OS Migration to Dissimilar Hardware: A Comprehensive Guide

What is Dissimilar Hardware and When Need OS Migration

Dissimilar hardware refers to using different parts in a computer, like the CPU or motherboard. This can be a common and frustrating issue during system restores. It often leads to failures because of missing or disabled drivers.

Migrating your OS to different hardware is often needed when upgrading parts, recovering from a system failure, setting up multiple computers, or avoiding hardware issues. Below, I'll share two real examples that might relate to your situation. If they do, keep reading for more information.

When Do You Need Dissimilar OS Migration?

To migrate OS to dissimilar hardware, the most common situation is that you may update the hardware of the current operating system, have a failed system with different hardware, deploy images to multiple computers, or just prevent hardware failure. 

Next, I will show you two real examples. You can see if you have similar problems. If so, please keep reading below.

Situation 1: You’ve grown frustrated with your old computer’s slow performance and buy a new one. After restoring the image from your old computer, it fails to boot.
Situation 2: In a new office or cybercafe with many computers that have different hardware, the administrator faces the hassle of reinstalling Windows on each machine individually.

Best Software to Migrate OS to Dissimilar Hardware

Speaking of the best software in the worldwide, AOMEI Backupper Professional can be one of them. It’s an all-in-one, reliable, easy-to-use backup and restore software, and also has a clear interface. It can be used in Windows 11,10, 8.1/8, 7, Vista, and XP (both 32-bit and 64-bit). The most important is that this software supports dissimilar hardware restore.

To restore Windows 10 to dissimilar hardware, for instance, you need to use the “Universal Restore” feature and it will solve the driver issue. It will detect computer type and install proper drivers for HAL, then start to restore Windows 10 to another computer.  

How to Migrate OS to Different Hardware in Windows?

Now, you are going to restore system to dissimilar hardware with a step-by-step user guide. The first thing is to make preparations.

Preparations Before Migrate OS to Different Hardware

1. Prepare an external hard drive and a USB drive.

2. Download AOMEI Backupper Professional and install it on a working computer.

3. Create a system image backup and save it to the external hard drive. Just launch this software, click “Backup” and “System Backup” subsequently, then select an external hard drive as the destination path and click “Start Backup”.

4. Create a bootable disc to boot the computer in trouble. It’s suitable for users who have one or two computers. But if you have more than two computers, you need to use the PXE boot tool and this tool only supports restoring system images saved on network drives or NAS.

How to Perform OS Migration to Dissimilar Hardware in Windows 10

Then, continue to see below and learn the detailed steps of OS migration to dissimilar hardware.

Step 1. Connect the external hard drive that contains the system image backup to the new computer and make sure it can be detected. Also, you need to plug in the bootable USB drive.

Step 2. Go to WinPE Environment via bootable media. Click the start menu and select “Restart”, press the specific key on the first screen (usually F2 or ESC), then go to the Boot tab and move the USB drive to the first option by clicking “+”, finally press “F10” to save the changes. A few seconds later, you will see the main interface of AOMEI Backupper under the WinPE environment.

Step 3. Click ”Restore” and “Select Task” to find your system image. If you cannot see the system image in the Restore window, just go back and tick “Select Image File” instead.  

Step 4. Select the system image in the following list and click “Next”.

Step 5. Tick “Restore this system image backup” and "Restore system to another location", then click “Next”.

Step 6. Select the disk on the new computer as the destination path and click “Next”.

Step 7. At the Operation Summary window, check ”Universal Restore” and click ”Start to Restore”. 

♨ Note: This software will check “Universal Restore” if it detects the computer has a different hardware. If it’s not detected, you need to manually tick this option.

The whole process won’t last too long, just grab a cup of coffee and wait for it to be completed. When the restoring is finished, remove the bootable device as well as the removable device if any. Restart the new computer and you’ll get the same operating system as before.

Bonus Tip: Migrate OS to Dissimilar Hardware over Network

If you don’t have a USB drive for bootable media creation, don’t worry. You can migrate OS to dissimilar hardware over the network using the best enterprise backup software - AOMEI Cyber Backup. It provides a convenient and reliable solution for centralized backup management of all Windows operating systems.

It enables you to create system/disk/partition backup for a bunch of Windows PCs and Servers from one central console.
You can schedule a backup task to run daily/weekly/monthly using the full/incremental/differential backup method.
You are allowed to restore the backup image to the same computer or another computer with dissimilar hardware.
If your backup has multiple versions, you can choose to restore from any point you want.

Download this powerful enterprise backup software now to have a try!

Let’s say you have already created a system image with AOMEI Cyber Backup. Follow the steps below to move OS to dissimilar hardware.

Step 1. Run and log in AOMEI Cyber Backup.

Step 2. Click Source Device > Windows > Add Windows Device to add the computer that you want to move OS to. You need to enter the IP address, username and password of it.

Note: You need to turn on the target computer before you add it.

Step 3. Start OS migration.

• Click Backup Task on the left menu bar and click the three dots icon on the system backup task you created before. Then select Restore.

• Select the restore content, including the restore version and restore method. You may choose the latest version and Restore the entire system.

• Select the target location. Choose Restore to new location and select the target device and target disk.

• Check the Universal Restore option to ensure a secure boot after recovery.
• Click Start Restore to launch the system recovery process.

FAQs about OS Migration to Dissimilar Hardware

Q1: Can I use any migration tool for any OS?

A1: Not all migration tools support all operating systems. Ensure that the selected tool is compatible with both the source and target OS versions.

Q2: Will I need to reactivate my OS after migration?

A2: In many cases, yes. Windows may require reactivation after detecting significant hardware changes, especially the motherboard.

Q3: Can I migrate applications along with the OS?

A3: Some tools allow application migration, but it’s often recommended to reinstall applications on the new hardware to avoid compatibility issues.

To Sum up

During the process of OS migration to dissimilar hardware, AOMEI Backupper helps a lot. It resolves incompatible driver issues via the “Universal Restore” feature. And it’s suitable for all operating systems, even for the latest version.

Besides, it’s also disk cloning software, which allows you to clone the system, disk, and partition as you like. It can help you get rid of unallocated space after cloning, clone all sectors on a disk, and improve the writing and reading speed of SSDs.

No matter what you want to backup, restore, or clone, you can use this software. It will satisfy your needs. But if you have a server computer, just try the AOMEI Backupper Server.