replacing hard drive with Windows 7

[sygreenblum]

My primary drive is on its way out and I am replacing it with 120 gig solid state drive. Currently I have a legitimate copy of Windows 7 that came with my computer (no reinstall disk was provided) and as a business I would like to keep it legitimate. Obviously downloading a pirated version would be the easy fix but I would like to keep this computer above water in case I'm ever audited.

Any suggestions would be appreciated and I have the original serial sticker on my computer.

It's a Dell studio xps 8000.

Thanks

[Atheist Icon]

Keeping of legitimate...the only thing that comes to mind is calling up dell and having them send you a restore disc. Had to call up HP when my laptop threw its hdd a couple days ago. 26 + tax shipped.

[BFeely]

Image the old drive to the new drive. As long as you don't replace any more hardware at the same time, the activation should carry over just fine. Of course, as you mention it has an original product key sticker on the case, any hardware replacements other than a motherboard swap should not disturb the OEM product activation.

[sygreenblum]

If I get the restore disk from Dell do you think it would it work with a vastly different Hard Drive? It came with a 1TB 7200 RPM disk?

The tower managed to sustain a massive drunken impact from one of my girlfriends friends. They also managed to vomit on pretty much everything in the room. Anyways while the computer still technically works the HD makes a hideous clicking and grinding noise. I have decided to leave the computer off in hopes when the new drive arrives from Newegg I might be able to save some of the data.

[sygreenblum]

Image the old drive to the new drive. As long as you don't replace any more hardware at the same time, the activation should carry over just fine. Of course, as you mention it has an original product key sticker on the case, any hardware replacements other than a motherboard swap should not disturb the OEM product activation.

What product would you suggest I use to image the drive?

Thanks all for the quick responses.

[RACKnRAIL]

I would use either Ghost or Acronis and image your drive, as suggested.

[w31n3r]

you can also use windows 7 built in back up service. i've used it to image my drive ever since i've started using win 7. it even lets you create a bootable disc so you can restore your images. easy and quick.

[Edwardd]

Try using the Daz Loader( google it ) it emulates real OEM license.

[drtoker]

You could use a cloning program like http://clonezilla.org/
But, usually the destination partition must be equal to or greater in size then the source. Since your original drive is a 1TB, this may not be possible, unless you are using multiple partitions, or can shrink your partition if you do not have a lot of data.
This would IMO be the easiest way to replace your drive.

[RACKnRAIL]

I've never tried WIN7's built in back up service, but there's always good old reliable Norton Ghost. You can download it free on Hiren's Boot CD or from your favorite torrent tracker.

I prefer Acronis these days, which is also on the Hiren's CD, but ghost will do the job as well. I've done exactly what you're trying to do here using either ghost or Acronis.

I've never tried Clonezilla. Is it as user friendly?

I back up my C:\WINDOWS drive fairly often. I think I'll give WIN7's built in software a try. Thanks w31n3r!