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I need to replace my HDD on my current computer, which is an old sony vaio tower from 2005. I do not need any data off of this, I already have whats important saved elsewhere. The current HDD originally had Windows XP MCE but I purchased the update to Windows 8 Pro online in 2012 (when it was $39.99). I still have the key- my question is will I need to use to original restore disks for this computer (i.e. bring it back to XP) and then upgrade to 8? Or can I do a clean install of windows 8 on the new HDD? I got a burned copy of windows 8 pro 32 bit that I could use if I can do the windows 8 clean install. Will my product key, which is an upgrade, work as a clean install? How will I know that my product key will work and not tell me that the key is already in use- I don't want to buy another copy of Windows, I don't think I should have to...
Also, what will happen when I first turn on my computer with the new HDD? Since there is no OS, do I need to manually do something to the computer before I remove the current HDD so that it knows what to do? I am hoping this is pretty simple and it will just ask me for the restore disk or windows OS disk.
I've never replaced a HDD or reinstalled an OS before so if anybody has any guides or advice I would really appreciate it.
Basically, you can install with the upgrade media, but it won't activate until you turn off a flag in the registry. As far as registry edits go, this one is super easy, so don't be scared away from that.
Quote:
Also, what will happen when I first turn on my computer with the new HDD? Since there is no OS, do I need to manually do something to the computer before I remove the current HDD so that it knows what to do? I am hoping this is pretty simple and it will just ask me for the restore disk or windows OS disk.
One of the first things the PC does when you turn it on is it looks for bootable media, whether it be a CD or a hard drive or a thumbdrive or network or whatever. Since you're going to have a blank hard drive in the PC, it'll tell you to insert media for installation. If media is already inserted, as long as the device you're using to read the media (like the DVD drive) is listed in the boot list, it will boot automatically.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by adyn
One of the first things the PC does when you turn it on is it looks for bootable media, whether it be a CD or a hard drive or a thumbdrive or network or whatever. Since you're going to have a blank hard drive in the PC, it'll tell you to insert media for installation. If media is already inserted, as long as the device you're using to read the media (like the DVD drive) is listed in the boot list, it will boot automatically.
The bios has a place to list the sequence of the media for the unit to look for an OS system.
If the DVD is not on the top will it still look for the DVD or wherever the OS is stored ?
Like:
Oops, no media in HDD -
now go to the next source in line, etc
The bios has a place to list the sequence of the media for the unit to look for an OS system.
If the DVD is not on the top will it still look for the DVD or wherever the OS is stored ?
Like:
Oops, no media in HDD -
now go to the next source in line, etc
Yes, it starts from the top and goes down the line. If at the end nothing is there, it'll just say "no bootable device" or something like that.
Location: God's Gift to Mankind for flying anything
5,921 posts, read 13,855,132 times
Reputation: 5229
Quote:
Originally Posted by adyn
Yes, it starts from the top and goes down the line. If at the end nothing is there, it'll just say "no bootable device" or something like that.
Thanks!
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