Switching HDD on laptop (please help)

[Gizmo j]

I plan on buying a vostro v13 that does not have a HDD.

I want to switch my current laptops HDD (from a inspiron 1545) into the vostro v13.

They are both build for 2.5 sata and both laptops are dell.

I heard that I will need to reformat the HDD and have a new operating system disk, is that true?

And would I need a brand new operating system pack or would I just need the re-installation disk?

[Allan]

You will need to install the OS from scratch on the new laptop.

[patio]

He can image the existing hDD just in case...
Then he can install the existing HDD and run a Repair Install...depending on the OS it should work out fine...

More details.
Also if the above fails he can do a Factory restore from the hidden partition...

Those are the options i see available...

[Allan]

patio - the repair install would work only with XP to the best of my knowledge - and he'd still need an XP CD. As for a factory reinstall, the new laptop doesn't have an hd so I'm not sure what a restore from the hd of the old system to the new one would accomplish - it's two different systems. Unless I'm missing something???

[patio]

I've done the Repair install all the way up to Win7...
Does it work everytime ? ?...No.
As to the factory restore he is looking to re-use the old HDD...not a new one...so that would work as well.
Until we get more info as to what he wants i was just suggesting options to make an old HDD work in a newer - HDD laptop...that's all.