Windows 7 - New Hard Drive for a Netbook - System Image/Bootable USB disk

Ok so i have bought a new hard drive for my netbook, which currently has windows 7 32 bit installed

I need to backup all my installed programs/system and re-install on the new hard drive.
Whats the easiest way to go about doing this without using 3rd party software.
Files/Librarys are of no concern

Everywhere i have looked i am told:

- Need to create a system image to recover from (check)
- need to make a bootable USB Drive (cant do because i dont have a windows 7 CD or a CD drive) to install windows 7 from

I have a recovery partition on my current HDD but i dont know how to go about doing this

p.s. I have an external hard drive i can use, aswell as an 8gb USB stick

I know absolutely nothing about netbooks.

But if the procedure is the same as on a PC, you would:

1: Make an image file of your current hard drive using Windows Backup and store the image on your external hard drive
2: Install the new hard drive
3: Restore the image from the external hard drive to the new hard drive

No need for USB stick.

SO i don't need a boot drive for a system image recovery? aside from the drive the image is saved on...

ohh...
If i can connect my new HDD to a USB port can i just transfer the system image straight over?
Because i got a HDD caddy for my old HDD so i can turn it into an external HDD
So if i plug my new HDD into the caddy before the installation, is there anything i can do to transfer the system straight over and then not worry about installation later?
I dont think its possible but im curious

Well, you have to boot something.

As I said, I know nothing about the limitations of a netbook--how many drives they can contain, whether they have DVD drives, etc.

And I don't use Windows built-in imaging.

I use Macrium third party.

On a PC, the procedure would be:

1: Make the image with Macrium and store it on the external.

2: Install new HD

3: Boot the Linux recovery CD that was previously made with Macrium

4: Navigate to the image file on the external

5: Restore to the newly installed HD

But you are in Netbook land, foreign to me, and may have to use a USB stick for all I know.

When you Backup with:
System Image Recovery
you also need the Startup Repair CD:
System Repair Disc - Create


For better help with problems, Can you post your specs.
Filling out System Specs
System Info - See Your System Specs

Dont Know What Hardware You Have..??
VistaForums SysInfo Tool - Vista Forums

Thanks then. I guess il wait for someone who is more experienced with net books


Cant create a Repair CD - No CD/DVD drive to speak of
I need to make a bootable USB disk, NO CD's!

For Windows Backup & Recovery,
If you have not made your Startup Repair
System Repair Disc - Create
Do you have a mate with Windows 7 & CD/DVD RW Drive, how could burn one off.
you could than copy to a USB Pen Drive, using Method two
USB Windows 7 Installation Key Drive - Create

How to make HP Recovery DVD disks:
Recover Windows Vista Operating System Using HP Recovery - HP Customer Care (United States - English)

How to make HP Recovery USB disk:
Creating a Recovery Disk on a USB Flash Disk HP Pavilion dv6700z CTO Entertainment Notebook PC - HP Customer Care (United States - English)

or
You can Order HP Recovery Disks from here:
Compaq Mini CQ10-500 PC series*-* HP Notebook PCs - Order Recovery Discs for Windows 7, Vista, or XP - c00810334 - HP Business Support Center

I have a friend with a PC that uses windows 7 64bit
Can i make a 32bit recovery disk from a 64 bit OS?

If you have 32 bit, you will need a 32 bit OS to make the CD.

urgh
this is ridiculous
Is it possible to re-install windows 7 on my new HDD using my current HDD's recovery partition (cursity of HP)
IS there NOTHING i can do?

Im not going to buy a recovery CD and il be damned if i can find my way around HP's support site