Cloning Vista Drive Help?

Wasn't sure if this went in this or the hardware forum but here goes.

I suddenly started getting a warning in windows saying my hard drive is going bad and to avoid using the computer until all data was backed up. I ordered a new hard drive and am planning to clone the old one onto the new one with the Acronis trial (From what I've found this is the best choice).

Now the tricky part is that I have read reports of windows needing to be repaired on the new drive when you clone a vista drive, I needed to know if this is a guarantee or just something that has happened to some people. My computer is pre-built so it came with an image install disc which does not do repair. The company can't supply me with a disc that will repair and Microsoft won't supply one because it's an OEM license.

So the main questions would be:

1. Am I definitely going to need to repair windows once it's cloned?

2. Is there anywhere I can purchase a disk cheap (Since I don't need the license).

3. In order to repair will I need a Vista Home Premium 64bit disk to do that or can I get away with a 32bit or even Basic/Ultimate disk?

OS: Windows Vista Home Premium 64

If any other information is needed just let me know. Slight side question, the Western Digital diagnostic software won't even let me test the drive as something is below the minimum Threshold to run the test. I can boot into windows (*edit* after getting sent to bios because the S.M.A.R.T. stops me, then I just exit bios without saving and it boots up.) and everything seemed fine other than the warning, Is there much chance it will survive the cloning process?

Sorry for the long post but thanks for any help, suggestions, or comments anyone can provide.

-Archi

 

Well I downloaded a Vista SP1 Repair CD from this site:

http://www.vistaheads.com/forums/wi...a-repair-cd-without-windows-install-disc.html

I'm hoping thats going to work if I need it. Does anyone know if it will still work even though mine is vista 64 bit and completely up to date as of a week or two ago?

 

Alrighty, everything went very smooth. Arconis rocks. In fact I did not have to repair at all.

Everything seems in good working order, now just wiping the old drive (Arconis again, nifty) so I can send it in for replacement.

Not sure how to mark this thread as un-needed or solved.