How to install Win 7 onto a replacement hard drive without installation discs

[grayspecs]

Hello. I need to replace the recently deceased hard drive on my Toshiba laptop, and I am wondering how to install Windows 7 onto the new drive without installation discs. I have restore (?) discs that I created when I first got the laptop, and I have the Win 7 key. Will that work? I'm in new territory here, and am just an average DIY-er, but by no means a computer tech. Thank you.

 

[clutchc]

Exactly. That is why you were prompted to make the restore disks. So in case of having to re-install the operating system, you could. In fact, the restore disks may even have all the bloatware and ad-ware the PC came with originally... lucky you.