Cloning a computer as simple as possible

[ALagerburg]

I have a new completely configured computer and want to clone this to other identical hardware. The computers are Intel NUC's with a SSD and Windows 7.

There's a lot to find about this issue , but I can't find if the following can be done. It looks so simple.

I take a third computer (I was thinking about an Ubuntu computer with CloneZilla) and clone the harddisk from one computer to another.
The idea is to connect the source and target computer with USB to the extra (third) computer.

Does anyone know if this can be done and if so, if it is described somewhere.

(Maybe I should only ask: 'What is the simplest way to clone an Windows 7 computer, directly from one computer to another. I don't need an image for future use[strike][/strike]')

Thanks in advance,

André

 

[tiny voices]

Well, you cannot do this generally speaking.

When you change hardware (motherboard specifically) you need to reinstall the OS. YOu cannot just move the HDD to another system. It does not work that way. Unless you have using the same motherboard in a different computer, and then still you will have to reactivate windows. If you have an OEM copy of windows, you will need to all microsoft and fight for a new CD key or buy windows again.

 

[ALagerburg]

Thanks for you interest.

My reply is that it is identical hardware!
What we used to do is booting up from an USB device, find a network driver, image the harddisk over the netwerk to a network drive using norton (or something like that) and do something similar to get the image back onto another but identical computer.
This works but we are curious if it can be done easier; no netwerk (only usb) and direct.

André

 

[tiny voices]

Are you just making a close and ditching the old hardware? Or are you cloning it to use both PCs at the same time? (this is illegal with one windows installation)

 

[ALagerburg]

We use both computers and the Windows installation is legal! We have some sort of grouplicence in use for lilbraries (like there is for schools, musea, etc. in the cultural sector). We are charged each year by Microsoft (delegated to a bureau) for the amount of employees, workplaces etc. It's some kind of formula.