Installing a new hard drive for a laptop?

Question

I am replacing a crashed hard drive in my lap top...Acer 3680...my old hard drive is beyond repair...and has been made worse by friends...i have the windows vista CD that came with it...but that's it...no drivers or anything.  My question is if i install the new hard drive in my comp...what do i need to do to make it work right? P.S. I have no backups or anything like that.

Max M · Accepted Answer

First install the OS on your hard drive once it's been installed.  Then go to the Acer website and download the drivers for the computer.

josephz2va · Answer

After you have added the hardware and Vista OS, Acer may have used hardware that Vista will automatically activate to ensure running the pc okay. In most cases, you need to add drivers to say the Ethernet or dialup modem to make the Internet work again.

Find out what the device name is and visit the maker website to download the drivers and firmware to fix the Ethernet or modem connection from a remote computer. Then you can use a high capacity flash drive to transfer the files to the laptop to install the Internet connection and download the rest from the other maker sites.

Ted H · Answer

All you need is the new hard drive and that disk. Once you switch out the hard drives. Pop in the disk into the computer, restart the system when the disk is in. After you restart, watch for it to say "Press any key to boot from CD" hit space bar or whatever, then next next next through the installation. After you OS is installed, go to the acer website, they will have a feature on their driver page that will automatically detect what system you have, and reccomend all of the needed drivers for your system. Any other questions, just ask

Bassman1 · Answer

The Windows Vista Cd set will have all drivers as well as the operating system on them. Replace the hard drive, insert disc one and follow the installation and set up directions.

Uncle BobSquatch · Answer

Hi There,
              I saw your yahoo Question about installing a new HDD in your Acer Laptop.  

Is it one of the cool Small screen ones?  Regardless, if you have only the Vista Disc we can still get you back running.

I would really need more info to do this with you.

please contact me through this link if you'd like my help getting you through this tough situation.

http://www.crossloop.com/UncleBobSquatch 

- Your Uncle BobSquatch (Bob Ruby II)

Deadly Tiger · Answer

Well you need to perform windows installation.

Please after repair install the whole OS again. I can give you few sites where step by step info is given.

Anonymous · Answer

Nothing after it has been formatted and partitioned, but the Vista disk should do that for you

Installing a new hard drive for a laptop?

7 Answers