What happens if i switch my hdd for a new hdd?

will the new hard drive ask me to install windows right away?
Answer #1
Take the old one out put the new one in. Check in the BIOS that your CD/DVD drive is first to boot then put the OS CD/DVD in the drive and reboot. Actually, if you enter the BIOS put the CD/DVD in the drive then exit your BIOS it should boot from the CD/DVD. The OS CD/DVD usually gives you the option to format the drive. You can format it to NTFS (quick format)
Answer #2
You may need to initialise it first, by connecting it to your existing setup and going to
start > diskmgmt.msc
If you want to do a fresh install of Windows on it, yes you will have to do that (and don’t forget to get all your necessary drivers)
If there is nothing wrong with your existing operating system, you can use Acronis True Image Home to back it up to another hard drive (or external) and then “restore” that directly to the new hdd. (If you did this, then you would also need to format it to NTFS when you initialise it)
Answer #3
gilly replied: You may need to initialise it first, by connecting it to your existing setup and going to
start > diskmgmt.msc
If you want to do a fresh install of Windows on it, yes you will have to do that (and don't forget to get all your necessary drivers)
If there is nothing wrong with your existing operating system, you can use Acronis True Image Home to back it up to another hard drive (or external) and then "restore" that directly to the new hdd. (If you did this, then you would also need to format it to NTFS when you initialise it)
I don’t think i could do that, my only working machine is a mac laptop, i’m trying to replace a damaged hard drive on my windows desktop
Answer #4
sixis replied: gilly replied: You may need to initialise it first, by connecting it to your existing setup and going to
start > diskmgmt.msc
If you want to do a fresh install of Windows on it, yes you will have to do that (and don't forget to get all your necessary drivers)
If there is nothing wrong with your existing operating system, you can use Acronis True Image Home to back it up to another hard drive (or external) and then "restore" that directly to the new hdd. (If you did this, then you would also need to format it to NTFS when you initialise it)
I don't think i could do that, my only working machine is a mac laptop, i'm trying to replace a damaged hard drive on my windows desktop
Ummm – guess it might have helped if you said that in the first place (you could have just been replacing a small drive with a bigger one etc)
The hdd may be initialised and formatted already – most aren’t though, I guess you can only try and see. The Windows installer should initialise it anyway.
Answer #5
sixis replied: will the new hard drive ask me to install windows right away?
You need to install Windows on it, the hard disk doesn’t contains any pre-loaded data so it won’t ask you to install anything..
gilly replied: You may need to initialise it first, by connecting it to your existing setup and going to
start > diskmgmt.msc
If you want to do a fresh install of Windows on it, yes you will have to do that (and don't forget to get all your necessary drivers)
If there is nothing wrong with your existing operating system, you can use Acronis True Image Home to back it up to another hard drive (or external) and then "restore" that directly to the new hdd. (If you did this, then you would also need to format it to NTFS when you initialise it)
^^Not required on Windows 7. I have installed over 15 new hard drives myself. Windows XP could be an issue, you need the one which includes SATA drivers integrated with the OS disk.
@OP just download Windows 7 or XP with SATA drivers, burn it on a CD/DVD and you are good to go.
Answer #6
rajnusker replied: ^^Not required on Windows 7. I have installed over 15 new hard drives myself. Windows XP could be an issue, you need the one which includes SATA drivers integrated with the OS disk.
@OP just download Windows 7 or XP with SATA drivers, burn it on a CD/DVD and you are good to go.
I’ve done a lot more than that, and there are many drivers that Win 7 can’t get,
eg. Atheros
Answer #7
gilly replied: rajnusker replied: ^^Not required on Windows 7. I have installed over 15 new hard drives myself. Windows XP could be an issue, you need the one which includes SATA drivers integrated with the OS disk.
@OP just download Windows 7 or XP with SATA drivers, burn it on a CD/DVD and you are good to go.
I've done a lot more than that, and there are many drivers that Win 7 can't get,
eg. Atheros
Oh well my mistake, I just referred to initializing the hard drive part. Sorry. Btw if OP faces driver problems, he could just get the DriverGenius software.