Solved Need to replace dying hard drive in laptop.

[nodsirrah]

I got so confused searching for a solution I decided to ask for specific detailed answer. My 80 year old brain doesn't help especially since I am not a techie, just to poor to pay to have it done!!!
I am getting notices that my 8 year old Win 7 laptop 80 GB HDD has a problem, but it still works and I haven't used it since the notices appeared.
I purchased another 80 GB HDD.
How do I clone the existing HDD to my external HDD, install the new HDD and transfer the clone to the new HDD and have it boot with all the existing programs and files working as before.
I appreciate someone's help.
Don

 

[ignatzatsonic]

You could try a clone. Or you could try an imaging procedure.

Either can work or fail.

I'd say the best tool for the job is Macrium Reflect Free Edition. It will clone or image. It's free.

Windows 7 has a built-in imaging capability, but it can be confusing if you are unfamiliar with it.

With Macrium Reflect, the general procedure would be:

Install Macrium.

Use it to make an image file. Save the image file on the external disc.

Make a "recovery" CD with Macrium.

Install your new hard drive.

Boot from the recovery CD and navigate to the image file you made.

"Restore" that image file to the new hard drive.

That's the basic procedure, but it's not foolproof. Neither is cloning.

Are you ready, willing, and able to reinstall Windows and all of your applications if cloning and imaging fail?

Have you backed up your personal data, bookmarks, and email to the external hard drive? That would probably be my first concern as the old hard drive may expire in 2 minutes for all we know.

Can you give the exact message you are getting about a bad hard drive? What is giving you this message?

 

[strollin]

Depending upon exactly what is causing the notices, you would be well served to attempt to correct any errors BEFORE you clone the drive, otherwise you could clone those errors and be right back where you started but on a new drive. It's also possible that if the notifications are due to surface defects on the old drive, some data may be unrecoverable.

Before you attempt to clone, please follow ignatzatsonic's advice and post the exact message you are seeing and what program is sending the notice.http://www.sevenforums.com/members/ignatzatsonic.html

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Nodsirrah try this mate easy peasy Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - Information and download

See my pic just remember one nearly always has to clone to a similar sized or preferably a larger drive it will not do it the reverse way.

 

[jumanji]

Side by side, make a request to DELL for the recovery disk stating that your HDD is dead and need to be replaced. Even out of warranty DELL has been sending Reinstallation media free of cost. So try your luck.

If you get it there is nothing like it. You can do a clean install and it will selfactivate. You may have to download the necessary drivers from DELL website.

I am assuming you are in USA or Canada. Here is the online request https://www.dell.com/support/diagno...me?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&DoNotRedirect=y&redirect=1

 

[nodsirrah]

We got 'er dun!

The error I was getting was Re-Allocated Sector Count, a total of 183, I was pretty sure I would be able to use my new hard drive.
Finally got er dun!!! Only 4 days 12 hours a day, and more stupid errors than I can count.:mad2:
I screwed around with Windows Backup and Restore until I was red in the face.
I downloaded Macrium Reflect, I first tried to make a clone and restore it, but it would not restore. Then I made an Image, and could not restore it. The external hard drive I was using is a WD2500ME known as the Passport Essential which only uses the USB voltage. I switched to my "My Book Essentials" which uses its own power adapter. After I made an Image on it everything worked. After loading the image on the laptop HDD I could not start it up without using the rescue disk even after I changed the Bios boot sequence to internal HDD. I started it with the rescue disk and all of a sudden it started updating off the Internet, when it finished about 30 minutes later I rebooted it the boot sequenced to the Internal HDD and it has been booted off the HDD ever since! I guess part of the updating included adding the boot sequence to the HDD, anyway its working and the old HDD is in the recycle bin and my system is reactivated.
Only $38.00 for the new HDD, 48 hours of my time and special help from you people, no more popup windows telling me to do a backup because the HDD has holes in it!
My time is free because I am retired, Macrium was free, your advice was free and we had 4 days of either rain or cold weather, and best of all I have time to talk to my patient wife. Life is good!......
Thanks...

 

[strollin]

Glad you got it done. A real learning experience!