Reformat gone bad - please help

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  1. Posts : 13,576
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #11

    arayfo1 said:
    carwiz said:
    The tutorials explain how to load Windows. Use the one that applies to your original version (Upgrade or original OEM installed OS) You do have to read them for this process to work.
    Yes, but I didn't see anything about downloading the OS on one pc and then attempting to install it on another.
    Gregs tutorial explains how to get the iso file and burn it to dvd. The 2nd tutorial shows you how to install windows on the pc. Ask any questions BEFORE you start. You need a pc connected to the net, a dvd burner, a blank dvd, and the burning software installed on the pc.

    Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

    Clean Install Windows 7
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  2. Posts : 276
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #12

    AddRAM said:
    Did you wipe the entire hard drive ?

    You should have only wiped your C partition.

    There is no reason to wipe a hard drive, you need only to format it.
    Yeah, sorry. I formatted the C drive.
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  3. Posts : 276
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #13

    I don't have a DVD so I used a thumb drive.
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  4. Posts : 13,576
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #14

    It`s very tricky with a thumb drive, the install process can keep starting over and over again, is that what`s happening. You would use the 1 time boot key ( F2 , Esc, Del ) etc. to choose the flash drive the 1st time and only the 1st time, then it should reboot on it`s own and finish the install.

    What do you mean no dvd ?

    No blank dvd`s or no dvd burner ?

    Or both ?
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  5. Posts : 24,479
    Windows 7 Ultimate X64 SP1
       #15

    You need to leave the USB device in the PC too. If asked to press a key to boot to something, DON'T do that.
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  6. Posts : 13,576
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #16

    It doesn`t give you "Press any key to boot from dvd" with a flash drive, Gary :)

    If the flash drive is in and booted, it goes straight to "windows is loading files"

    That`s why I say NOT to change the boot order in the bios when installing from a flash drive.


    Coming to you Live from Linux Mint 16
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  7. Posts : 276
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #17

    AddRAM said:
    It`s very tricky with a thumb drive, the install process can keep starting over and over again, is that what`s happening. You would use the 1 time boot key ( F2 , Esc, Del ) etc. to choose the flash drive the 1st time and only the 1st time, then it should reboot on it`s own and finish the install.

    What do you mean no dvd ?

    No blank dvd`s or no dvd burner ?

    Or both ?
    There is a disclaimer which says that your computer should restart itself several times during the installation process. My pc only restarted itself once and already an error occurred. It of course prompts you to restart using ctrl + alt + del but for whatever reason that doesn't work. Whenever I attempt to reboot the pc manually it goes right back to the disk read error message.

    I'm not sure I follow you. Are you saying there is a command I can use to install Windows without the need for restarting? If so, are you saying I have to press all three keys simultaneously, or. . ???

    I have a dvd burner. I would have to run out and buy a dvd. I have no experience with burning dvd's but I could run out and buy one if you think that would help me through this disk read error.

    By the way, the install process didn't start over I don't think. I did attempt to install a second time though.
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  8. Posts : 276
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #18

    Britton30 said:
    You need to leave the USB device in the PC too. If asked to press a key to boot to something, DON'T do that.
    Yes, of course I left the usb device in the pc.

    If asked to press a key to boot to something?
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  9. Posts : 276
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #19

    If you're saying I should go into BIOS to make my usb device my primary device then yes I did that.
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  10. Posts : 13,576
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #20

    Well then, it sounds like the usb was not set up correctly, is it going through the process of installing windows just like in the Tutorial ........ Clean Install Windows ?

    After it does all that, does it reboot and continue installing windows or does it reboot and start all over again, or have you not even got that far yet ?

    Be precise in your answer.

    You DO NOT have to go into the bios to change the boot order, you should be able to boot the usb flash drive by pushing the 1 time function key on the keyboard, It`s called the boot menu, when you 1st turn on the pc, watch the screen at the bottom and it should say

    Setup xxx key
    Boot Menu xxx key

    whatever key it says to get to the boot menu, push that key, then use the down arrow key to scroll down to hard drive, usb drive, then hit eneter and the install will start.

    You never press more then 1 key at a time. Of course unless you hit ctrl alt del to restart a computer, then yes you hit all 3 at the same time, but if you keep seeing that, then windows is not installing to the hard drive.

    You are telling the computer to boot from the flash drive. But only the 1st time. After that the pc reboots on it`s own and finishes the install.
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