Windows 7 Starter ISO?

55joe4 · 05 Mar 2011

I have an Asus EEEpc 1005-HAB. It came with Windows 7 Starter preinstalled. I completely formated the HDD and installed Ubuntu Netbook Remix 10.04 LTS. I want to reinstall Windows, but linux won't mount my shared DVD drive on my Windows 7 desktop. I still have my OEM disk and my product key, but I dont have an external DVD drive, or money to buy one.

I was wondering if there was a way for me to download an OEM ISO, or to get a disk image off my disk.

Also Im new to Seven Forums so I dont know if I posted this in the right place.

Bare Foot Kid · 05 Mar 2011

Hello 55joe4, welcome to Seven Forums!

You can use the information in this tutorial at the link below to put the Windows 7 installer on a USB stick to do the install from.

USB Windows 7 Installation Key Drive - Create

Though since you've had Linux on the PC it would be best to do a complete wipe of the Hard Disk Drive using the Windows installer first using the information below and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.

After you have copied out or made back-ups of the data you need to save to external media, use Step One of this tutorial at the link below to do a wipe (secure erase) to the entire Hard Disk Drive / Solid State Drive.

Then if you do not want to create the new Windows 7 "System Reserved" partition use the outline in Step Two #2 to create, format and mark Active a single 100GB partition to do the installation to.
If you do want to create the "System Reserved" partition use the outline in Step Two #3 to create, format and mark Active the System Reserved partition and then create and format the 100GB partition to do the installation to.

Either way, running the "clean all" then creating and formatting the partition(s) using diskpart will get you the best possible space to do a clean install of Windows 7 to; you can always extend the Windows partition to include the remaining unallocated space on the HDD / SSD or create additional partitions after the installation completes if you choose.

SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

55joe4 · 05 Mar 2011

I wasn't able to get ISODisk to make an ISO of my recovery disk, but Img Burn was able to. I tried using the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool, but it said that my ISO was invalid. I have tried other programs that claim to make a bootable Windows drive, but I can't get any to work.

At least I have a Windows 7 Starter ISO now.

gregrocker · 06 Mar 2011

The MS Download tool is finicky unless you download from MS.

Try the method which always works for me: Install UltraISO trial version, on File tab Open ISO, on Bootable tab Write Disk Image, format stick, Write Image.

Boot under USB or HD's on one-time Boot Menu.

Wipe your HD of all code or GRUB will corrupt Win7 boot: re-install windows 7

theog · 06 Mar 2011

You can Order Asus recovery disks from here:
ASUS eStore
At the search box, type in RECOVERY

55joe4 · 06 Mar 2011

Thanks gregrocker. The only problem I'm still having is that for some reason when I go to choose which drive to write to, it only gives me the option of G. My flash drive is set as my L drive and EASEUS Partion Master won't let me change the drive letter to G.

I'm sure I'll figure it out though.

EDIT: I figured it out, I just had to run UltraISO as an administrator.

DocBrown · 06 Mar 2011

Is your USB Flash drive 4gb or larger ?

Bare Foot Kid · 06 Mar 2011

Don't forget to wipe the HDD first.