Cloning failed, backup not working

Ok so I think I have a failing hard drive on my Sony Vaio VPCCW2S1E - Windows 7 home premium 64 bit. Which is why I was trying to do an up to date system image in the first place (using Windows 7 backup and restore). My system image kept failing. So I got a new hard drive and sata/usb cable, downloaded macrium and tried to clone the drive to the new drive, carefully making sure I had got everything right. This also failed. So now I have just backed up copies of all documents, photos etc on an external hard drive, made a note of all programs installed and their licence numbers, and done a full disk check. It found a few bad sectors and sorted them so reckon I need the new hard drive - the laptop is 5 or 6 years old.

Question is, what do I do now? Should I try cloning again now the bad sectors are sorted? Or should I just put the new disk in and use my recovery discs to reinstall windows and put all my files and programs back on?

Also - as the clone failed, presumably something will now be on the new hard drive - do I need to wipe it now? Or just format it? Thanks.

Can you copy and paste the files in the drive? Or cant you boot?

Thanks. Not sure what you mean about copying and pasting the files in the drive. Yes I can boot. I did try Macrium for an image after the cloning failed twice, but that failed too, but I see what you mean - maybe try another image now the bad sectors have been 'fixed'. If I manage to get an image, can I transfer that straight onto the new drive or do I have to do something else first? I'm assuming the Sony recovery discs will work on a new drive, if necessary.

Thanks! It hasn't failed yet anyway, so I'll have another go at doing a system image now the bad sectors have been sorted although I expect they won't be sorted for long. Last time I had a drive go it kept needing constand bad sectors fixing.