[Totalstranger]

I am wanting to replace the exsisting hard drive with a new one. I have a 2tb external hard drive that has the back up software on it. I want to back up the hard drive in the pc to the external hdd. And then take out the old hdd and install and format the new one and restore the OS and programs on the new one. Without loosing the recovery partition and the software that came on the PC out of the box.
Or could I use the HP recovery disks to install the original factory software and OS on the new hdd? I do not think recovery disks will work this way.

The new hdd is a WD Caviar Black 1 TB.

The computer is as follows:

Tech Support Guy System Info Utility version 1.0.0.2
OS Version: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium, Service Pack 1, 64 bit
Processor: AMD Phenom(tm) II X4 830 Processor, AMD64 Family 16 Model 4 Stepping 3
Processor Count: 4
RAM: 7927 Mb
Graphics Card: ATI Radeon HD 4200, 256 Mb
Hard Drives: C: Total - 941810 MB, Free - 884876 MB; D: Total - 11955 MB, Free - 1469 MB;
Motherboard: FOXCONN, 2A92
Antivirus: Norton Internet Security, Updated and Enabled

[TerryNet]

Or could I use the HP recovery disks to install the original factory software and OS on the new hdd?

Yes, that you can do. But I like your original idea better.

Use the cloning or imaging application of your choice and make sure you save and restore all the partitions on the hard drive. If you don't want to do that, at least capture the little "System" partition (because it contains the special master boot record that allows you to boot to the Recovery partition), the Recovery partition and the partition containing the Windows installation.

I'm guessing that the "back up software on it" is the tool you intend to use. It should include a way to create a bootable CD or DVD or USB flash drive, which you will need to do the restore to the new hard drive.

[Totalstranger]

Thank You very much for you reply. I got r done

[TerryNet]

You're welcome.

But you seem to be one person with two accounts, and that is against the forum rules. Please post here or PM an Administrator an explanation. If appropriate include which account name you prefer to keep. If you do not respond both accounts will be closed.

[Totalstranger]

I did not know 2 accounts was wrong. Please let me keep the Totalstranger. I do not know how to contact an administrator. Could you give me instuctions on how to contact an administator. Thank you. I do not know how to cancel the other account. Tulsan is the one I need canceled. I am sorry I broke the rule. I will read the rules more thoroughly soon. I do not see a place to mark solved in the usual place at the top of this thread.

[captainron276]

You would need to be signed into your other account: Tulsan in order to mark Solved

[TerryNet]

Thanks for the quick response and don't worry about your unintended transgression. I'll contact an Admin for you and will mark this Solved for you.

[Cookiegal]

I've merged the Tulsan account into the Totalstranger one which is now the only one that exists.

[Totalstranger]

Thank you all