Win7 backup -->restore to new hard drive??

c-note

hey guys

BACKGROUND:

built a computer in november
and "skimped" on the os hard drive (320gb wd caviar blue)

i've just ordered a 500gb caviar black because my parents need
a second hard drive in their computer for backup.

so i plan to offload the 320gb to my parents computer and use
the 500gb for my own system drive.

i have the system backuped up using the windows 7 backup utility, to a raid 1 array.
i've a system image created of drive (c:/) as well as file backups of my docs and other files.

currently the 320gb is partitioned in two (win7: (c:/) and xp: (x:/))

MY QUESTION:
when i install the new 500gb hard drive,
can i simply partition it and install windows 7 on one partition and then use the resotre utiltiy to restore my computer to exactly as it was under the 320gb drive. (programs/registry/files etc etc)?

(there is no system image of drive (x:/), the xp partition, but i'm not concerned with restoring this to its current state)

if anyone has done this please let me know, if nobody knows i'll experiment myself and post back next week

Gadgetman496

I have no idea when it comes to restoring using a windows 7 backup utility image.

I use Acronis True Image & have never had any issues with it (used it for Win7 too).

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c-note

i wont be using and 3rd party software,
i expect the new drive to arrive sometime tommorow, failing that it
should be here monday,
i'll post back with results