Replacing my hdd... some questions.

So i have a Sony Vaio laptop with a 320 gigabyte hdd. I want to replace it with maybe a new 1 terabyte hdd but i have some concerns.

Lets assume i have all my data backed up on an external hard drive, would it be ok for me to just pop off the current hard drive, put the new one in, and then just switch it on and install Windows 7 fresh? Will the laptop detect the new hdd straight away? Would i need to install any particular drivers? Or are there any other important steps im missing?

Some important specs:

Sony Vaio FW21E running Ultimate 64 bit
320 GB Serial ATA-150 5400 rpm HDD

Yes, you can just change the HD over & install Windows.
I would partition the first partition no less than 100g.
Partition or Volume - Create New

would that first partition be for the windows install? i currently have 60 gig allocated for the system drive. In any case i should setup my partitions while installing windows which has its own partitioning tool right?

DaRonRon said:

would that first partition be for the windows install? i currently have 60 gig allocated for the system drive. In any case i should setup my partitions while installing windows which has its own partitioning tool right?

Yes, Windows would be the first partition.

Yes, setup has a partitioning tool.

well thanks for helping mate! appreciated!

yes you can just put in a new drive but before you do that go to your laptop vender and down load all the drivers for you MOBO on to that external hard drive you have that way you will have them if win7 dose not find them for you.

one other thing. Assuming i want to use the old hdd on another laptop, if i put it on another laptop would it prompt to format it, or will it boot right into the OS and allow me to access the data on it?

edit: could anyone also recommend a good 7200 rpm 1 TB hdd? What are the best brands?

It may give you a warning telling you the hard drive was not original to the PC and that you may have to make some changes if you proceed, this happens with drives moved from an OEM provided OS to another with the same OEM maker, I have not tried it with different PC makers so YMMV. It should be able to boot into safe mode and find the correct drivers to run the OS which will more than likely be different unless all the specs are the same as the PC it comes from in which case it would simply boot I have done this with 2 laptops I own that are exact in every way and it worked flawlessly.

Yes & No, you will be able to access data, for 30 days.

Best to backup first, or use WET.
Windows Easy Transfer - Transfer To & From Computers

If you going to use it as the primary drive you are going to have to reformat it because the hard drive controller on you motherboard more then likely is not the same. Unless you are putting it into the same model lap top but even then I reform mat it and start fresh if I was you