Fresh install problems

chives84 · 27 Jun 2011

After my dual-boot fiasco earlier, I finally copied all my data from my windows partition somewhere else, and formatted the partition clean to NTFS. I had a copy of XP lying around, so I tossed that on there, but it isn't able to load the 7 drivers.

Now, I'm attempting a fresh 7 Home Premium (what came on it) install, but, when it asks me where I want to install, it doesn't recognize my hard drive. However, it can browse my hard drive to look for the drivers. Quite frustrating. Is this "fix"able?

theog · 27 Jun 2011

Do you make the HP Recovery Disks?

gregrocker · 27 Jun 2011

Formatting cleans nothing. You need to wipe your HD: SSD - HDD Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

If this fails, reset the CMOS: Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIOS

While in BIOS setup, set SATA controller to AHCI.

If this fails, test the HD with maker's diag/repair extended CD scan: Hard Drive Diagnostics Tools and Utilities
HD Diagnostic

Tips for getting a perfect reinstall of factory OEM: Reinstalling Windows 7

theog · 27 Jun 2011

All Linux code must be deleted using the CLEAN ALL command.As you have had linux on the HD you need do a Clean all & full format.
This will also delete the HP Recovery Partition.

Try a full clean & full format in command prompt.
Type in command line
DISKPART
LIST DISK
SELECT DISK # (win HD)
CLEAN ALL
CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY
SELECT PARTITION 1
ACTIVE
FORMAT fs=NTFS
ASSIGN
EXIT
EXIT

SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

Than reinstall use the HP Recovery Disks.
Do you make the disks?

chives84 · 27 Jun 2011

No, I did not make the recovery disks; I am avoiding wiping the hard drive. I have no option in the BIOS about SATA, much less AHCI. Familiar with AHCI though, had to hunt down the driver to install XP. (isn't recognized in 7 setup). The hard drive is in perfect health, unless there is another purpose for the test.

edit: to above: is it possible to put the linux back on after installing 7? funny thing is, i already deleted the recovery partition, and no, i did not make the discs. i got the laptop for when i had to go to a funeral, had a lot of homework to do, and my other one had just died. didn't have the time, and the guy said i couldn't do it when i got back a week later.

theog · 27 Jun 2011

You need a Windows 7 DVD of some type.

chives84 · 27 Jun 2011

sigh. obviously i have one, as I got far enough into the install to figure out it doesn't work.

theog · 27 Jun 2011

theog said:

All Linux code must be deleted using the CLEAN ALL command.As you have had linux on the HD you need do a Clean all & full format.
This will also delete the HP Recovery Partition.

Try a full clean & full format in command prompt.
Type in command line
DISKPART
LIST DISK
SELECT DISK # (win HD)
CLEAN ALL
CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY
SELECT PARTITION 1
ACTIVE
FORMAT fs=NTFS
ASSIGN
EXIT
EXIT

SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

Than reinstall use the HP Recovery Disks.
Do you make the disks?

Do the above with DVD you have.

gregrocker · 27 Jun 2011

You can access DVD Command Line to Clean your HD by pressing Shift + F10 at first screen, then use the Commands Ray posted above. This should allow install to proceed after closing Command Box.

You can also use free Partition Wizard bootable CD to Wipe the CD with one set of zeroes.

If this isn't enough, follow the steps I gave in my last post.

Bare Foot Kid · 28 Jun 2011

Hello mate.

Here's a lot of useful info, they are telling you to wipe the HDD and start over from scratch, listen to them and it'll all sort out!

It would be best to do a complete wipe of the Hard Disk Drive / Solid State Drive and then start the installation process again, have a look at Step One of the Optimize tutorial below; after you have copied out or made back-ups of the data you need to save to external media, then boot the Windows 7 installation media to do the wipe secure erase to the HDD / SSD and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.

Whether you use diskpart to run either the clean all command to completely wipe a HDD / SSD or just the clean command to remove the format configuration data and don't use diskpart to create at least a single partition to do the installation to, letting the Windows installer do the format, the new Windows 7 System Reserved partition will be automatically issued, if you want to make your own decision whether this partition is added, study these two (2) options below.

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 Primary partitions or an Extended partition after the installation completes if you choose.

SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

DISKPART : At PC Startup

Do a Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

If you don't want to wipe the entire HDD, you can do a partition-specific wipe of the Windows partition using the Partition Wizard Bootable Disk (PWBD) have a look at Option Three in the tutorial at this link below.

Partition Wizard : Use the Bootable CD