Vista - Using recovery disks to install Vista to new non-factory HD

**mynameisstolen** · 08-22-2008

Question.

The tech at HP told me that I need to use the exact same hard drive (Fujitsu 120G) that came with the notebook originally to use the recovery disks to reinstall Vista.

Is that true? I wanted to use a Western Digital 160G HD instead.

Thanks

mynameisstolen

reason for my sadness
Can't access broken Vista OS drive as an external drive on XP

**gazz496** · 08-22-2008

good question i have a similar issue with an hp computer i changed the motherboard to and had to get a new os but if i can get my recovery disks to work i can rebuild that computer as i still have all the bits apart from the hard drive!

i did build a new computer but would like to get that one up and running again so i have 2

**Bare Foot Kid** · 08-22-2008

Hello y'all.

Aside from the 'wasted' expense of trying it to find out if it works what you got to lose?

Keep us informed!

Later

Ted

**wwoods** · 08-22-2008

Quote: Originally Posted by mynameisstolen

Question.

The tech at HP told me that I need to use the exact same hard drive (Fujitsu 120G) that came with the notebook originally to use the recovery disks to reinstall Vista.

Is that true? I wanted to use a Western Digital 160G HD instead.

Thanks

mynameisstolen

reason for my sadness
Can't access broken Vista OS drive as an external drive on XP

Not true at all, I upgraded the disks on my Laptop (HP HDX Dragon) and put in bigger and faster ones, used the recovery disks I made and all is well. Just make sure the disks are BIGGER or the same size as the origional and you will be fine.

**gazz496** · 08-22-2008

i'll find out tomorrow then.
and let you all know how it went if it went at all lol

**gazz496** · 08-22-2008

ok just got a reply from HP, provided the HDD is the same size or larger it should work just fine they even offered to replace it free of charge(bless) and directed me too links to resolve it with step be step walkthroughs but i want a larger HDD so they said it would work no problem at all.

according to them as long as the motherboard is the same it should work as the OS is linked to that.

**joel406** · 08-22-2008

gazz496: Yes you can use "any" HD you want to. I would have gone ahead and let HP send the HD though. Free is free. And you never know, it might come in handy one day very soon.

**gazz496** · 08-22-2008

ah still got to call them i just went through there online help peeps nice idea i like you!!!

**joel406** · 08-22-2008

Hope I helped.

**gazz496** · 08-22-2008

you did thanks, hope it helped the guy who started the thread too.

08-22-2008	#1 (permalink)
mynameisstolen Vista Home 32 bit 9 posts	Using recovery disks to install Vista to new non-factory HD Question. The tech at HP told me that I need to use the exact same hard drive (Fujitsu 120G) that came with the notebook originally to use the recovery disks to reinstall Vista. Is that true? I wanted to use a Western Digital 160G HD instead. Thanks mynameisstolen reason for my sadness Can't access broken Vista OS drive as an external drive on XP
My System Specs

08-22-2008	#2 (permalink)
gazz496 Vista Ultimate x64 197 posts	Re: Using recovery disks to install Vista to new non-factory HD good question i have a similar issue with an hp computer i changed the motherboard to and had to get a new os but if i can get my recovery disks to work i can rebuild that computer as i still have all the bits apart from the hard drive! i did build a new computer but would like to get that one up and running again so i have 2
My System Specs

08-22-2008	#3 (permalink)
Bare Foot Kid Vista 64-bit Ultimate Win7 64-bit Ultimate XP SP3 32-bit Pro 2,126 posts	Re: Using recovery disks to install Vista to new non-factory HD Hello y'all. Aside from the 'wasted' expense of trying it to find out if it works what you got to lose? Keep us informed! Later Ted
My System Specs

08-22-2008	#4 (permalink)
wwoods Vista Ultimate x64 196 posts	Re: Using recovery disks to install Vista to new non-factory HD Quote: Originally Posted by mynameisstolen Question. The tech at HP told me that I need to use the exact same hard drive (Fujitsu 120G) that came with the notebook originally to use the recovery disks to reinstall Vista. Is that true? I wanted to use a Western Digital 160G HD instead. Thanks mynameisstolen reason for my sadness Can't access broken Vista OS drive as an external drive on XP Not true at all, I upgraded the disks on my Laptop (HP HDX Dragon) and put in bigger and faster ones, used the recovery disks I made and all is well. Just make sure the disks are BIGGER or the same size as the origional and you will be fine.
My System Specs

08-22-2008	#5 (permalink)
gazz496 Vista Ultimate x64 197 posts	Re: Using recovery disks to install Vista to new non-factory HD i'll find out tomorrow then. and let you all know how it went if it went at all lol
My System Specs

08-22-2008	#6 (permalink)
gazz496 Vista Ultimate x64 197 posts	Re: Using recovery disks to install Vista to new non-factory HD ok just got a reply from HP, provided the HDD is the same size or larger it should work just fine they even offered to replace it free of charge(bless) and directed me too links to resolve it with step be step walkthroughs but i want a larger HDD so they said it would work no problem at all. according to them as long as the motherboard is the same it should work as the OS is linked to that.
My System Specs

08-22-2008	#7 (permalink)
joel406 Vista Business/Home Premium/Ultimate x64/Server 2008 X64 471 posts	Re: Using recovery disks to install Vista to new non-factory HD gazz496: Yes you can use "any" HD you want to. I would have gone ahead and let HP send the HD though. Free is free. And you never know, it might come in handy one day very soon.
My System Specs

08-22-2008	#8 (permalink)
gazz496 Vista Ultimate x64 197 posts	Re: Using recovery disks to install Vista to new non-factory HD ah still got to call them i just went through there online help peeps nice idea i like you!!!
My System Specs

08-22-2008	#9 (permalink)
joel406 Vista Business/Home Premium/Ultimate x64/Server 2008 X64 471 posts	Re: Using recovery disks to install Vista to new non-factory HD Hope I helped.
My System Specs

08-22-2008	#10 (permalink)
gazz496 Vista Ultimate x64 197 posts	Re: Using recovery disks to install Vista to new non-factory HD you did thanks, hope it helped the guy who started the thread too.
My System Specs

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