installing windows to a laptop hdd from my pc

Syntax1985 · 23 Dec 2013

hi guys in a bit of a pickle,

My friend has a laptop that isnt even worth fixing imo. the issue is it has usb 3.0 but you cant boot from it, the usb 2.0 has been pushed in some how so installing windows via usb isn't an option either, and the dvd drive doesnt work.

So what i need to do is plug the new hdd into my pc, install windows on it then plug that hdd into the laptop and hopefully that will solve the issue.

My question is , can i just do this ? i tried to take my old hdd with win 7 and use it in my new comp when i did a new build and it wouldnt allow me to boot from it, only access it as a cached folders after installing a new copy.

Kari · 23 Dec 2013

I've once installed Windows 7 Professional to a Toshiba laptop with no working USB ports and DVD drive using a fully functioning HP laptop. Below the steps I took.

Notice:
PC1 = a "broken" laptop with no USB and CD/DVD drive
PC2 = a fully functioning laptop.

Remove the hard disks from both PC1 and PC2
Attach the HDD from PC1 to PC2
Install Windows 7 normally. Do not activate it yet, Windows can be used 30 days without activation
When ready, generalize the Windows installation. See this tutorial for instructions, and this post to learn more about generalizing
Remove the generalized HDD from PC2
Attach the generalized HDD to PC1
Attach the original HDD back to PC2
Boot PC1 normally
Activate the newly installed Windows
Download and install necessary drivers

A simple straight forward method. After re-attaching the original HDD back to PC2 it has its original, working Windows 7, and the PC1 has now a new Windows 7, installed on its HDD while it was attached to PC2.

Kari

Kaktussoft · 23 Dec 2013

Syntax1985 said:

My friend has a laptop that isnt even worth fixing imo. the issue is it has usb 3.0 but you cant boot from it, the usb 2.0 has been pushed in some how so installing windows via usb isn't an option either, and the dvd drive doesnt work.

What do you wat to boot form usb3.0? You can't boot win7 from usb! You can install win7 from usb2.0 though.

A reinstall doesn't fix those issues like a not working dvd drive. The dvd drive isn't working if you try to boot from it?

Kari · 23 Dec 2013

Kaktussoft said:

A reinstall doesn't fix those issues like a not working dvd drive. The dvd drive isn't working if you try to boot from it?

I fully agree with Kaktussoft above.

My previous post only offers a working solution if the Windows is absolutely necessary on that non-functioning laptop, but its longer use has no sense if the laptop has no working CD/DVD drive and USB slots.

Kari

Syntax1985 · 23 Dec 2013

thanks for the fast replies guys, il try that method above, merry xmas to you all!

gregrocker · 23 Dec 2013

You should have some USB2 ports to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7
with the installer provided for your licensed version.

Otherwise if you can access the OS on the PC now you can set it up to boot from an install partition which will allow you to use the Drive Options to delete all partitions to get the cleanest install:

Install OS from Hard Drive

If this isn't practical you can also move the HD to another PC, Clean Install Windows 7 then move it back to the problem PC to see if it will start, and if not boot Paragon Adaptive Restore CD to P2P adjust Win7 to boot on different hardware.