Replacing hard drive on Laptop

[Polymathic]

I have a Gigabyte Laptop that has fallen out of warranty, recently I'm getting a warning when I switch it on It says that a hard drive failure is imminent. Is there a way to install a new hard drive on the machine? I've been told that there is no way to reinstall windows on the laptop due to some OEM T&Cs unless I buy a new license. I'm running windows 7 starter BTW

 

[PsyWulf]

Meh,plop in a new drive,install and reactivate,if they don't allow it pir-8 and forget about it

 

[Polymathic]

Can I install windows 7 with system restore disk?

 

[Electron1]

You can reinstall, however you may need the correct oem Windows 7 Basic disk. Try to see if you know anyone who has one, even if it is from another brand.
Alternatively buy the windows 8 pro upgrade disk (should be R900.00 or less if you shop around).

Also you can make an image from the old hard drive if it is still working ok, and you won't need to reload, assuming that there is no damage yet to the info on the disk.

 

[Polymathic]

You can reinstall, however you may need the correct oem Windows 7 Basic disk. Try to see if you know anyone who has one, even if it is from another brand.
Alternatively buy the windows 8 pro upgrade disk (should be R900.00 or less if you shop around).

Also you can make an image from the old hard drive if it is still working ok, and you won't need to reload, assuming that there is no damage yet to the info on the disk.

How do I do that?

 

[ichigo]

How do I do that?

Using ghosting software like norton ghost but think there may be other programs which do it also.


Havent needed to do it for years.

 

[Electron1]

You could try to follow the link below:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/askjack/2012/feb/02/ask-jack-windows-laptop-hard-drive

 

[SirFooK'nG]

Firstly go for an SSD then there are plenty of free tools to mirror / shrink / enlarge the partitions to the new HDD / SDD. I did it with my eMachine laptop. No Problem... Got a 240gb Vertex 3. Purrrrrs like a dream!

 

[CataclysmZA]

Is there a way to install a new hard drive on the machine?

First, before replacing the drive, take out the laptop's battery.

With Gigabyte its usually 5-6 screws to get the back compartment to release and you take off one piece of plastic. That gives you access to the hard drive, memory and wireless cards. The hard drive is usually secured with a single screw - take it out, slide the drive sideways and remove. Once you replace the old drive with a new one in the caddy, just follow the steps in reverse.

You'll need a 2.5" SATA hard drive. 320GB versions start from about R500 depending on where you shop.

I've been told that there is no way to reinstall windows on the laptop due to some OEM T&Cs unless I buy a new license. I'm running windows 7 starter BTW

Its rubbish. You can use your license on the back to re-install your OS, you just need the install disc. There are two ways of doing this:

1) Obtain a Windows 7 install disc from a friend - can be any version, so long as it's for Windows 7 32-bit, as there are no 64-bit editions of Starter
2) Download a 32-bit version of the disc, which you can do here: Windows 7 Pro 32-bit (download preferable)

3) Then follow this guide to create a multi-version, USB-bootable installer for Windows 7, which also opens up the option for Starter. Using a disc will require you to create an ISO of it and then follow the steps in the guide which deals with the ISO.

4) Activate the license by following the prompts to activate it over the phone and give Microsoft a call: 0801 43 43 43 (open 24/7)

Alternatively, buy Windows 8 or use Ubuntu Linux/Linux Mint. Windows 7 Starter is a horrible OS, IMO.

 

[SirFooK'nG]

Easiest way before the drive fails...

1) Remove HDD from laptop
2) Download Clonezilla or GParted
3) Create a bootup tool disk / usb drive with one of the tools
4) Hookup Laptop HDD & new HDD onto a PC
5) Bootup from the tool disk
6) Use software from boot disk to clone your old HDD to the new HDD.
7) Finish, put new HDD into the laptop
8) If it cloned 100% correctly it should work seamlessly...

 

[Electron1]

First, before replacing the drive, take out the laptop's battery.

With Gigabyte its usually 5-6 screws to get the back compartment to release and you take off one piece of plastic. That gives you access to the hard drive, memory and wireless cards. The hard drive is usually secured with a single screw - take it out, slide the drive sideways and remove. Once you replace the old drive with a new one in the caddy, just follow the steps in reverse.

You'll need a 2.5" SATA hard drive. 320GB versions start from about R500 depending on where you shop.



Its rubbish. You can use your license on the back to re-install your OS, you just need the install disc. There are two ways of doing this:

1) Obtain a Windows 7 install disc from a friend - can be any version, so long as it's for Windows 7 32-bit, as there are no 64-bit editions of Starter
2) Download a 32-bit version of the disc, which you can do here: Windows 7 Pro 32-bit (download preferable)

3) Then follow this guide to create a multi-version, USB-bootable installer for Windows 7, which also opens up the option for Starter. Using a disc will require you to create an ISO of it and then follow the steps in the guide which deals with the ISO.

4) Activate the license by following the prompts to activate it over the phone and give Microsoft a call: 0801 43 43 43 (open 24/7)

Alternatively, buy Windows 8 or use Ubuntu Linux/Linux Mint. Windows 7 Starter is a horrible OS, IMO.

Great post - well done.