Member Avatar for rayntech

OK, so here's a simple question (haha famous last words!):;)

When replacing a hard drive in a desktop, the original recovery disks should still work, right?

That's what I assumed anyway.

My plan was to replace the hard drive, load the OS w/the same factory discs it came with, and voila. I'm not posting any specs because 1 - this is a project, so there's no rush, and 2 - it's sooooo hot today I don't feel like it (the project computer is in an non-airconditioned zone - yikes! I do remember that's it's an Acer something - probably from Walmart, Best Buy, something like that. That really narrows it down, I know.

Your two cents would be great!

Rayna

  • 3 Contributors
  • 4 Replies
  • 208 Views
  • 2 Days Discussion Span
  • Latest Post Latest Post by khakilang

Dani AI

Generated

A few focused points worth adding to this thread (since reported a “Mismatch error” and both and have already touched on drive size and BIOS detection).

First, what to check before assuming media is bad: confirm the motherboard actually reports the new disk (model and capacity) in BIOS/UEFI, and verify the SATA controller mode (IDE/Legacy vs AHCI vs RAID). Recovery tools often expect the same controller mode the factory image was built for. Try a different SATA port/cable if the drive isn’t seen consistently. If the replacement is much larger than the original (or is a 4K-native drive), some older recovery utilities fail because they expect MBR/512-byte sectors or a specific disk layout.

Next, simple preparatory steps that frequently unblock OEM recovery discs: wipe any partitions so the drive is blank, initialize the disk the same way the system used originally (MBR for BIOS-based systems), then rerun the recovery. If the recovery media was actually a “restore” layer that expects a hidden recovery partition on the original disk, it may still refuse to proceed on a bare new disk — in that case the media is incomplete for a full OS install.

If the OEM media continues to fail, practical fallback options are: install from a generic retail/installation DVD for the same Windows version and use the product key on the machine’s COA sticker, or request replacement recovery media from the manufacturer. Keeping the old drive connected (or a full image backup) until the new drive is proven good prevents this situation in future.

If more detail is needed, post the exact “Mismatch error” text and the Acer model and the new drive’s model/capacity — that information makes it easier to identify whether this is a controller/partitioning issue, a media type mismatch, or an OEM recovery restriction.

Recommended Answers

All 4 Replies

Member Avatar for finito

Well, AFAIK it should work. Try to get the Hard Drive capacity the same as the original.

Good Luck.

Member Avatar for rayntech

Thx for the comment finito...

Unfortunately, the original disks are not working for the new HD, which is the only change I made to the PC. Although it reads the 1st OS disk, I'm then prompted to insert either OS disk 2 if there is one (there isn't) or the Recovery disk. After inserting, I get an error message I've never seen: "Mismatch error."

I'm surprised that there's any sort of issue as the HD is exactly the same in every way - just a different manufacturing country (according to the label).

Anyone else ever experience this?

Member Avatar for finito

Can you tell me the whole error?

Member Avatar for khakilang

I would check the system BIOS that the new HD was detected and recognize by the computer. The model, number of heads, cylinder and so forth. Than only you use the recovery CD. By right the recovery CD should work.

Be a part of the DaniWeb community

We're a friendly, industry-focused community of developers, IT pros, digital marketers, and technology enthusiasts meeting, networking, learning, and sharing knowledge.