spacealf
Unless you want to buy Windows over and re-install the new registered Windows complete copy, and not an ungrade to Windows 8 whatever on a drive that can not be read after the harddisk logical partition C:\ drive (Primary Partition which holds the OS system) fails and can not be used anymore.

Huh?  I've installed from same Windows disk on 6 different computers about a dozen times.  Yes it is a PIA to re-register with Microsoft, but it is doable.  And before I get flamed, the installs were fresh and once the data was copied over to the new computer, Windows was removed from the replaced computer. :)
 
-JJ
 
 

If you have a dedicated DAW it's entirely kosher to disable the System Restore feature entirely. You can always re-enable it prior to any major software installs.

I

bitflipperIf you have a dedicated DAW it's entirely kosher to disable the System Restore feature entirely.

I would add, turn off all the networking.
 
-JJ