Solved: Re: Need a new hard drive preloaded - HP Support Community

MongoDM · ‎02-28-2018

My HP Pavilion P6710f desktop is giving me a message of imminent failure of the hard drive. Backup and replace the hard drive. Wondering where I could get a replacment hard drive preloaded with OS and what the approximate cost would be.

TheOldMan · ‎02-28-2018

I checked the motherboard and it has extra SATA ports, so all you need is a SATA data cable and a power connection to connect the old drive temporarily until the cloning is complete. If either the new drive or the old drive is a WD or Seagate, either manufacturer's site has cloning software for free. Otherwise, I like the Acronis software. I make the boot disk for the cloning disk to boot into their environment instead of allowing Windows to see the drives and then clone. But that is my preference, the cloning software will run in Windows, too.

I'm not an HP employee.
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TheOldMan · ‎02-28-2018

Since that warning came up, it would be very easy to replace the hard drive with a new 1TB SATA drive and then clone the existing drive to the new drive, since it has not actually failed, yet. Finding a drive with Windows 10 "preloaded" is non-existent.

If the old hard drive has now failed, then you just need to reinstall Windows 10 onto the new drive after it is replaced.

BTW: if you are not willing to do the work yourself, I am sure you can find a local repairshop that would/could do it.

I'm not an HP employee.
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MongoDM · ‎02-28-2018

Thank you for the info. I will have to learn how to do the cloning but it sounds like good advice since the old hard drive has not failed as of yet. It is an old unit and I went ahead and purchased a new one but this sounds like an easy fix and I can donate it to someone in need. Thanks again

TheOldMan · ‎02-28-2018

I checked the motherboard and it has extra SATA ports, so all you need is a SATA data cable and a power connection to connect the old drive temporarily until the cloning is complete. If either the new drive or the old drive is a WD or Seagate, either manufacturer's site has cloning software for free. Otherwise, I like the Acronis software. I make the boot disk for the cloning disk to boot into their environment instead of allowing Windows to see the drives and then clone. But that is my preference, the cloning software will run in Windows, too.

I'm not an HP employee.
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MongoDM · ‎03-01-2018

Thank you again. Years ago I used to work on my own computers. It's been a long while since I had done it though. I'm sure I will have to get back with you when I start this project. Have recently retired and finding out what it meant when all the guys I worked with that retired would tell me they never knew how they found time to work. Thank you and when I can find time to start in on this project I will be looking to you for advice and direction.

TheOldMan · ‎03-01-2018

I'll be glad to help. Just come back for any advice you need.

BTW: retired for some time now and loving it.

I'm not an HP employee.
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Need a new hard drive preloaded

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