Ever transfer a Boot camp partition from one Mac to another?

Question

My iMac has a working Windows 7 running on Boot Camp partition. I want to move it -- system and all, every last bit -- to my MacBook Pro. I installed Win 7 on the MacBook Pro and Windows said it would not authorize the system cause I installed it too many times. I'll have to move my copy of Mac Office 2010 also.
1) Is this possible?
2) Will it accept the copied files as an authorized copy of Windows 7?
Any suggestions, other than buying a new license?

Answer 1

You can use an imaging program like Ghost or Truimage.  Windows will prompt for reactivation if it detects "too many changed devices."  A different CPU and network card or motherboard chipset will usually be enough.  Basically different motherboard means reactivation so more than likely both Windows and MSOffice will need reactivation since your MBP is a different motherboard than the iMac.
However, back to the activation thing.  I'm assuming you're just trying the automated internet activation.  If you've not been abusive and this is a legitimate reinstall, (i.e.: this is just the 2nd time reinstalling in the past year or two,) then just call Microsoft using the phone number you see when the reactivation fails.  If they ask, tell them you bought a new computer or had to replace a hard drive.  They will then give you the reactivation key to type in.  I've done this with reinstalling various versions of Windows and MSOffice and calling Microsoft has always worked, of course taking a little longer to deal with the person on the phone versus clicking the mouse.  Again, this assumes this is a legitimate "move" and you've not been reactivating every couple of weeks, which would look suspicious.  I've never called in a "suspicious" instance so I don't know how Microsoft will deal with that.  But otherwise it's relatively painless.