Windows 7 Restore

I hope that this is the correct forum to post this message in. Thank you for your time in reading this post.

Currently I have a computer (Compaq) desktop that was purchased in a store. As we know, these computers do not come with the full Windows 7 DVD/CD. I think it comes with more of a repair disk? I am not sure if it is called a repair disk or not, but I think you get the point?

When booting the desktop it gives a warning about a imminent hard drive failure. So while I diagnosis that, I was wondering about my restore options?

1) I can use the current Windows 7 operating system's backup feature to create a full restore disk/image. Instructions located on this site which I have reviewed. However, when/if I replace the hard drive, will this work to restore?

2) I can use a program like Macrium to create an image and then also use that to restore. However, when if/if I replace the hard drive, will this work to restore? HAL issues come to mind.

3) When/if I get a new hard drive, can I use the disk that came with the computer to reload the OS? I have concerns about it having a new hard drive, and not the original one.

4) Do I have to worry about HAL's with new hard drive?

I look forward to your help on this post, and thank you again for reading it.

havent you got the recovey disk....the recovery disk can make your computer go back to the stage when you have made the recovery discs,,, as these discs are the system image only so both can help the system in the same manner

Backup your Data first.
Replace the HD.
Use your HP Recovery disk to reinstall the OS.

How to make HP Recovery DVD disks:
Recover Windows Vista Operating System Using HP Recovery - HP Customer Care (United States - English)

How to make HP Recovery USB disk:
Creating a Recovery Disk on a USB Flash Disk HP Pavilion dv6700z CTO Entertainment Notebook PC - HP Customer Care (United States - English)

or
You can Order HP Recovery Disks from here:
Compaq Mini CQ10-500 PC series - HP Notebook PCs - Order Recovery Discs for Windows 7, Vista, or XP - c00810334 - HP Business Support Center

ace9062 said:

havent you got the recovey disk....the recovery disk can make your computer go back to the stage when you have made the recovery discs,,, as these discs are the system image only so both can help the system in the same manner

Would this not be option 1 that I listed? While I am aware I can do that, I was concerned about the hard drives changing and it not working.

@theog, I will look at that. I know HP owns Compaq, but I do not remember seeing an HP recovery option. There is a Compaq recovery partition on the hard drive, that would be totally useless if the hard drive fails, obviously.

AS your HD is going down, take care with the backup, as this could pickup bad files.

theog said:

AS your HD is going down, take care with the backup, as this could pickup bad files.

I have no files I need to recover. I just need to make sure I can recover the OS.