Installing by Recovery Disks After Writing Zeros to the Complete HDD.


  1. Posts : 17
    Windows 7 Home Basic 64bit
       #1

    Installing by Recovery Disks After Writing Zeros to the Complete HDD.


    Good people ,
    I was wondering If , after i wrote Zeros , to the complete Hard Disk Drive , [i have only one internal Hdd] , Via The Hard drive's Utility Disk , In order to get rid of all Acer factory bloatware , or to simply make a clean re install of windows 7 home basic , and /or maybe solve some of the problems i am having with bad sectors etc [whether it solves that problem or not ] , [my question is - WILL I be able to generally insert my Factory Recovery Disks [Perfectly working and well tested set of 3 DVD-R's with a separate DVD-R for all the drivers and applications is with me] to Install my operating system back to factory DEFAULTS After the said procedure of Zeroing out the whole drive is complete? Could i face a problem [logically] getting back to the condition i am in now , as that would be the first thing i would want to check and do as soon as the zeroing process is over [if at all i do go through with it].
    I would appreciate any help /suggestions /light on this matter . And i thank you very kindly [in advance] also . Axe.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 11,408
    ME/XP/Vista/Win7
       #2

    I would Check the hard drive first with the manufacturer's diagnostic tools.
    Hard Drive Diagnostics Tools and Utilities (Storage) - TACKtech Corp.
    Hard Drive Diagnostic Procedure
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 17
    Windows 7 Home Basic 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Thank You Theog.


    Thanks a lot for the thoughtful reply Theog.
    I actually have ran the diagnostics of this western digital make ,the software that they had to support my exact model number is only available in a download that can be only run within windows [no .iso yet for that]. And the results / diagnosis repeatedly comes as "Too Many Bad Sectors Found". This happens about after 10% of the scan is up[in extended test] , the short test never passes and states a Read Error. All chkdsk command prompts get stuck somewhere in the middle and , it corrects it sometimes and sometimes just gets stuck for hours. Until i re install with the factory recovery disks again. I was mainly curious as to , what happens in a case of a otherwise Healthy Disk Drive ? [which mine may well not be anymore - not sure] . But lets say it was a healthy disk , would i have been able to come back to my factory default status [by using my recovery disks and application disk?] had i written all zeros to the drive[assuming it was a brand new hard drive - fresh from the store]. And also would i be able to use the .iso copy from digital river , to re install if i had a new hard drive with me or bought one?
    Also , i can never get the .iso windows 7 copy to download fully [in one go] [for some reason] to my computer from the above mentioned site. but with the help of a download manager it has been copied on a DVD now , and i want to test it at some point to see if it works , as it always gets downloaded with one break in the middle [always - for some strange reason] After the download manager compiles it in the end it has copied it , but i don't know if it is clean or not till i actually use it. I wonder if that is normal or ok while making a .iso burn.
    Thank you again for your reply , it is much appreciated. Axe.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 11,408
    ME/XP/Vista/Win7
       #4

    You download the CD- ISO from here:
    WD Support / Downloads / Legacy Internal / WD Raptor
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 17
    Windows 7 Home Basic 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Thanks again Theog.


    Thanks for the link , the results are still coming to the same - TOO MANY BAD SECTORS FOUND. - And then the count of the bad sectors went to zero on latest disk check after the OS could not detect the disk in BIOS and then did after a few reboots and another chkdsk /r resulted in only 16 kb in bad sectors as opposed to the previous 200 kbs .
    Anyways , is it normal for the iso for windows 7 to download in two phases? and then i compile it with a download manager and burn it to disk to use? as the full copy just never downloads fully .. it cuts my internet connection [every time i try] in the 60 percent area? Does anyone get that problem?
    I have made another partition on my disk and want to use it on that to see if it works? am i going about this thing the right way?
    Many regards , and thanks for every thing in advance.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 24,479
    Windows 7 Ultimate X64 SP1
       #6

    Hello, I suspect you better buy a new hard drive since two applications say there are bad sectors.
    No it's not normal for the iso to come in two parts. I'd try it again until it will download at one time otherwise it could be corrupted.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 17
    Windows 7 Home Basic 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Much Obliged Britton30


    Thank you for your Reply and help , I have been suspecting this Drive is not exactly in good condition for a while now , Just was puzzled about the kind of damage it had gone through , physical or logical etc.
    Guess i will just ride this drive to its death then or try some experiments like writing zeros and installing of .iso image etc.
    Lastly , upon buying a new hard disk drive , will my original Acer Recovery Disks [factory default] , work on the new disk to get me back to where i am now? that is the way this machine was purchased? Will i simply need to insert the factory recovery disks and /or the .iso image of windows 7 [with my coa sticker (product key)] into the Dvd player to install windows 7 again? or is there some sort of special procedure to go through in order to re-install windows 7 on a brand new hard disk drive?
    I really appreciate your suggestion and input very much.
    Thanks so much.
    Axe.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 24,479
    Windows 7 Ultimate X64 SP1
       #8

    You're welcome. The recovery disks should reinstall the system as it was out of the box. It will again have all factory bloatware too. You can try this method of a new install. Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7
    Hopefully you have your data backed up and saved any keys for software.
    Thanks for the rep as well.:)
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 17
    Windows 7 Home Basic 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Sincere Thanks Britton 30 .


    My apologies for the late reply , got caught up with work. Can't thank you enough for the final answer and all the help , Am glad that my recovery disks and/or an iso image of windows will bring me back to where i want to be [when applied of course]. This is a brilliant Operating system and i must say that this forum is truly awesome [and much needed]. Everyone is so helpful too. You were wonderful. I wish you a pleasant day and weekend to follow. :)
    Axe.
      My Computer


 

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