Windows 7: Upgrade disk install on a replacement HDD

Hi,



I have an ACER Aspire 7535g with a failing HDD.

I want to replace it with a spare HDD I have from a different company.

How would I go about transfering my valid copy of Windows on to the new drive? Originally the ACER had Vista installed, and I upgraded using an ACER branded 7 upgrade disk.

Cheers

You should be able to clean install on the spare hdd using the upgrade disk and this method.

Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

Then use the product key that came with the upgrade disk.

Thanks Bill.

I tried to do that and instead of booting to the CD, it shows 'BOOTMGR is Missing'.

Im assuming this has something to do with the replacement HDD? Though BIOS picks it up and recognises it.

You need to set the boot order in the bios so the CD drive is at the top. Alternatively tap F12 repeatedly at boot to get the one time boot menu and select CD drive there. Also, is this spare hdd blank and unformatted or you already have partitions setup on it?

Follow Bill2's advice.

Did Acer send you a Software/Drivers disk for your ACER Aspire 7535g, with the Upgrade DVD?

Yep, I have an ACER branded upgrade disk.

However, when I try and boot from it, I dont get the 'press any key to boot from CD/DVD' option, even though ive set the boot order in BIOS for CD first.

I have just discovered as well the spare HDD I have is now just two partitions full of music. It seems I wiped the previous Vista instal off it to use as storage. Can I still in theory format this drive and instal windows on it?

Sorry, there wasnt two seperate disks. Just one that says..

ACER upgrade DVD, contains ACER upgrade Wizard, applications, drivers for Win 7.

However, I still had to manually instal some Win 7 drivers when I first upgraded.

Yes, since you own a vista license you can format this drive and install windows.

You said you've used the upgrade disk before so there seems nothing wrong with the disk. There could be a problem with the drive. Maybe you can try creating a usb install key.

USB Windows 7 Installation Key Drive - Create

As a test, you can also try booting off another bootable disk and see if it works.

I just spoke with ACER and apparently the Upgrade disk needs a recovery disk to go with it if I want to do a fresh install.

I dont have this unfortunately so its £51 for the pleasure.

Thanks for your help..

Its your decision but if your upgrade disk came with a retail upgrade key, you can use a full disk to install (beg, borrow, download), then use the registry workaround described in that tut I linked.

Also as far as I can make out those acer guys are BSing.