Replace HP laptop hard drive

[FutureCustomer]

The hard drive on this laptop is beginning to make intermittent noises.

Where can  I buy a replacement hard drive and how do I transfer the complete contents (i.e. OS, Office Products, 3rd party software, etc.) of my old hard drive to a new bootable hard drive?

I assume MOVING all the contents of my old hard drive to the new hard drive satisfies my licensing agreement to have only one copy of the software operating at a time. 

I wish to remain with the Windows 7 operating system.

[visruth]

Hi,


You can buy any good branded 2.5 inch SATA 9.5mm HDD. Western digital, HGST travelstar are good ones.

For moving, you can use Macrium Reflect Free cloning
http://kb.macrium.com/KnowledgebaseArticle50081.aspx

You need SATA to USB adapter to connect hard drive to computer:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/StarTech.com-USB-3.0-to-2.5-SATA-III-Hard-Drive-Adapter-Cable-w-UASP-Stor...

But word of caution: if OS is corrupted or hard drive is failing, cloning wouldn't be a good option as it may not successfully move with all OS integrity retained


Regards

Visruth

[FutureCustomer]

Visruth,

Thank you for the very helpful reply.

I appreciate the words of caution but the longer I wait to move to another hard drive the more likely I'm going to run into a transfer problem, so I'm going to try what you recommend doing very soon.

Should I actually measure my old hard drive and confirm its dimensions before buying a new one?

Will I have any licensing problems with Microsoft when I clone the hard drive that includes both the Win 7 OS and the MS Office programs?

Fred

[visruth]

Hi Fred,


Practically no issue in using a new drive with it being cloned from old drive, provided you can only use one drive at a time. You cannot use old failing drive (even if you want to) in another laptop.

About measurements, they are all given in the product manual. No need of scaling the dimensions. It comes in 7mm or 9.5mm thickness. Could I know the exact model name, product number of your laptop?
http://support.hp.com/in-en/document/c00033108


Regards

Visruth

[FutureCustomer]

Visruth,

Product name: HP Pavillion dv7 Notebook

Product Number :  XW899AV

P.S.I don't remember seeing physical dimensions in the product manual, but I'll look again.

Fred

[visruth · Accepted solution]

Fred,


Manual: Page 6, 34, 56-59
http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c02842278

You can use 2.5inch SATA hard drives in 12.7-mm or 9.5-mm or 7.0-mm thicknesses, all have same brackets to screw in.

Eg. for HDD:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/index?itemnumber=9SIA2W04A06940

Your machine supports up to 2 hard drives�


Regards

Visruth

[FutureCustomer]

Visruth,

Very much appreciate your referenced page numbers

I checked them out and was extremely surprised how well HP documented R&R of the hard drive.

Your link to the NewEgg website didn't work but thats not a problem because I plan to get the hard drive locally ... probably at a Best Buy.

Thank you very much again for taking the time to help me.

Fred

P.S. I never even realized that I could have a 2nd hard drive within the laptop....:smileysurprised:

[visruth]

Hi,


You're very welcome.

Here it is: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA2W04A06940&FM=1

You need secondary hard drive bracket and connector cable to connect another HDD in the secondary drive bay though. You can get the hard drive kit part number from the manual if you need.


Regards

Visruth