restoring system image to failed hard drive

[bikerider49]

I have Pavillion DV7T Quad with 1TB hard drive that has failed.  Failed hard drive only has ~140GB on it.  

I have:

1) full system image on external WDC Passport.

2) System Recovery DVD for Win 7 64-bit Disk 1 of 2 and Disk 2 0f 2 obtained from HP at time laptop acquired.

3) Repair Disc for Windows 7 64-bit that I had created "way back when".

I purchased a new 240 GB SSD to keep this laptop as backup.  Can I use 1, 2, or 3 to load files onto SSD (since mechanical drive won't operate)?

bikerider1

[y2ken]

The Full System Image would restore all your settings and data just as they were when the image was created. The recovery process would depend on which program you used to create the image.

Using the HP Recovery Disks will restore your system to a factory fresh state. You would then have to manually restore all your settings and data.

The repair disk will only give you troubleshooting and repair tools.

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[bikerider49]

The backup process was done from within Windows.  How does that change the process?  Do you mean if I had used Western Digital's backup that would have been better?

Thank you for your help.

[Captain_WD]

Hey there bikerider49,

As y2ken well explained, you can use the image file to restore everything as it was during the creation of the image file. I believe this link would be of help to you. 

When booting from the OS installer you should have the option to restore a system image from a file that is located on an external file. If you have the image file on the WD My Passport drive you should be able to easily recover it and complete the process.

Post back if you have further questions!

Captain_WD.

[bikerider49]

Thanks for the replies from both of you.  How would I get the current laptop, even after I install the SSD, to recognize the external Passport on which the system image is stored?  That SSD is blank and the hard drive just freezes at Windows starting screen and even F2 diagnostics says hard drive failed tests.   So there is nothing resident on the SSD, the mechanical hard drive doesn't work, so trying to figure out where the OS installer is.  Is that the recovery disk?  I just wasn't following when you said "When booting from the OS installer..."  

[y2ken]

To clarify; there are many different imaging programs and each has it's own method of recovery.

Since you created an image using Windows Backup you can use your System Repair Disk and follow the instructions in the link that @Captain_WD provided. You will use the option "To restore using a Windows installation disk or system repair disk". 

Basic process is:

Remove your failed drive.

Install your new drive.

Boot from the System Repair Disk.

Choose the repair/recovery option on the system repair disk.

Navigate to the image on your WD external drive.

Recover 

Good luck! 

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         If my answer solved your problem please mark it as the Accepted Solution. Thanks!

[Captain_WD]

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@bikerider49 wrote:

Thanks for the replies from both of you.  How would I get the current laptop, even after I install the SSD, to recognize the external Passport on which the system image is stored?  That SSD is blank and the hard drive just freezes at Windows starting screen and even F2 diagnostics says hard drive failed tests.   So there is nothing resident on the SSD, the mechanical hard drive doesn't work, so trying to figure out where the OS installer is.  Is that the recovery disk?  I just wasn't following when you said "When booting from the OS installer..."  

---

y2ken gave you an excellent step-by-step guide so I'd follow that. Also, you can always check MS's official website on how to create a bootable thumb drive with the OS, download the official image of the OS and thus start the installation procedure and recover the image with it. 

Post back if you need more info or with the results when you are done 🙂

Captain_WD.

[bikerider49]

I installed the SSD.  I used the repair disk.  It actually let me select an image for the Western Digital Passport.

BUT, it then said I had to reboot, and this was before it transferred anything, and now I only see an occasional "-" in the upper left of the screen.  I am able to interrupt using "Escape" and can, and have, checked memory and hard drive.  Both pass.  But it doesn't seem to be doing anything with my Passport on which the system image resides.  

Any ideas?  It happens both with the repair disk in or out of the optical reader.  I also don't know why there would be a flashing dash in the upper left sometimes and then not.

[bikerider49]

Sorry, the flashing dash is always there - I was just looking from an angle.

[bikerider49]

If I used my system recovery DVDs, would I be able to install either the image saved on the Passport or individual files and folders from my external Passport>