full retail so no license issues.
I'm backed up (*caveat below) with Macrium Reflect before Gigabyte MOBO failed (VRM).
With new LGA 1200 ASUS MOBO I can readily boot into Win10, slow boot start-up settings; not sure about Win7 -- gave up after long wait on black screen.

Have significant reference files most easily accessible using software on Win7 build, and the user profile is key/helpful for working in my old Win-7 mindset. That is why I'm looking to undo (remove) the dual boot, but not entirely delete Win7. At least retain enough to create an archival backup to restore/redeploy to another PC (would build from left over parts+ used MOBO).

Win10 now my preferred PC by far, but wish to retain my customization of my Win10 profile. If there is a way to set aside my user profile and do a clean install of Win10 then overwrite existing Win10 profile that would be great.

Received significant help from Macrium forum -- understand the theme/steps for redeploy of Win10.
They discouraged bringing Win7 back into the mix.
Got the machine to boot into Win10 without implementing a redeploy, so for now I'm at least functional with Win10.
Taking a step back now because my statement that I was backed up with Macrium (*caveat) was not completely accurate for the Win7 side of the Dual-Boot. In reality I had a single very old backup that may or not be 100% good. May make more sense to do a clean install of Win7 on used-part PC overlayed with saved user profile if/as possible.

Waiting for some additional backup storage before taking (experimental?) next steps, hence request for advice on this forum.

Need to see a screenshot of disk management:
How to Post a Screenshot of Disk Management

It sounds like you have Windows 10 booting, but you want a previously installed Windows 7 moved to an entirely different computer? Try to keep it simple for us, please, I got very lost in your opening post.

Thanks for helping. Probably simplifies to moving Windows 7 to an entirely different computer.

The problem is that Windows 7 does not tolerate being moved to new hardware as well as Windows 10 does. If you can build a second computer close enough in hardware to what the original computer was, then you might have a chance at it booting on it.

I understand new hardware is a problem with Windows 7. Building up a PC with old hardware is within my capabilities. I duplicated the now failed PC (MOBO: GA-Z87X-UD3H) built in late 2013) to produce a second PC (MOBO: GA-Z97X-UD3H) built in 2014. The question is what do I do with the Windows 7 OS SSD to prepare it for use as the Windows 7 boot drive in a new build with old parts?

Alternatively is a Windows-7 VM a practicable/possible approach?

grinder18 said:

I understand new hardware is a problem with Windows 7. Building up a PC with old hardware is within my capabilities. I duplicated the now failed PC (MOBO: GA-Z87X-UD3H) built in late 2013) to produce a second PC (MOBO: GA-Z97X-UD3H) built in 2014. The question is what do I do with the Windows 7 OS SSD to prepare it for use as the Windows 7 boot drive in a new build with old parts?

Alternatively is a Windows-7 VM a practicable/possible approach?

VM likely won't work, because it will be different "hardware", albeit virtual hardware. If the SSD with Windows 7 is MBR, and the computer it is going to be used in is booting in legacy BIOS mode then let's say that Windows 7 has drive letter F: in whatever computer it is installed in right now. The commands would be:

Code:

diskpart
select volume f
active
exit
bcdboot F:\Windows /s F: /f BIOS
exit

Change drive letter F: in the above commands to whatever drive letter the Windows 7 partition has. Then it will be bootable in legacy BIOS mode on it's own.

If it's a GPT partitioned SSD then it must be booted in UEFI mode, and the process is a tiny bit more complicated, but not much.

grinder18 said:

I understand new hardware is a problem with Windows 7. Building up a PC with old hardware is within my capabilities. I duplicated the now failed PC (MOBO: GA-Z87X-UD3H) built in late 2013) to produce a second PC (MOBO: GA-Z97X-UD3H) built in 2014. The question is what do I do with the Windows 7 OS SSD to prepare it for use as the Windows 7 boot drive in a new build with old parts?

Alternatively is a Windows-7 VM a practicable/possible approach?

Hard to tell. I moved a win7 installation from lga1155 to lga1151 without any problem, win7 sorted itself out with a reboot. A few items missing in device manager, but they were easily installed.

It might boot up ok as your hardware isnt very different.

If you like, you could put the ssd in your newly built older hardware. Dont try and boot into it yet. Instead boot up the paragon iso and point it at the win7 partition to do an os adjust.

There are a couple around from paragon. The more recent free one is the linux iso included in the free rescue kit 14 which you can burn to cd/dvd. I think it works fine if you pop it on a ventoyed usb stick as well.

I will find the links in a mo, I hope

http://dl.paragon-software.com/free/rk14_free.exe


can be copied out with 7-zip

Thank you both NavyLCDR and SIW2. I don't know if it is acceptable (not rude) in this forum to address responses together, but I do know you both are being kind with your time and knowledge. So, I will address each of you in two separate responses to try to keep the conversation (two threads) as focused as possible.

- - - Updated - - -

NavyLCDR
1. VM: Thank you for clarifying Virtual Machine limitations.
2. UEFI/GPT or Legacy Bios.
I know the now-failed PC was UEFI/GPT. The new old-part machine would also be the same.
Key point I infer from your help instructions: I can use diskpart command now to reconfigure the boot manager to a single OS boot to Windows 7. Then, once I have a suitable old-part donor PC assembled I can attempt boot and recovery. If you can provide the steps to reassign the boot manager for UEFI/GPT boot I would much appreciate the detail.

- - - Updated - - -

SIW2
Thank you for your history on LGA1155 to 1151. Lots of content in this comment.
>might boot up ok as your hardware isn't very different
I would make a point of purchasing another GA-Z87X-UD3H MOBO so the hardware is the same configuration. (Ignoring the risk that it would be better to upgrade to an newer, less used, GA-Z97X-UD3H; and, with more capabilities - specifically an m.2 SATA slot.) Much appreciate your details on paragon tools -- means I have a high probability of success path. Thanks