New harddrive, possible to re-install pre-installed WiIndows 7?

Anonmly · 19 Jul 2012

Hello,
I have just recieve a new hard drive to replace my failing one. On my old HD, it had pre installed Win 7 on it when I bought it at the retailer. I found its product key by using a product key finder, and I plan to reinstall it on my new HD. However, I am confused on how to do this. Will the HD automatically ask for a product key or do I need a disk for reinstalling, which means I have to buy a new copy of windows 7.
Computer is a HP Pavillion G6.

bigmck · 19 Jul 2012

Anonmly said:

Hello,
I have just recieve a new hard drive to replace my failing one. On my old HD, it had pre installed Win 7 on it when I bought it at the retailer. I found its product key by using a product key finder, and I plan to reinstall it on my new HD. However, I am confused on how to do this. Will the HD automatically ask for a product key or do I need a disk for reinstalling, which means I have to buy a new copy of windows 7.
Computer is a HP Pavillion G6.

If you have a Product Key, you don't need to buy a new Win 7 disk. You can download the ISO file from here Official Windows 7 SP1 ISO from Digital River « My Digital Life and burn it on a DVD and do you installation. If you currently have Win 7 Home Premium (or whatever one you do have), you need to download that file to match your Product Key. Good luck, == In answer to our question about the Product Key, when you are installing you will come to a place that asks you to enter the Key for activation online. Say no to this. After you have the installation OK you can then put the Key in and activate. Sometimes you will get a phone number at Microsoft to call for the activation. I had to do this last week. It is no big deal as they just ask some questions. It is only a recording. Thanks,

kegobeer · 19 Jul 2012

If you are replacing the drive, you can just image the entire drive and put it on the new drive. There are paid and free versions that can do this. I've heard good things about Macrium Reflect Free - give it a try.

Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - Information and download

Britton30 · 19 Jul 2012

Also with Macrium you could clone your current drive and make an exact copy of it on the new drive.

bigmck · 20 Jul 2012

The OP is not going to be able to make a copy of his Windows drive since it is dead.

whs · 20 Jul 2012

If you install from the link that bigmck gave you, you have to use the product key that is on the COA sticker on your PC.

The product key that came with the OEM installation does not help because that is a generic sticker that the OEMs use for mass activation.

DeaconFrost · 20 Jul 2012

If you follow the links in the first reply, you can do a fresh clean install, which will have your computer running at it's best. Once you get it booting and updated, you can pop in your key from your computer and activate it.

I would recommend this method above all, as imaging from your failing drive could include any corrupt files.

kegobeer · 20 Jul 2012

bigmck said:

The OP is not going to be able to make a copy of his Windows drive since it is dead.

I have just recieve a new hard drive to replace my failing one.

It's failing, not dead. He can clone it.

essenbe · 20 Jul 2012

You may find this tutorial useful. Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

DeaconFrost · 21 Jul 2012

kegobeer said:

It's failing, not dead. He can clone it.

Failing drives often corrupt files. Why take that chance, when a clean install is a better option? I still don't get the fear over clean installs.