Computer Q. Installation of OS with No Install Discs

[phrog]

Just wondering about installing Win 7 on a new Hard Drive if the old Hard Drive fails and the notebook comes with a recovery partition in a hidden directory on the HD but no install discs.
From what I've read the recovery program will repair or reinstall the OS on the drive with the recovery partition. But that is no good if you have a total HD failure. How, then, do you install your legal copy of Win 7 on a new HD to replace the failed one if there are no installation discs? Am I missing something? Thanks.

[twistsol]

Most systems that ship without recovery disks provide a way to burn a recovery disk or disk set once, which of course you should do before you have a total hard drive failure. Often you can order a set of recovery disks for a small fee. (HP charges about $15) This is an option if you create a set as soon as you get your computer and then can't find them two years later when you need them. DOH!

You also have the option of using a disk cloning tool such as Norton Ghost to to copy an image of your hard drive to a set of disks and then restore the image at any time later.

Finally, as long as you have the OEM sticker on the computer, you can borrow a generic Windows disk of the same version and reinstall from that. You won't get any of the machine specific apps that came with the machine but at least you have an OS installed.

[dbhost]

Most systems that ship without recovery disks provide a way to burn a recovery disk or disk set once, which of course you should do before you have a total hard drive failure. Often you can order a set of recovery disks for a small fee. (HP charges about $15) This is an option if you create a set as soon as you get your computer and then can't find them two years later when you need them. DOH!

You also have the option of using a disk cloning tool such as Norton Ghost to to copy an image of your hard drive to a set of disks and then restore the image at any time later.

Finally, as long as you have the OEM sticker on the computer, you can borrow a generic Windows disk of the same version and reinstall from that. You won't get any of the machine specific apps that came with the machine but at least you have an OS installed.

Not quite accurate. Microsoft ships different versions, with different installation key algorithms. Meaning volume license Windows 7 Pro will work with a volume license key. HP OEM will work with a HP key, Dell OEM with a Dell key etc...

You can get lucky sometimes, but at least with XP, I never was able to get Dell OEM disks to work with the HP key (I had to order disks from HP).

[Chris_B]

If you don't have a cloning tool like Acronis or Ghost, with Windows 7 one alternative is to use the internal Win7 backup tool (Start -> Control Panel -> Backup and Restore).

Click on 'Create a system image' to copy everything to a SATA (old laptop or desktop hard disk drive) or USB-attached drive. The 'system image' will be approximately the same size as the amount of data on your main ('C:') partition.
Then click on 'Create a system repair disc' to create a bootable recovery CD/DVD.

If you have to buy a HDD, then obviously this is not free. However this process is relatively straightforward. You also preserve all of your programs and settings, while the Dell/HP/etc. recovery disk will only restore the HDD to the original state; all of your additional programs and settings will disappear.

[FWIW, I actually keep all data files on a separate partition from the OS boot image and handle backup differently, but that is a much longer story...]

[phrog]

Many thanks to all who have responded.
Richard

[phrog]

If you don't have a cloning tool like Acronis or Ghost, with Windows 7 one alternative is to use the internal Win7 backup tool (Start -> Control Panel -> Backup and Restore).

Click on 'Create a system image' to copy everything to a SATA (old laptop or desktop hard disk drive) or USB-attached drive. The 'system image' will be approximately the same size as the amount of data on your main ('C:') partition.
Then click on 'Create a system repair disc' to create a bootable recovery CD/DVD.

If you have to buy a HDD, then obviously this is not free. However this process is relatively straightforward. You also preserve all of your programs and settings, while the Dell/HP/etc. recovery disk will only restore the HDD to the original state; all of your additional programs and settings will disappear.

[FWIW, I actually keep all data files on a separate partition from the OS boot image and handle backup differently, but that is a much longer story...]

I have an old version of Ghost which probably will not work with Win7. However, if it does, will it copy the old drive exactly? In other words, will it copy the hidden partition too? My thought is that it would. Also, which is better - Acronis or Ghost? Thanks.

[Kristofor]

I have an old version of Ghost which probably will not work with Win7. However, if it does, will it copy the old drive exactly? In other words, will it copy the hidden partition too? My thought is that it would. Also, which is better - Acronis or Ghost? Thanks.

Hard to answer the first part without knowing the specific tool/version, and your current drive partition scheme... Older tools didn't pay attention to (didn't know about) the advance format drive alignment issues that newer 4K drives can have. Some older tools didn't support a non-MBR drive (which probably isn't an issue for you), or certain types of non-FAT/NTFS partitions (which may be an issue depending on how your recovery partition was made).

As far as tools go, six of one half dozen of the other for most general/basic cloning needs. I've never used it in a commercial environment but you might also want to check out Clonezilla for a freebie option that will probably do what you want.

[phrog]

Thanks, Kristofor.