Windows 7: Installation Windows 7 on different machine

I have a computer in pretty bad shape. Bottom line, no way to get external media attached. I can however physically remove the drive and install it in a second machine. At this point could I got ahead and install Windows 7 then bring it back to the original machine or am I asking for trouble? Is there a better plan of attack??
Thanks!

Hello
NO, I believe you should not install windows on another machine and then swap harddrive.
you can do that on current "bad" machine without pulling HD out!
the better way would be so:
made two primary partitions on hardrive (first inactive, second active), then copy installation files onto second partition and restart.
that would start installation.
you'll of course install on first partition.
as soon as installation boot's up accept everything until your reach to the point of disk choice.
then press SHIFT+F10 to open cmd.
swap the active partition so that first(where windows will be installed) become active and other one inactive(where win installation files are).
(you'll do so using DISKPART)
now close cmd and hit F5 to rescan partitions.

finaly select empty(active/system) partition and start installation.
when windows boot's up(installation finishes) delete contents of D:\ partitioin where windows installation files are.

cheers!

As was said, your plan will not work. Why don't you reinstall from the recovery partition. Or, if this does not work, download the .iso from here, burn it to disc and install with that. Then activate it with the product key which is on the COA sticker that is on your box.

This makes a lot of sense BUT when I boot I am getting Operating System not found. I did as you said. Created a 20 GB partition, formatted as NTFS, copied installer, made active, inserted in machine, booted, and received the OS not found message.. Do I need to somehow prep the disk?

Thanks!

Brand new install, the old drive is dead, no recovery partition. I have a legit key. Per my initial post there is no way to attach a DVD, USB KEY, anything.. All USB ports dead..

Looks like this system is ready for the recycle bin.

That's helpful..

Remounted on backup machine, made active, rebooted and installer is running. Yea!

Well, all you can do is to check one more time if -> did you make all OK,
maybe win installation was not properly copied, don't know.
try to insert HD into another laptop and see if boot's there.

But you also have one more option!
install over the network:


EDIT:
OH, didn't see your latest post
I'm glad you got it work dude!