Windows 7: Hard drive crashed and lost windows 7

Hello,

I have a Sony Vaio laptop (vpcyb15ag).. My hard drive crashed and all the data and the back up and my system recovery is lost..I had to replace the hard drive but the problem now is that it says "No operating system".. My computer is just 14 months old and just done with the warranty .. Since my laptop is a notebook it never came with the windows 7 basic starter cd and now im stuck.. I have a key for the windows but have no idea were to find a windows 7 starter cd or download so that i can activate it through my key .. i tried contacting a computer tech and he coated me 200$ just for the Windows7.. Please help me out ...

Welcome to the Seven Forums

This tutorial should help you out Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 When you get to the official download page just below the home premium download there is some information on how to make a all in one DVD which will include the basic or starter edition you are talking about.

Jerry

Jerry, thanks. I followed the clean install instructions diligently, and downloaded Windows 7 Home premium ( please note that my previous OS was Win 7 Starter before my HDD crashed ). I cleaned up the ISO file to make it "universal". I went through the boot process, and typed in my product key from the back of my computer, it just refuses to accept the key. I dont understand this unless it is a key for Windows 7 and i'm trying to activate Windows 7 Home, but the cleanup is supposed to make this "universal".

I just moved on without putting the product key and it completed the installation. I see that i now have Windows Home premium, so i'm not really sure what happens next. Your help would be much appreciated ! Thanks.

Hi neesha2,

Obviously you could have missed on something.

This should perhaps help you to install the correct Windows 7 Starter edition.

Did you download the 32-bit version? That would be the only version that would have Starter.
To use the eicfg_remover.exe Double click the eicfg_remover.exe to launch it. Browse to where the Windows 7 Image (the .ISO file) is stored, select it and click Open. It's done.



Jerry

hey hi .. Thank you so very much for your hep .. My computer seems to be back on track ... i would have been able to do it without your help ..
Thank you once again...

you just save 200$.. congrats neesha2!

You're welcome