Jump to content

Welcome to Geeks to Go - Register now for FREE

Need help with your computer or device? Want to learn new tech skills? You're in the right place!
Geeks to Go is a friendly community of tech experts who can solve any problem you have. Just create a free account and post your question. Our volunteers will reply quickly and guide you through the steps. Don't let tech troubles stop you. Join Geeks to Go now and get the support you need!

How it Works Create Account
Photo

Help Win 8.1 to win 8.1


  • Please log in to reply

#1
Neid

Neid

    Member

  • Member
  • PipPip
  • 18 posts
Hi everyone, I really need help with this...
Last week my win 8.1 came up with a message my hdd dying, I had it replaced from with brand new one at one of the shops, guy has installed win 8.1 on it everything works, apart from me knowing it ain't the original win that came with laptop that I bought. There's no recovery particion, and if it gets corrupted I can't just reinstall Windows, or fix it using Microsoft preinstalled software.
Question is, I have my old hdd and I got caddy for it to connect to my laptop, I would really appreciate if anyone can tell me how to boot recovery and reinstall Windows completely from old drive to new one so it's all as it was when I got the laptop. There ain't no files I need so it's not about copying them, I just want same win with same settings I had before new hdd was installed.
Thank you everyone in advance :)
  • 0

Advertisements


#2
SleepyDude

SleepyDude

    Trusted Helper

  • Malware Removal
  • 4,988 posts

Hi :welcome:,

 

What you want to do is cloning the old drive to the new one if the new HDD is same size of bigger.

 

The problem doing that is that the old drive can die during the process and you end up by losing everything! How about creating a full backup image now that the system is working so you can restore the system state if something go wrong.


  • 0

#3
Neid

Neid

    Member

  • Topic Starter
  • Member
  • PipPip
  • 18 posts
The old hdd is empty, there no files I need, all I really wanted is to get the original win that came with the laptop, rather ones installed by the person in shop who changed hdd...
So, best way. If I have old hdd connected to laptop, I can boot Windows from it right? Instead of booting from one inside laptop now? I mean, am I confused or it is possible to load old win on laptop, then create clone version and install it on the new hdd? Super confused ...
  • 0

#4
SleepyDude

SleepyDude

    Trusted Helper

  • Malware Removal
  • 4,988 posts

The old hdd is empty, there no files I need, all I really wanted is to get the original win that came with the laptop, rather ones installed by the person in shop who changed hdd...


If Windows is activated with all the needed drivers and everything working the "bits are the same" in fact many prefer to have that type of installation because it doesn't include all the crap the manufacture installs and make the machine slower when the time passes.
 

So, best way. If I have old hdd connected to laptop, I can boot Windows from it right? Instead of booting from one inside laptop now?

 

If the old HDD isn't empty and have Windows installed to boot from it successfully you need to swap the new drive with the old one to put the old HDD inside the laptop.


  • 0

#5
Neid

Neid

    Member

  • Topic Starter
  • Member
  • PipPip
  • 18 posts
Roger that, so having it connected by usb to the laptop, and starting up laptop from it for cloning won't work unless it's connected where the new hdd is?
  • 0

#6
SleepyDude

SleepyDude

    Trusted Helper

  • Malware Removal
  • 4,988 posts

Roger that, so having it connected by usb to the laptop, and starting up laptop from it for cloning won't work unless it's connected where the new hdd is?

 

Not exactly, your new question is different... To boot from Windows installed on the old hdd it only works if the disk is installed on the laptop.

 

If you allow me let's follow a safe plan to transfer the old hdd contents to the new one. Ok?


  • 0

#7
Neid

Neid

    Member

  • Topic Starter
  • Member
  • PipPip
  • 18 posts
Ok... Let's follow, what shall I do?
  • 0

#8
SleepyDude

SleepyDude

    Trusted Helper

  • Malware Removal
  • 4,988 posts

Ok... Let's follow, what shall I do?

 

Ok, first I need to know the brand and model of the two HDD's you have.

 

 

Edit: Do you have another external USB Hard drive with plenty of free space?


Edited by SleepyDude, 26 June 2016 - 05:41 AM.

  • 0

#9
Neid

Neid

    Member

  • Topic Starter
  • Member
  • PipPip
  • 18 posts
That's the old hdd, and inside one as I was told.

Attached Thumbnails

  • 1466941276695-1783486032.jpg

  • 0

#10
Neid

Neid

    Member

  • Topic Starter
  • Member
  • PipPip
  • 18 posts

the one inside right now HDST hts725050a7e630  If that helps, but guy told me its exactly same one, maybe diff brand thought. 

i do have a back up usb hd that has my files i back up on....it has 25GB free


Edited by Neid, 26 June 2016 - 05:50 AM.

  • 0

Advertisements


#11
Neid

Neid

    Member

  • Topic Starter
  • Member
  • PipPip
  • 18 posts
Hope u haven't abandoned me here
  • 0

#12
SleepyDude

SleepyDude

    Trusted Helper

  • Malware Removal
  • 4,988 posts

Hope u haven't abandoned me here

 

Well you need to have some patience we are not always here.

 

Ok so both drives have the same size 500GB. Do you have a empty flash drive with at least 1GB in size?

 

The plan:

- on Windows that is running on the new HDD install Macrium Reflect free

- create a Macrium Rescue disk on the flash drive

- boot the computer using the Macrium Rescue Disk, when the system start loading connect the USB external hard drive

- test if Macrium can see the internal hard drive and the external (USB) drive.


  • 0

#13
Neid

Neid

    Member

  • Topic Starter
  • Member
  • PipPip
  • 18 posts
Thank u I will do that, and yes I know you guys are buys. Just stressing, apologies... :)))
  • 0

#14
SleepyDude

SleepyDude

    Trusted Helper

  • Malware Removal
  • 4,988 posts

Thank u I will do that, and yes I know you guys are buys. Just stressing, apologies... :)))

 

:) Let me know if you have troubles following any of those steps.

 

The last test part is very important before we can move on with the actual process.


  • 0

#15
Neid

Neid

    Member

  • Topic Starter
  • Member
  • PipPip
  • 18 posts

on it now, will update as soon as its all good  :)))


  • 0






Similar Topics

0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users

As Featured On:

Microsoft Yahoo BBC MSN PC Magazine Washington Post HP