Question about changing laptop HDD

[jpballa]

I have an Acer Apire V5-431 that my cousin gave me.
The hard drive crashed on it, so i wanted to just swap a new hardrive
for it.

My Question is, what exactly do i need? or what is the easiest way to to it.
Do i need a windows 7 install cd with a product key?

Also will I have to format the new hard drive before putting it in the laptop or will it allow me to do that on the first boot-up.

[Ricky-Ray]

You will need the Win 7 CD and product key if that's what you want to install. If you flip over the laptop there might be a Windows 7 key on there already, depending on the age of the laptop.

The drive should be pre formatted already but when you install window's 7 there there is an option to format the drive if you select it.

[Mosin1944]

If you don't have the Windows 7 install disk, you can download it from Microsoft's website. You just need the Win 7 product key.

Here is a link to the files. Digital River hosts the files for Microsoft on it's website.

http://www.dxdo.com/digital-river-direct-download-links-for-windows-7-editions-free/

[SMR510]

Yes, you can also make a bootable USB stick that will install windows. Generally laptops have the keys on the bottom or underneath the battery, just snap a picture with your phone so you don't have to flip it over a bunch of times.

You will also need to get online somehow after you install to download all the drivers from the manufactures website. You can use a patch cable and plug directly into your router or download from another machine onto a USB stick and put them on that way. Once you are done with all the drivers open Device Manager just to make sure you are not missing any (they will have a warning symbol next to it if there is an error or the driver is missing).

Also, when you get to the disk setup window when installing windows create a partition on your disk. This will automatically create a system partition.

[gorn5150]

Install the new drive then use the recovery discs if you have them. That way you won't have to input any key info.

[gabe123]

Most laptop has a Microsoft windows sticker on the bottom with some sort of serial number. It is, however, NOT a cd key that can be used to reinstall windows. Your best bet iss to download Acer recover CD or DVD. Manufacturers normally do not host downloadable files to create these disc. Ask your friend if he still has recovery disc. ( i doubt it, sine most people dont even bother to burn these disc). Your best bet is to download them with torrent.

[Mosin1944]

Most laptop has a Microsoft windows sticker on the bottom with some sort of serial number. It is, however, NOT a cd key that can be used to reinstall windows. Your best bet iss to download Acer recover CD or DVD. Manufacturers normally do not host downloadable files to create these disc. Ask your friend if he still has recovery disc. ( i doubt it, sine most people dont even bother to burn these disc). Your best bet is to download them with torrent.

The serial #, or product key, on the Microsoft sticker sure can be used to re-install Windows. I do this frequently.

[jpballa]

ok, update on the laptop. After some youtube videos,
I was able to use the Acer Built in Recover partition.
It recovered the HDD and then I re-installed windows by following the steps.

I got lucky it came back to life because there was no product key on the laptop.

Thanks for all the info, and thanks mosin for the Links to the win download.

[gorn5150]

You may want to download one of the free key recovery tools so you can get the windows key from the machine. Make a note of it and then you can use it if needed in the future.

[Wallabing]

If your current hard drive is dead, all you need is a small head screwdriver and a windows 8 installation disc. You can usually find your product key inside your laptop when you open the cover.

Pretty striaghtforward. Open the back cover, or trap door if it is built in, remove the old hard drive from the bracket, replace it with your new hard drive, make the laptop boot from the dvd drive, and windows 8 will automatically install itself.

I charge $125 to do this.

[Mosin1944]

You may want to download one of the free key recovery tools so you can get the windows key from the machine. Make a note of it and then you can use it if needed in the future.

A good one I've used is Belarc Advisor, it shows product keys of all software loaded on the machine.

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

[freespool]

If you were able to use the Recovery Partition, it sounds like the system crashed, not the HDD.

Now that it's up and running, if you partition the HDD so the OS and programs are on the C:\ partition, and your files are on the new D:\ partition, you can recover from a system crash in the future w/o wiping out all your data files. The only way to protect against an HDD crash is to back up important files to another medium.

Once you've got the C:\ partition the way you like it (updates, installed programs), make a system image of it using the onboard Win7 tool, and a recovery CD or thumb drive, and you can 're-image' the C:\ partition at any time to get it back to the way it is now. It's an easy way to recover from a virus or other system nuke w/o going all the way back to square one. You have to fiddle around with where and how to store the system image to make it accessible to the recover CD, but it's worth researching and doing. I use Clonezilla for this because it's easy and I understand what it does, and it seems logical. The Win7 system imager has some quirks about naming and location, but it will also do the job.