Computer help: Hp reinstall disks or cloning my hard drive?
Hp reinstall disks or cloning my hard drive?
by christopherjellybean - 2/24/08 4:00 AMI have a oldish HP laptop that I have run out of room on! (20 gb hd!) and want to install a 60 GB HD. Not a problem ? Well here's the problem. I have the reinstall disks still -Windows XP- but will it reinstall like my dell and self activate or do i have to have my COA key? Which there is the problem! Mine is half torn off and I can only read about 11 letter/numbers of whats left. Will I have to call MS and buy a new key?$$ I don't have!The other option is maybe cloning the hard drive to the new one but I've never done it before on a laptop..well really any computer! Is it possiable? Am I screwed??
Clone it. . .
by Coryphaeus - 2/24/08 5:01 AM In reply to: Hp reinstall disks or cloning my hard drive? by christopherjellybeanI've done this more times than I can remember. Even with the high proprietary IBMs. I recommend the new Seagate PMR (Perpendicular Magnetic Recording) as they are faster. I have four and am well pleased. Seagate also provides excellent cloning software. I've never had a failure.
Wayne
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While I also advocate cloning ...
by Edward ODaniel - 2/24/08 12:05 PM In reply to: Hp reinstall disks or cloning my hard drive? by christopherjellybeanif you are having no problems with the current installation, it is also IMPORTANT to have that CD Key.
If you have the key and a problem comes up with the clone (such as not paying attention and trying to clone the wrong drive) you still have the restore disks and key to fall back on.
Many of the manufacturer's system restore sets don not require you to know the key but others don't so play it safe. If you follow this link and download and use Magical Jellybeans you can write down the keys it recovers (it also recovers MS Office keys if installed) or print them out. Do this BEFORE either cloning or restoring.
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