Windows 8 Install.

[souxie]

Good Morning,
I have just installed a new Hard Drive on my Sony Vaio and have just tried to install Windows 8 to no avail, Am I doing something wrong?
I am not very "techy" minded and the only reason I managed to change the Hard Drive was it is a "slide out and slide in replacement2 (very simple).
Be very grateful for any assistance.

[Old_Geezer]

It sounds like you are doing something wrong.

No info on what actions you are taking and what the unexpected result was to allow any investigation.

Are there not websites on the Net that show you how to install ? Try a websearch. YouTube probably has videos of the procedure.

[souxie]

Hi,
What I am doing is putting the Windows disc into player/reader and all I am getting on the black screen is "Operating System not Found", I have looked on YouTube and all the screens they show have "graphics" where mine is just a blank screen.
I have put the old Hard Drive back in and it works OK so any ideas where I am going wrong?

[ivor4781]

how are you installing win 8? on disc ?

[ivor4781]

with your old disc installed go into the bios and set the start up options to boot from your dvd /cd first or follow this link
http://lifehacker.com/5991848/how-to-boot-from-a-cd-or-usb-drive-on-any-pc

[CrapAtCryptics]

You need to direct the bios to wherever you are installing from ie DVD or USB and it may be best to select the format the disk option first.

[ivor4781]

of course when you have set it to boot from dvd/cd take the old hard drive out and stick the new one in first

[CrapAtCryptics]

As its a laptop you`ll only have space for 1 hard disk

[souxie]

Many thanks for all the advice, Where would I find bios? (told you I was a computer dimmer!!)

[Old_Geezer]

When you boot up the screen should tell you to hold a particular key down to access the bios/cmos, with any luck. Bunch of menus with settings you can change, including where it looks for boot information and in what priority.

[galeck1947]

Did you initialize your hard drive before you installed it ? If you didn't do this then the MBR is missing and you need this to enable your disc to load to install your Windows 8 . To do this you need to connect your new drive to another computer and start it going then go to my computer and then computer management . Open up it and then you should a drive with no name on it right click on it and then initialize .It should ask you to format it Use the quick format and then it should be ready to use .

[CrapAtCryptics]

Restart and keep tapping F2 till it goes into the BIOS - move along to the boot menu and move the drive where your cd is to the top of the list - then f10 to save and exit. I suggest if you get the option that you format your old hard disk for a clean start - please be sure you have backed up EVERYTHING you want because a format will wipe the disk completely clean

[CrapAtCryptics]

When you do finish the install expect to have to spend ages downloading all the updates and it will probably start pestering you to go to Win 10

[bhg481]

Crapat Cryptics - his old disc is still working; it sounds like he's trying to replace it with a larger one. If he re-formats the old one he's lost his only good disc.

[CrapAtCryptics]

Even a new drive needs formatting

[bhg481]

Yes it does, but you said "if you get the option, that you format your old hard disk". That would destroy its contents and his ability to use it if he can't get his new one working. Fine to reformat once he's got his new system working.