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If I have an image for a dell optiplex 990, can that image be used for all desktops with this brand? Or, does the hardware have to be an exact match (excluding RAM)? E.G. upgraded video card.
P.Brian.Mackey
Posted 2012-06-27T13:18:57.267
Reputation: 1 530
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In the case of something minor, like a different video card, the system would boot, not use the specific drivers that had been installed for the expected video card and instead use the generic Standard VGA drivers that were present. So something like a different video card wouldn't present an issue.
Now, don't extrapolate that to mean you can take an image and use it on a completely different system. Differences like... image made n a system with an AMD processor used on a system with an Intel Processor would most certainly BSOD (different chipsets).
Bon Gart
Posted 2012-06-27T13:18:57.267
Reputation: 12 574
My fear is latent errors, not so much BSOD. – P.Brian.Mackey – 2012-06-27T13:35:43.417
It is essentially the same as if you shut down, swapped the hardware, booted up and installed drivers. We don't always uninstall drivers before uninstalling hardware. With most hardware, if it is no longer present, the drivers aren't loaded. Chipset or drive controller hardware differences could be problematic tho. Otherwise no latent errors, just as if you swapped it yourself. – Bon Gart – 2012-06-27T20:41:47.900
Which software did you use to create your image?? It is a recovery image and it is with a windows user created(after sysprep OOBE)? – Diogo – 2012-06-27T13:25:46.793
possible duplicate of Will moving a computer's hard drive move the entire operating system as well?
– Diogo – 2012-06-27T13:43:15.697What @Diogo said - this depends entirely on the image format. Usually Windows 7 is pretty tolerant of this but I can think of scenarios where it wouldn't work. – Shinrai – 2012-06-27T14:15:49.423