Hacking A few questions on installing a new HDD on CFW console

[DeaD_M4N]

I have a friend with a FAT PS3 (CECHL04) with a dead HDD. The problem is, he doesn't remember which version of CFW he was running and what version the OFW was there before the console was hacked (mostly because he bought it offhand and didn't care about specifics).

So could anyone give specific steps on installing a fresh formatted or unformatted HDD, so that CFW can be reinstalled? (No backups needed a fresh system with CFW is totally okay).
Google gave me conflicting info, that OFW should be installed first and then updated to CFW, other links said that it's okay to install CFW directly. And none did say about the versions I should use.

Thanks.

 

[DinohScene]

If it had custom firmware prior to the HDD dying then you can just bang in a new HDD and install the latest Rebug on it.

 

[DeaD_M4N]

So it doesn't matter if the previous CFW was 3.55 or 4.81, or anything in between?