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Question

Install Windows 7 SSD Drive:

Sep 19, 2014 1:42PM PDT

I now have the wonderful and pleasant opportunity to install Windows 7 on a SSD Hard Drive for a laptop.

because the original hard drive will not boot anymore. The hard drive test failed. <span style="font-size: 14.6666669845581px;">Sigh. That's fine, because that hard drive capacity is much too small.

I want a 7200 RPM 2.5 SATA to replace it, with a much larger storage capacity. (I have many other external storage devices, but I like to keep a copy of specific files such as music on the computer for easier access.)

But I prefer an SSD. I still have the product key for Windows 7 but not the disc. Can I get another disc, use the same product key, and install it onto a SSD?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Maybe
Sep 19, 2014 11:30PM PDT

Maybe, but your best bet would be to contact whoever made your computer and try to get a copy of the restore media from them. If you grabbed one of the generic Windows 7 disk images, you'd need to find all the necessary drivers for your system and then apply them yourself.

Also, keep in mind that SSDs only improve performance where disk throughput is the limiting factor, which is rare. You'll see faster boot times and programs will open slightly faster, but they won't necessarily run any faster once they're open. So don't go getting your hopes up too high about how much better life will be with a SSD. It'll be a relatively minor improvement on the whole.

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Answer
Here I rarely use any product key.
Sep 20, 2014 1:48AM PDT

The restore media installs and I'm done. To make matters more fun I've seen folk install a full up retail/oem DVD of Windows 7 and it rejects the OEM Key from the laptop because, well, that discussion is too well done.

Get the restore media.

As to getting Windows 7, that's well discussed too. Let's skip all the hard work. Get the restore media for your laptop.
Bob

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Answer
What PC?
Sep 21, 2014 11:59AM PDT

If this is an OEM based PC, like HP or Gateway, etc., then they will have replacement recovery discs for some small cost. If you had already generated a "recovery/restore" discs, then use those. I get the idea you have no recovery discs. Then what I stated here should work, if you had them. As for product key, if required it *may* work but typical OEM discs may not require its use as being OEM it self-checks the status and readily installs.

You can install a 7200RPM HD in the laptop but typical was 5400RPM for a reson, they were more stable for laptop use. SSD will work too if you can afford it and you want as big as one you can get, because if you have a lone HD currently and no access for a 2nd HD, then again something in the 128gb or 200gb, etc., is going to work, Understand the costs gives you the idea what you can afford with SSD. SSD, also come in various types and reflect also in costs, the better ones are certainly, costly. FYI- I just install a 500gb Seagate at cost of $60 at Best Buy, other sources hover at $5-10 difference range, excluding any s/h.

tada -----Willy Happy

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Answer
There are youtube videos
Sep 29, 2014 4:48AM PDT

all over the internet that explain the process of doing a clean install on a new drive. It doesn't really matter if it's a SSD or HD. I've seen them that explain how you go into the disk manager to assign the new drive boot partitian. You shouldn't have any trouble finding one. Just google your title your original post.