Upgrade Asus notebook HDD to SSD

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boland

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#147184 11-Jun-2014 20:13

I have a Asus X550C laptop with a 500GB HDD. I've copied all recovery files to a USB drive, installed the SSD and thought I could install Windows now from the recovery drive.
However, this doesn't seem to work like this. E.g. reset your PC gives the error "Unable to reset your PC, A required drive partition is missing". The BIOS recofgnizes the SSD.
I don't have the Windows 8 DVD's, they were not delivered with my laptop.

I've read a lot of articles and I don't know what to do now. I don't want to clone the drive, I want to do a fresh install. Cloning won't even be possible, I don't have a SATA to USB cable yet (ordered though, is underway).
How can I install a fresh copy of Windows? One solution would be to download http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/upgrade-product-key-only but I don't have the product key... And retrieving that might not work either.
I am really surprised it is that hard. Hope anyone can point me in the right direction!

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#1063618 11-Jun-2014 20:14

If you have a genuine key, Find an ISO somewhere and install it from a USB stick.
Also you cant use a recovery CD to install a fresh windows copy.

boland

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#1063620 11-Jun-2014 20:17

I don't have the Windows 8 key. It's not printed somewhere on the laptop. And, I've read that retrieving it from Windows itself by some software is still not the actual key stored in your BIOS, resulting in problems when installing Windows?

wongtop

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#1063621 11-Jun-2014 20:20

Can you put your old drive back in, boot up from that and then create some recovery media (not just copy the recovery files)? You should then be able to put the SSD in and do a fresh install using your recovery media.

boland

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#1063623 11-Jun-2014 20:22

wongtop: Can you put your old drive back in, boot up from that and then create some recovery media (not just copy the recovery files)? You should then be able to put the SSD in and do a fresh install using your recovery media.

Yes, just have put the old HDD in. But how do I create recovery media? I can create a recovery disc (what I've done, but that's not enough). I can create a system recovery image, but that includes all of my files I guess. I really don't know how to create recovery media from an existing Win8 installation :|

boland

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#1063629 11-Jun-2014 20:31

What about creating System Image, restoring that system image and then run the recovery again and refresh Windows?
There must be an easier way, right :|

blakamin

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#1063642 11-Jun-2014 21:22

As your recovery is a hidden partition on your original drive, I'd clone the whole thing, and then do a complete reinstall from the recovery. Then you'll always have the recovery as a hidden partition on your SSD too. A complete PITA, but that's what I'll be doing with mine when I get around to it.

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boland

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#1063688 11-Jun-2014 22:06

blakamin: As your recovery is a hidden partition on your original drive, I'd clone the whole thing, and then do a complete reinstall from the recovery. Then you'll always have the recovery as a hidden partition on your SSD too. A complete PITA, but that's what I'll be doing with mine when I get around to it.

I don't have the SATA to USB cable yet (ordered on DX.COM, is underway), so that's not an option yet. And I've read a lot of problems with that approach as well...

Right now I am doing it by creating a system image, will reboot from recovery image, install system image on SSD and then click reinstall Windows.
Also I'm downloading a bunch of ISO's, to perform a clean install from a retail Windows 8 ISO and then change the product key afterwards to the OEM one.

Oh, I e-mailed ASUS as well.

Indeed, what a PITA.

Dynamic

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#1063721 11-Jun-2014 22:39

boland:
blakamin: As your recovery is a hidden partition on your original drive, I'd clone the whole thing, and then do a complete reinstall from the recovery. Then you'll always have the recovery as a hidden partition on your SSD too. A complete PITA, but that's what I'll be doing with mine when I get around to it.

I don't have the SATA to USB cable yet (ordered on DX.COM, is underway), so that's not an option yet. And I've read a lot of problems with that approach as well...

We clone HDD's regularly using Acronis products. Can occasionally be fiddly (especially if cloning to a smaller drive) but normally works very well.

You don't need the USB to SATA if you connect both drives into desktop PC. USB to SATA cables are available locally cheaply enough.

Normally if you are happy to start with a fresh install, creating Recovery DVDs using the manufacturers software tools is the easiest method. If you put the original drive into a 2.5" usb enclosure you can then just rag and drop the MyDocs etc back onto the SSD once Windows is installed.

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Stu

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#1063778 12-Jun-2014 01:10

If you bought the computer with Windows 8 installed, try having a look under the battery for the key sticker.

boland

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#1063788 12-Jun-2014 07:57

Dynamic:
boland:
blakamin: As your recovery is a hidden partition on your original drive, I'd clone the whole thing, and then do a complete reinstall from the recovery. Then you'll always have the recovery as a hidden partition on your SSD too. A complete PITA, but that's what I'll be doing with mine when I get around to it.

I don't have the SATA to USB cable yet (ordered on DX.COM, is underway), so that's not an option yet. And I've read a lot of problems with that approach as well...

We clone HDD's regularly using Acronis products. Can occasionally be fiddly (especially if cloning to a smaller drive) but normally works very well.

You don't need the USB to SATA if you connect both drives into desktop PC. USB to SATA cables are available locally cheaply enough.

Normally if you are happy to start with a fresh install, creating Recovery DVDs using the manufacturers software tools is the easiest method. If you put the original drive into a 2.5" usb enclosure you can then just rag and drop the MyDocs etc back onto the SSD once Windows is installed.

I don't have a desktop, only 2 laptops. I ordered a 2.5 USB enclosure for a couple of dollars on dx.com.

How to create Recovery DVD's using the manufacturers tools? Only thing I can find on ASUS site is to order the DVD's online....

boland

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#1063789 12-Jun-2014 07:59

BigHammer: If you bought the computer with Windows 8 installed, try having a look under the battery for the key sticker.

Key stickers aren't supplied anymore since Windows 8. But that's not the problem. I can retrieve that key using tools online, which extract them from the BIOS. It's useless at the moment, because I cannot download the Windows 8 ISO with that OEM key. It must be a retail key.
My wife has retail Windows 8 Pro, but I have Windows 8

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#1063792 12-Jun-2014 08:09

Of course, the product key in the BIOS thing. How could I forget. PITA.

TwoSeven

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#1063801 12-Jun-2014 08:40

To create what is called "installation media" you will need a retail key for Windows 8. Once this is obtained, one can go to the Microsoft site and download an ISO for installation.

Since you have a laptop from a named supplier, it is likely that you have an OEM key. This is embedded in the UFI bios and cannot be used to download the above ISO. However, it is my understanding that if you do have some installation media, then it will automatically detect the OEM key and install the appropriate version.

As pointed out, the recovery partition is on your HDD, and while you may be able to create recovery media, I do not think it supports doing a fresh install. I have often wondered what Microsoft expect users to do in the case of a hard drive failure on an OEM laptop.

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Stu

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#1063802 12-Jun-2014 08:43

That's more the fault of the OEM, not Microsoft. If the OEM supplied the installation media (as most do for business machines), it wouldn't be an issue.

ripdog

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#1063849 12-Jun-2014 10:13

Ah, the joys of being a legitimate customer trying to operate within the bounds of the license agreement. Having fun?

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