New HDD Into Computer Problems

Did you make a System Image backup using Win 7 Backup and Restore?

Make a System Repair Disc.
A system repair disc can be made on any Win 7 computer.

What you must do although is make the disc on a Win 7 system that has the same "bittiness" as the win 7 on your dying disk.

The win 7 can be home, pro, ultimate, whatever but if you have 32 bit then you need to make the disc on a 32 bit system and likewise if you have 64 bit then you have to make the disc on a 64 bit system.

What you are going to do, after making the system repair disc is:
Remove the old hard disk.
Connect the new hard disk.
Boot up to the System Repair CD/DVD you made.
Connect the external usb drive.
Perform a System Image Restore whereby you will restore to the new drive.

Here's a little more detail.

CREATE AND RESTORE A SYSTEM IMAGE

CREATE A SYSTEM IMAGE BACKUP · START | type Backup your computer | Enter key
· Create a System Image (in left-hand pane)
· select where to save the backup | Next
· Select the drives to backup | Next | Start Backup | Finish

CREATE A SYSTEM RESTORE DISC
START | type System Repair | Enter | Create Disc

RESTORE A SYSTEM IMAGE BACKUP
· Boot from a System Repair Disc
· Connect the external backup drive which contains the backup image
· NEXT
· Restore your computer using a system image
that you created earlier radio button | NEXT
· Use the latest available system image radio button | NEXT
· Format and repartition discs checkbox | NEXT | FINISH |YES

You've already made the System Image Backup to your external usb drive.

Procedure works. I've done it, precisely as written. Actually, the procedure is ridiculously simple.

Just a quick note:

Be sure to disconnect the old drive.
This is very important.

Probably my way of explaining things isn't all that clear.

What I'm going to do is ask some of the others to look at this thread and perhaps their approach to the problem will be more appropriate.

Many roads lead to Rome and the main thing is that you get to the coliseum.

I think the way to do this is like this,
Connect the USB drive to the PC
Click on start orb type backup and click on "Back up and Restore" when it appears, in the new window that opens click on "Create a system image"



A new window will open and windows will suggest a drive for the backup which will probably be the USB drive. Make sure this is correct and click on next.




The next window shows the drive to be copied which should be your C:\ drive If you should also get the choice to copy another partition this will be your hidden HP repair partition click to save it as well then click on next.



Now you get a confirmation window. click on start backup



A new window will open showing the backup in progress



When the back up is almost finished a new window will open click on Yes



Insert a blank CD/DVD into your DVD Rom and then on create disc



Now you can change HDD's and replay the image

Points to note

The new drive needs to be the same size or bigger than the old one
If you do not copy you HP hidden repair partition you will be reliant on backup images to repair windows if it messes up IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO KEEP YOUR IMAGE SAFE

Pooch,
New drive does not need to be same size or larger than old.

Common misconception. My ssd is smaller than my hdd. I imaged from one restored to the other using MS Backup and Restore.

karlsnooks said:

Pooch,
New drive does not need to be same size or larger than old.

Common misconception. My ssd is smaller than my hdd. I imaged from one restored to the other using MS Backup and Restore.

Very common as I have had problems with this in the past then we will just have to wait and see what happens.