How do I get Windows on to a new laptop drive?

I am replacing the factory Maxtor drive in my UL80Vt with an OCZ solid state drive. I want to know how to use the disks supplied with my laptop to install Windows 7 on my new drive.

1. I did burn the restore disks (4 DVDs), but what are they exactly? My understanding is that it is not a true Windows installation but only an image of my system when I did the disk creation, right?

2. So is this going to be a problem when it loads on a different hard drive? Will the restore disks even work with a new drive?

3. I do not want to have the hidden restore partition on my new drive as it is only 60 GB. Does the restore disk do anything with the restore partition or is it only the Windows partition?

4. Can we get a true Windows 7 install disk from Asus? Do we own a valid license?

5. What is the "Windows 7 Recovery Media for Windows 7 Product" disk that came with the computer?

6. I was going to do a disk clone, but I have been told that it is not a good idea to clone a regular disk to a SSD. Is using the restore disk like a reinstall or is it a clone of what was on my notebook the day I got it?

Thanks.

 

From my understanding, the restore disks are basically a clone of the hard drive when you first got the laptop. Whether it is an exact clone or whether it rebuilds it up to that point is something I'm unsure of, but it shouldn't matter.

Laptops should come with a copy of the original windows on a disc somewhere. Serial number should be on a sticker on your laptop.

Shouldn't be anything wrong with just cloning it, I've done it before. However, I did realign the SSD's file system first. Not sure if it's necessary.

Oh, and if the hidden partition does show up, just delete afterwards and trim the drive.

 

The 4 restore disks you produced contains an image of the system.
I don't think it will create a hidden partition. I think it will only restore the system onto the new drive.

The recovery disk you got with the laptop is basically the same as the restore disks you created. The recovery disk contains an image of the system.
But the recovery disk has no drivers installed in the image. So if you restore using the recovery disk, at the end of the procedure the system will ask you to insert the driver disk.

From my understanding you can also do a fresh install of Windows on the notebook and activate it with the key on the sticker at the bottom of the notebook.
ASUS does not provide any Orignal windows 7 disk. They give you only recovery disk.

 

You can easily make an exact copy of your current drive and not even have to install anything again. Use a free program like drive image xml, or use the free trial of acronis. Save the image to an external hard drive, and then put the image on the new drive.

If your going to put the old drive in an external enclosure as to not have it go to waist you can just use the clone drive function and skip the step of making the backup.

 

+1 for cloning. I use it on my PCs and Macs. Different programs but the results are the same. If you have everything just the way you like it cloning is an easy way to move your data. Of course if this new drive is so much smaller that everything won't fit, cloning won't work.

Cheers,

 

Apparently to save money ASUS does not supply a Windows 7 install disk.

How do I "align" a file system? I read of people saying a Windows 7 install disk will do it when the OS is installed, but I don't have one, obviously.

 

^^^ no need to "align" anything when your installing W7 on a SSD....only XP.
My new OCZ Vertex 120GB Drive will be here tomorrow so I'll be going through the same Procedure.
As far Ghosting a Drive, remember, its Ghosts everything, preferably on a brand new $300 SSD Drive you'll want a "clean" install (no Ghosting).

The only things I'm curious of:
1. Order of Driver Installation and Reboot Sequences
2. Still haven't got a definitive answer as to which of my 2 HD's has the OS installed on it.
3. OCZ Drives require to be set in IDE mode for Flashing to latest FW (1.5) and someone here Posted that these Notebooks operate in AHCI Mode (not sure how much of that comment are "speculation" or "guessing", but you certainly don't want to "Brick" your SSD based upon scanty information here)
Hopefully the whole process goes smooth.

 

I did the changing to IDE mode for flashing the new firmware, everything seemed to proceed correctly. Then switched back to AHCI before loading up the restore disks (in my BIOS the choice was Enhanced for AHCI and Compatibility for IDE).

Everything seemed to work, but the system will not boot. I switched between AHCI and IDE mode, I get the same message:

"Reboot and select proper Boot Device or insert boot media in selected boot device and press a key"

I'm pretty f...ing upset. ASUS is no f...ing help, 2 days ago I emailed them and no answer (on the subject of a Windows 7 install disk).

Only thing to do for now is remove the OCZ and put the factory drive back in, at least I will have a computer again. Hopefully someone at the OCZ forums will be able to point me in the right direction.

 

So you were able switch back n forth between AHCI and IDE in BIOS? Thats the G73 right...miine is the G51J...no such option in BIOS.

We'll see how it goes...

EDIT: Uh sorry.....just saw that its an UL80....

If I had the woes your having I'd say fvck it and buy a copy of W7 Pro OEM....give that wirl...

 

You can get the install disk from here

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=428068

Then you should be able to use the key on the sticker on the bottom of your laptop, provided I understand how this works correctly.

 

Well, my OCZ Vertex 120GB arrived today, here is a step by step:
1. Remove bottom cover ensuring to note where each screw came from.
2. G51J A1 - HD w OS is on the furthest Drive to the right (when viewing upside down and cover removed).
3. Remove this Drive and label it "W7 OS" - 4 Screw holding Drive within Case - then 4 screws holding HD within the HD mount
4. Remove middle HD - same number of screws - label it "Spare HD Data" (Temporarily removing the 2nd HDD ensures no "confusion" by the Recovery Disc OS Installer when installing W7 onto your new Vertex Drive.
5. Prior to Installing Vertex Drive, hook it up to another PC to ensure it is Flashed to the latest FW - as of Feb 19 2010 - FW version 1.5
6. Install and fastene Vertex into HD Rack with 4 screws and install in to Notebook - fasten in place with 4 screws.
7. Press Esc Key upon Boot and select Optical Drive to Boot from (Confirm that the only other Drive as an option is new OCZ SSD)
8. Install Recovery Disc into Optical Drive Bay
9. Continue Boot Process from Asus Recovery Disc
10. Select Recover to Entire HD in 2 Partitions (yes I want a Partition) - if you do not want a Partition select "Recover to Entire HD"
11. So far, 71% complete...will update this Post as I progress. (Completed 100% about 10 minutes on an SSD)
12. Completed, prompted to insert Utilities / Drivers Disc
13 Surprise here..Utilities Drivers Disc "Auto" opened a DOS Command Window and apperas to have run a Driver installation Script (didn't install Bloatware, just essential Drivers - took about 5 minutes)
14. After initial set-up of W7 - insert Driver / Utilities Disc and install wanted Utilities.
15. Install Anti-Virus Software - I prefer to use Free version of AVG (has worked flawelessly for me on several Desktop Builds)
16. Run Windows7 Updates
17. Power down your Notebook and Install your 2nd additional 320GB Seagate HD
18. Power back up and go to "My Computer / Manage / Disc Management and ensure your additional HD has been detected (you may want to "start clean" and format it at this point).
19. Install Maintenance Utilities - CCleaner, Driver Sweeper and HD Defraggler (for 2nd HD only - Do Not Defrag SSD)
20. Remove old nVidia Driver, run Driver Sweeper and install nVidia Driver 195.62 (this version has performed excellent for myself)

Thats it....the entire process went smooth, no hiccups.
A Note: I was never prompted to "Re-Activate my Asus Windows 7 OS"

The only "surprise" was the Drivers / Utilities DOS Installer Script, as said, did not install any Bloatware - be patient here as it takes a bit of time and you'll be prompted to ReBoot your Notebook a couple of times. Don't "Freak Out" over the DOS Window, leave it alone and let it do its thing!

Welcome to the wonderful world of "Blazing Fast SSD's"

Cheers