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Busted hard drive - install new one and an Operating System Questions

Posted on 2/22/12 at 4:59 pm
Posted by TU Rob
Birmingham
Member since Nov 2008
13453 posts
Posted on 2/22/12 at 4:59 pm
Dropped our laptop a few months ago, and after having someone take a look at it and determine the hard drive was busted, we ended up buying a new laptop for fairly cheap.

But I was thinking about getting a new hard drive for the old one to get it up and running. I can get a 250 GB one for a good price, and I won't need anywhere near that on it. But it didn't come with a Windows install disc. I think it was Windows Vista. How would I go about installing that? Anywhere I can download the OS and burn to a disc? Would I be able to activate it with the old code? I think I have that info saved somewhere. Just so software.
Posted by magildachunks
Member since Oct 2006
35834 posts
Posted on 2/22/12 at 5:00 pm to
Just use the installation disk from the new computer.
Posted by Hook Em Horns
350000 posts
Member since Sep 2010
15706 posts
Posted on 2/22/12 at 7:11 pm to
use linux
Posted by NATidefan
Two hours North of Birmingham
Member since Dec 2008
36778 posts
Posted on 2/22/12 at 7:18 pm to
Usually the windows product key is on a sticker on a computer you buy at the store. The install disk from the new computer may work but not sure. Either way you will have to install the drivers for the old computer if you don't have the install disk with the drivers. You can almost always find the drivers online and download them though.

Windows has the ability to let you download vista as an .iso and burn a windows install disk. But I've never done it and don't know what all goes into getting them to let you download it. If you can get your hands on a windows vista disk, that is your easy best bet.
Posted by TU Rob
Birmingham
Member since Nov 2008
13453 posts
Posted on 2/22/12 at 9:03 pm to
The key is on the bottom. But the new one has 7 on it. I can burn the iso file onto a CD. From there do I just need to boot it from the disc to install?
Posted by NATidefan
Two hours North of Birmingham
Member since Dec 2008
36778 posts
Posted on 2/22/12 at 9:25 pm to
Yep that should be all you need to do. Like I said you'll have to reinstall the drivers after installing windows.
Posted by TU Rob
Birmingham
Member since Nov 2008
13453 posts
Posted on 2/22/12 at 10:01 pm to
What all drivers? I don't print or anything else from it. I just need it to connect to our wifi.
Posted by NATidefan
Two hours North of Birmingham
Member since Dec 2008
36778 posts
Posted on 2/22/12 at 11:15 pm to
For a laptop you are looking a probably the touchpad mouse driver, maybe a network driver (those suck cause you have to get the driver before you can get on the Internet to download other drivers ie download the driver save it to a flashdrive or something, then install it), probably a sound card driver, might need a video driver, that's all that comes to mind right off the bat. But any web cam, printer, etc would have to be reinstalled too.
Posted by TU Rob
Birmingham
Member since Nov 2008
13453 posts
Posted on 2/23/12 at 8:13 am to
So would it be worth it for me to have the Geek Squad people at Best Buy do all that for me instead? I can't imagine it taking them all that long to install windows and drivers, and it would be off my plate.
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