Configuring new hard drive

[jlcamero]

So my first hard drive cash recently and I have found a new one I want to replace it with but I wanted to ask after physically putting it inside the computer how do have the computer recognize it? do I need a copy of the OS software to install on the computer or something?

[Xuvial]

Did you lose your OS drive or a separate data drive? By the sounds of it you lost the OS drive, in which case you'll need to format it first using a bootable windows image.

Something along the lines of:
> Turn of PC
> Connect HDD to mobo
> Boot PC
> Insert bootable windows cd/usb/whatever - if this doesn't work reboot into motherboard BIOS and make sure the boot order includes whatever device you have your OS on (cd/usb/whatever).
> It should recognize your new unformatted and unpartioned drive.
> Format the drive using NTFS (quick-format if you have the option)
> Set partitions for C: (OS + Programs) and Data
> Install OS