Hard Drive Replacement - Copy Of Windows

[walter]

I've been tasked with replacing the HDD on my nieces laptop. Its been a few years since I've done this and have a couple of issues. I need a copy of windows 10 and an activator. Also this is the first time I've done this on a device with no dvd drive so I'll have to install via USB. The site I used to use for this stuff has shut down so any help form you guys would be greatly appreciated.

[The Noof]

You can download a copy of 10 pro right from Microsofts' website.Activators are readily available on Ebay for a nominal fee.

[Terryl]

It's not that easy, you will also need all the mother board and hardware drivers for that laptop.

You would have to create an ISO usb drive with the W10 operating system on it.

See this info..
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4028192/windows-create-an-iso-file-for-windows-10

Whats wrong with the hard drive in the laptop?? And can it be easily accessed?? Some laptops you need to really tear into them to get to the hard drive..(like an HP)

[walter]

Thank you guys...looks a bit easier than I thought. That tool from Microsoft that creates the USB seems to make things easier i think.
I'll visit the Dell website afterwards and update the generic drivers to the correct ones.

[Terryl]

OK...But what is wrong with the hard drive??????

[auggie]

If you can access the current HDD on the Laptop I would back it up (image, Clone etc.) with one of the free HDD programs
like Easeus or macrium etc. that way you can restore, transfer,everything to the new HDD.

Also have a look here: hxxps://www.easeus.com/pc-transfer-software/

And here: hxxps://ppc.laplink.com/specialpages/can-branded-pcmover/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=ppc

[haha11]

Get the ISO directly from Microsoft. Create a bootable USB using the media creation tool you downloaded. Enable USB boot from BIOS if its not already. Boot from USB and install Windows 10. Once installed, go through the set up (you don't have to add Microsoft account). Just don't connect to a WiFi until you fully get in. Once you connect to a WiFi, it will automatically install most drivers. Launch settings and do all available updates. There will be some drivers get installed through Windows updates. After this, go to Device Manager and see if any drivers missing. If yes, go to Dell site and manually download/install. Likely, it won't come to that since windows does a pretty good job installing drivers automatically on Dell computers.

Not sure what's wrong with the hdd, but while you are at it, i suggest to get a SSD drive. They are fairly cheap now a days and performance will be 10x faster.

[walter]

Thanks a lot guys...that was one of the easiest HDD replacements and OS loads I've ever done. Everything just worked...smooth.

[The Noof]

Get the ISO directly from Microsoft. Create a bootable USB using the media creation tool you downloaded. Enable USB boot from BIOS if its not already. Boot from USB and install Windows 10. Once installed, go through the set up (you don't have to add Microsoft account). Just don't connect to a WiFi until you fully get in. Once you connect to a WiFi, it will automatically install most drivers. Launch settings and do all available updates. There will be some drivers get installed through Windows updates. After this, go to Device Manager and see if any drivers missing. If yes, go to Dell site and manually download/install. Likely, it won't come to that since windows does a pretty good job installing drivers automatically on Dell computers.

Not sure what's wrong with the hdd, but while you are at it, i suggest to get a SSD drive. They are fairly cheap now a days and performance will be 10x faster.

It wil NOT be 10 times faster if his bios doesn't support SATA III & AHCI.It will be marginally quicker though.
To the O.P.:Glad you got it going.Sometimes help advice at this site makes it sound more complicated than it really is.lol

[Gates07]

IF you are just reloading the H /D to clean it up, then do a disk defrag, you may see that under C: is another directory, it was partitioned and the operating system and all the drivers are there, the trick is to find it . look in "all programs" and that name and run it it will reformat and give a clean system, might find it under "accessories" i do not have it on this computer so i can not give you exact information on finding it. i do have and acer lap top that i have done that to a couple of times