New Hard Drive for a Netbook - System Image/Bootable USB disk

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  1. Posts : 9
    Windows 7 Home Premium 32bit.
       #1

    New Hard Drive for a Netbook - System Image/Bootable USB disk


    Ok so i have bought a new hard drive for my netbook, which currently has windows 7 32 bit installed

    I need to backup all my installed programs/system and re-install on the new hard drive.
    Whats the easiest way to go about doing this without using 3rd party software.
    Files/Librarys are of no concern

    Everywhere i have looked i am told:

    - Need to create a system image to recover from (check)
    - need to make a bootable USB Drive (cant do because i dont have a windows 7 CD or a CD drive) to install windows 7 from

    I have a recovery partition on my current HDD but i dont know how to go about doing this

    p.s. I have an external hard drive i can use, aswell as an 8gb USB stick
    Last edited by BlueMan; 23 Aug 2011 at 14:16. Reason: Correcting info
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  2. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #2

    I know absolutely nothing about netbooks.

    But if the procedure is the same as on a PC, you would:

    1: Make an image file of your current hard drive using Windows Backup and store the image on your external hard drive
    2: Install the new hard drive
    3: Restore the image from the external hard drive to the new hard drive

    No need for USB stick.
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  3. Posts : 9
    Windows 7 Home Premium 32bit.
    Thread Starter
       #3

    SO i don't need a boot drive for a system image recovery? aside from the drive the image is saved on...

    ohh...
    If i can connect my new HDD to a USB port can i just transfer the system image straight over?
    Because i got a HDD caddy for my old HDD so i can turn it into an external HDD
    So if i plug my new HDD into the caddy before the installation, is there anything i can do to transfer the system straight over and then not worry about installation later?
    I dont think its possible but im curious
    Last edited by BlueMan; 23 Aug 2011 at 14:34. Reason: extras
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  4. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #4

    Well, you have to boot something.

    As I said, I know nothing about the limitations of a netbook--how many drives they can contain, whether they have DVD drives, etc.

    And I don't use Windows built-in imaging.

    I use Macrium third party.

    On a PC, the procedure would be:

    1: Make the image with Macrium and store it on the external.

    2: Install new HD

    3: Boot the Linux recovery CD that was previously made with Macrium

    4: Navigate to the image file on the external

    5: Restore to the newly installed HD

    But you are in Netbook land, foreign to me, and may have to use a USB stick for all I know.
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  5. Posts : 11,408
    ME/XP/Vista/Win7
       #5

       Information
    We always assume you have made your Recovery Disks using the OEM manufacturer's app the first day you had your new PC.


    & made the Startup Repair CD.


    When you Backup with:
    System Image Recovery
    you also need the Startup Repair CD:
    System Repair Disc - Create


    For better help with problems, Can you post your specs.
    Filling out System Specs
    System Info - See Your System Specs

    Dont Know What Hardware You Have..??
    VistaForums SysInfo Tool - Vista Forums
    Last edited by theog; 23 Aug 2011 at 14:39. Reason: link added.
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  6. Posts : 9
    Windows 7 Home Premium 32bit.
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Thanks then. I guess il wait for someone who is more experienced with net books


    theog said:
    When you Backup with:
    System Image Recovery
    you also need the Startup Repair CD:
    System Repair Disc - Create
    Cant create a Repair CD - No CD/DVD drive to speak of
    I need to make a bootable USB disk, NO CD's!
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  7. Posts : 11,408
    ME/XP/Vista/Win7
       #7

    For Windows Backup & Recovery,
    If you have not made your Startup Repair
    System Repair Disc - Create
    Do you have a mate with Windows 7 & CD/DVD RW Drive, how could burn one off.
    you could than copy to a USB Pen Drive, using Method two
    USB Windows 7 Installation Key Drive - Create

    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
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  8. Posts : 9
    Windows 7 Home Premium 32bit.
    Thread Starter
       #8

    I have a friend with a PC that uses windows 7 64bit
    Can i make a 32bit recovery disk from a 64 bit OS?
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  9. Posts : 11,408
    ME/XP/Vista/Win7
       #9

    BlueMan said:
    I have a friend with a PC that uses windows 7 64bit
    Can i make a 32bit recovery disk from a 64 bit OS?
    If you have 32 bit, you will need a 32 bit OS to make the CD.
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  10. Posts : 9
    Windows 7 Home Premium 32bit.
    Thread Starter
       #10

    urgh
    this is ridiculous
    Is it possible to re-install windows 7 on my new HDD using my current HDD's recovery partition (cursity of HP)
    IS there NOTHING i can do?

    Im not going to buy a recovery CD and il be damned if i can find my way around HP's support site
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