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Clean install windows 7 without recovery disks?
Hello there!
My HDD on my HP dm4 laptop recently started giving me problems. Initially I got a "Hard Drive not found error" or an "Please install an operating system" error. I thought this might be a loose connection with the hard drive so I opened the backside and made sure it wasn't. But it still started doing the same thing and started running very slow. So, I ran a few diagnostics and hard drive checks and it came up with a "303" error. When I googled it, I found out that its time for me to replace my HDD (its been only two years since I got this laptop). So I ordered a new one (WD 750 GB @7200 RPM. The one I have now is a 640 GB @7200 RPM) and once I get it I have to do a clean install. Fortunately, my school provides us with free windows software, which includes all the operating systems. So I am planning on getting the windows 7 pro. However, I don't have my recovery disks. I made them when I got my laptop first but I misplaced them somewhere when I moved. So I don't think I can find them. However, fortunately, I backed up my HDD last week. So when I clean install Windows 7, what should I do about the drivers? In other words, how much do I need the recovery disks? Please let me know. Thank you in advance. Also, I found this excellent tutorial by gregrocker: Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 - which I plan on using.