reinstall oem windows 7 on new hard drive

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Shane_6

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Oct 1, 2015
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I want to upgrade my hard drive from 250gb to 1tb. It doesn't have an install disk but it has the product key sticker on it. How do I go about reinstalling windows 7 on a new hard drive?
 
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USAFRet


Assuming the current install and drive is OK, cloning should work. Just follow the steps above, exactly.
And a USB dock is a nice thing to have around anyway.
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Mar 16, 2013
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Was this preinstalled?
You'll probably have to obtain the install media from the manufacturer.

Or, you can clone everything from the old drive to the new drive.
Is this a desktop or laptop?
 
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Shane_6

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It's a dell optiplex 790 sff. No media with it. I figured I would have to clone it but I don't want to go through the work of putting both hard drives into my other pc to do it. Guessing I might have to though.
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Don't have to put the drives in a different PC.

To clone, like this:
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Verify the actual used space on the current drive is significantly below the size of the new SSD
Download and install Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration, if a Samsung SSD)
Power off
Disconnect ALL drives except the current C and the new SSD
Power up
Run the Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration)
Select ALL the partitions on the existing C drive
Click the 'Clone' button
Wait until it is done
When it finishes, power off
Disconnect ALL drives except for the new SSD
Swap the SATA cables around so that the new drive is connected to the same SATA port as the old drive
Power up, and verify the BIOS boot order
If good, continue the power up

It should boot from the new drive, just like the old drive.
Maybe reboot a time or two, just to make sure.

If it works, and it should, all is good.

Later, reconnect the old drive and wipe as necessary.
Delete the original boot partitions, here:
https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/4f1b84ac-b193-40e3-943a-f45d52e23685/cant-delete-extra-healthy-recovery-partitions-and-healthy-efi-system-partition?forum=w8itproinstall
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If it does not have a spare SATA port on the motherboard, get a USB dock for it.
 
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Shane_6

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Oct 1, 2015
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I'd have to go buy one. Which I should anyway. I have a ton of hard drives laying around. But if cloning will work then I'm just gonna go that route.
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Mar 16, 2013
171,442
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184,590


Assuming the current install and drive is OK, cloning should work. Just follow the steps above, exactly.
And a USB dock is a nice thing to have around anyway.
 
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