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Upgrading Laptop HDD / reinstalling Windows 7

  • 15-04-2012 04:17PM
    #1
    Akarinn
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 412 ✭✭


    Hi there.

    So heres my question...
    Im upgrading my Laptops HDD to 500GB's. Seeing as my current HDD has Windows 7 Home premium installed, is it possible to just install Windows 7 HP onto the new HDD with the original Windows product key?

    I know with a desktop you can install Windows onto new HDD's because Windows is recorded on the Motherboard. So does the same happen with a laptop?

    Thank you.


    (any help would be greatly appreciated)


Comments

  • #2
    Torqay
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,835 ✭✭✭Torqay


    Akarinn wrote: »
    is it possible to just install Windows 7 HP onto the new HDD with the original Windows product key?

    But of course...

    You might as well clone your existing HDD onto the new one (i.e. with EaseUs ToDo Backup), saves a lot of hassle.


  • #3
    sojc2002
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 34 ✭sojc2002


    i think you can do it using norton ghost or some thing like . just make image of whole system and install to new hdd


  • #4
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 95,223 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    sojc2002 wrote: »
    i think you can do it using norton ghost or some thing like . just make image of whole system and install to new hdd
    and you've to pay a license for Ghost.


    Most HDD manufacturers offer utils to clone drives , check their web sites

    Clonezilla Live CD is also handy

    Since you have HOME you can't use microsoft's backup tools to do a full backup / restore :(


  • #5
    Torqay
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,835 ✭✭✭Torqay


    The version of EaseUs ToDo Backup I have linked is free, of course.

    And a lot more user-friendly than Clonezilla, mind you. ;)


  • #6
    armitage_skanks
    Closed Accounts Posts: 114 ✭✭armitage_skanks


    Akarinn wrote: »
    Hi there.

    So heres my question...
    Im upgrading my Laptops HDD to 500GB's. Seeing as my current HDD has Windows 7 Home premium installed, is it possible to just install Windows 7 HP onto the new HDD with the original Windows product key?

    Yes but you need to install the OEM version of Windows, and it needs to be the exact same edition (home/business/etc) as what you have.

    To install the OEM version, just download the official Win7 ISO and modify the ei.cfg with a text editor. You literally just change "Retail" to "OEM" etc

    There are legit ISOs on the web hosted by Amazon and other MS partners. 
    http://www.mydigitallife.info/windows-7-iso-x86-and-x64-official-direct-download-links-ultimate-professional-and-home-premium/
    That page and those links have been online for years (and at top of google search) so they are legit, non-warez.


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  • #7
    LostinBlanch
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,907 ✭✭✭LostinBlanch


    armitage_skanks wrote: »
    Yes but you need to install the OEM version of Windows, and it needs to be the exact same edition (home/business/etc) as what you have.

    To install the OEM version, just download the official Win7 ISO and modify the ei.cfg with a text editor. You literally just change "Retail" to "OEM" etc

    There are legit ISOs on the web hosted by Amazon and other MS partners. 
    http://www.mydigitallife.info/windows-7-iso-x86-and-x64-official-direct-download-links-ultimate-professional-and-home-premium/
    That page and those links have been online for years (and at top of google search) so they are legit, non-warez.

    Hi,

    I have a similar problem in that my pc crashed and I don't have the original backup discs from Dell. I bought the PC 2nd hand about 4 years ago. I couldn't backup so had to do a complete disk wipe. I need to get my hands on an OEM copy of XP (I have the product key on the case of my PC). Once I have this then I can reinstall an upgrade of Windows 7, which I have but can't install by itself. Can I do something similar for XP i.e. download a copy and enter the product key?

    Thanks in advance for any help.


  • #8
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 95,223 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    LostinBlanch wrote: »
    Can I do something similar for XP i.e. download a copy and enter the product key?
    No , microsoft don't allow downloads of previous OS's and even then it was for the time expiring trial version. Many of the illegal downloads have trojans / backdoors in them so another reason not to go that way.

    You'll have to beg, borrow or buy a install CD


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