Asus G750 hard drive - Windows migration?

After being hamstrung since day 1 by this horrid mechanical hard drive, I just ordered a 240GB SSD to put in my G750. My question is - there are no recovery disks, nor is there a CD key on the bottom of this laptop. Is there a way to move my Windows 8 install over to the new hard drive, or do I also need to pick up a copy of Windows with it?

 

Use ASUSTeK Computer Inc. -Support- Driver & Tools - ASUS Backtracker with a usb drive to backup, then restore the original image to the new drive, or find and download the win8 x64 oem single language iso and do a clean install (it should pick up your bios-embedded windows key).

You can also probably clone the hdd to the ssd with more advanced software, but I'll let someone else fill in the details here, as I haven't done this in years.

 

Yes Backtracker is a good option, however I think you might have good success if you use Macrium Reflect to clone to your new SSD. You have a choice to either Copy straight across old to new or to create an image and then restore that image to the new SSD. Its free and has worked for many of us.

Clean Install is probably the best way to go as you won't have to install all the Asus Bloat ware you can find information on clean installing 8.1 here , If you need a Step by Step check out this We have some upgrade notes and guides on the ROG forum These were developed for the G75 but also apply to the G750. So you see you have lots of options.
From what I have seen if you want to just clone your best bet is Macrium Reflect. Backtracker is good too but some failures have occurred and you'll need a 32 GB USB thumb drive

 

Nice in-depth guide you have there and I have to recommend going the clean install route too, you can no grab ISOs from microsoft so that helps.

 

Thanks all that chimed in, especially Clintlgm for these links. I was looking for a clean install, this being my first retail Windows 8 device I wasn't aware that OEM's have started embedding the Windows key information into the BIOS. That's an odd, yet clever design decision. I've used NBR for years as a resource, and I was surprised to not really see a traditional OL for the G750.

Using Belarc Advisor I was able to extract the CD key from my Windows 8 install, and picked up the ISO from Microsoft. Looking forward to my SSD to come in on Monday/Tuesday so I can speed this thing up!

 

It will be a very large difference. it should hopefully be a smooth process.

 

You might want to take the time to use backtracker and create a Restore to factory condition. Just in case at some point you want to put it back to factory shipped state. Once you clean install, you won't be able to after you clean install as the factory restore partition will be deleted. Just saying in case. If your clean installing you know how to do it. So you don't need a restore media. Be sure to go on Asus Support Download and download all the latest driver There are a couple for 8.1 specific. its also a good time to update Chipset drivers IRST and IME!

 

Whats the difference between a recovery stick using ASUS backtracker and a stick created by windows recovery options including 'copy recovery partition to the device'?

what I think: The ASUS backtracker stick would recreate the partition layout, also the recovery partition (if deleted). So I could delete all partitions an the drive and would be able to get back to delivery condition

windows backup stick: This would only recover the windows partition to to factory defaults. It can't recreate the recovery partition.

Is that right? What are other differences? Can both be applied to other harddrives with different size?

I want to use a SSD in the laptop and the HDD in devices. And I don't want to pay attention all the time not to destroy the recovery partition.

 

Copying the recovery partition stores the recovery software on the hdd to a disk while the program will write a boot able disk to a dvd. It may be they lead to the same result but use the Asus software if you can.

 

Yes Backtracker will recreate your hard drive to a SSD, Backtracker will set you up as shipped from the factory. either to another hard drive, your hard drive or a SSD,
The recovery partition F9 restores you back to factory shipped condition. You will lose any data if you use either one.
If you restore backtracker to your SSD, remove your hard drive, its best to put your hard drive in a USB adapter after your booting and running good on your new SSD. then access your old hard drive VIA USB and use diskpart to Clean and convert to GPT that will give you a clean hard drive for all your data.

If you don't want to do that then at least make it not active and rename your old windows window.old If you don't your system will be confused as to which version of window to boot. if that happen hit your Esc key during boot up that will give you a Boot menu select your SSD

Also you may want to check out Macrium Reflect it will clone your hard drive to your SSD data and all.