OS transfer if hard drive goes bad...

[Anomaly1964]

My hard drive has gone bad on my laptop - if I get a new hard drive for it, how do I get Windows loaded again with out having to buy it again? I'm NOT trying to pirate a copy or anything, but like, can you transfer your OS to a new machine if one goes bad?

 

[SparkyJJO]

It is the same machine so there should be no problem reinstalling it. Use the product key on the bottom.

Or, depending on how bad the original drive is, you may be able to do a dd_rescue direct copy from the old drive to the new and not have to reload a single thing. I've done this many times for people, and most of the time it works. It does require you to have a way to hook up both the old and the new drives to a computer, and it can take a long time to do as it is a sector by sector copy which means it copies even the empty space.

 

[Elixer]

You can also just do a clean install of windows 10, and it will find the key for you, assuming the laptop had win 7 or 8 on it.
If you don't want win 10, then, you can download win 7 or 8, and install that as well.
Just make sure the source of the image is legit.

 

[Anomaly1964]

It is the same machine so there should be no problem reinstalling it. Use the product key on the bottom.

Or, depending on how bad the original drive is, you may be able to do a dd_rescue direct copy from the old drive to the new and not have to reload a single thing. I've done this many times for people, and most of the time it works. It does require you to have a way to hook up both the old and the new drives to a computer, and it can take a long time to do as it is a sector by sector copy which means it copies even the empty space.

It's a machine I bought from Staples, I didnt get a disc, just a key, any suggestions?

 

[OlyAR15]

All you need is the product key. Just download a copy of Windows.

Edit: added link

http://www.howtogeek.com/186775/how-to-download-windows-7-8-and-8.1-installation-media-legally/

 

[Ketchup]

What OS? Some are easier than others. You can always contact the manufacturer and order recovery media.

 

[Anomaly1964]

All you need is the product key. Just download a copy of Windows.

Edit: added link

http://www.howtogeek.com/186775/how-to-download-windows-7-8-and-8.1-installation-media-legally/

found it. thanks!

 

[Puffnstuff]

When I bought my alienware laptop dell didn't give me a dvd so I just used the cd key off the bottom and reinstalled win 7 from a disc I had using it. After that I migrated to 7 ult then 8.1 pro and now 10 pro. I would consider just doing a clean install of 10 and use your 7 key to activate it https://www.thurrott.com/windows/wi...se-windows-7-8-or-8-1-product-key-to-activate.

 

[Anomaly1964]

I just put in the windows 10 media cd, installed, upgraded, activated with the key on the lap top and all is well...

 

[JackMDS]

and all is well...

Provided that you also got the idea of making an image of the HD and keeping safe on an external HD to make life easy next time.