Windows

[abruze]

I have an HP Pavilion that's out of warranty.  The hard drive is making a grinding noise and I would like to install a new hard drive.  The old hard drive is still functioning. Is it possible to move the OS and all programs plus data to a new hard drive or will I have to purchase Windows7 all over again?  I plan to destroy the old hard drive if this is possible

[erico]

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abruze wrote:

I have an HP Pavilion that's out of warranty.  The hard drive is making a grinding noise and I would like to install a new hard drive.  The old hard drive is still functioning. Is it possible to move the OS and all programs plus data to a new hard drive or will I have to purchase Windows7 all over again?  I plan to destroy the old hard drive if this is possible

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Please identify your Pavilion desktop PC with its p/n.

You can replace the hard disk and use the recovery media to install the operating system, drivers and bundled software. That is exactly what it is meant to be used for. It is your plan B.

It is highly  recommended that you copy all data to an external drive for safekeeping as soon as possible. A hard drive making a grinding noise is usually indicative of impendig failure. If it is making the noise and is out of warranty do not run the hard drive test. That could be the final straw for the hard disk.

 You can reinstall the programs you have on the new hard disk. You will need the installation media that you originally installed them with and their licence keys.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

You can try to make an image backup of your current installation as well as a Windows 7 Startup/Repair CD.

Go to the backup utility and it will step you through the process. You will need a portable USB storage drive large enough to back up your entire hard drive and you will need a blank CD to make a Repair CD.

Then after you install your new hard drive, you plug in the USB storage drive with the image on it, boot from the Windows repair CD.

It should give you a menu and you will select the choice to restore your image. Then you should be able to select it from the file on your portable hard drive and with luck, you will be up and running.

More info at the link below.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/products/features/backup-and-restore

Paul

[abruze]

I made the proper disks ( I think ) as soon as I noticed the grinding noise.  Never had this happen before but grinding noises from any kind of machinery is not good.  The computer is only three or four years old and should last *someone* for a good long time with the installation of a new hard drive.  Thank you for reassuring me that what I had in mind was not beyond the pale.  Thank you very much erico and paul.

[wskay]

Most HD vendors offer cloning software with their drive so that you make an exact copy of the drive to be replaced and not have to reinstall everything.  Seagate's Disk Wizard is excellent, piece of cake to use.

[abruze]

I hadn't gotten that far in my research, but thank you for this.  I'll be sure to look for the software.