Trying to reinstall - but unsure of this step

So I'm looking to reinstall Windows 7 64 on my Gateway computer. I go into the advanced recovery options and tell it to reinstall to original factory. Everything is going well and the computer restarts to begin the process ... I choose my keyboard type at the prompt ... but then, I get this message in a dialogue box:

"please complete operating system setup process before doing system recovery".

I have no idea what that means or what it is asking me to do. I've googled everywhere and can't find any info on it.

Can anyone help? Thx in advance if you can ...

Hello lyphe, welcome to Seven Forums!


Is this how you are trying to do the factory restore?

If you have a windows 7 DVD install fresh copy. Restoring will always give u some damn issue or the other. Make a 20/40GB partition as C and install 7 in it.

Here's some other useful information.


After you have copied out or made back-ups of the data you need to save to external media; if you can find an exact Windows version that the PC shipped with you can do a clean install using the activation key on the COA sticker attached to the PC though it may require a robo-call to MS to sort the OEM batch-key.

How to Activate Windows 7 by Phone


If you can't find an exact same version, you could use the info in this tutorial to create an "all versions" installer of any version Windows installer, to install using the same method I posted above.

Windows 7 Universal Installation Disc - Create


After you have made backups of everything you care to save, the best method is to do a complete wipe (secure erase) of the entire Hard Disk Drive first, it over-writes everything, all the old Windows code including all the old drivers/programs, giving you the best possible space to install Windows to.

SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

Bare Foot Kid said:

Hello lyphe, welcome to Seven Forums!


Is this how you are trying to do the factory restore?

   Note

Gateway Factory Recovery

1. Reboot, and press F11 or the R key to start the recovery process.
2. Select either "Full System Restore (Destructive)" or "Full System Restore (With Backup)"*.
3. Click "Next", and then click "Yes" to confirm the recovery process.
4. Wait for the computer to restore itself. When it is done, click "Reboot" to reboot the computer.
*Full System Restore With Backup preserves data in the My Documents folder, but requires 4 GB of disk space.

​

Click to expand...

No, I was actually doing it from the control panel - but I'll give your route a shot. No disc either, so stuck doing the factory restore

Risky using a pc without disc.

Many tech enthusiasts find a clean-copy DVD of their OS version and reinstall using the OEM Product Key on the COA sticker on machine. Any retail installer can also have all versions unlocked by extracting the ISO using ImgBurn, running the ei.cfg removal tool, then burning an all-versions DVD to install your licensed version.

Back up your files externally, make your Recovery DIsks or save a backup image of the entire HD first so you have a path back to factory condition. Then wipe the HD of all code to get cleanest install: SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

When wiping the HD (rather than just formatting which erases nothing) you'll need to leave the Upgrade product Key blank during install, then afterwards do the quick registry workaround here to activate Upgrade version on a cleaned HD: Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version - Windows 7 Forums

If you install to wiped HD, the installer will issue a 100mb System Reserved boot partition which conveniently places the Repair Console (normally only on the DVD or Repair CD) on the F8 Advanced Boot Tools menu. So boot the installer, choose Custom Install and then Drive Options to partition as you wish and format: Clean Install Windows 7

The installer is mostly driver-complete, with newer arriving quickly via optional Windows Updates. Just in case, have your Wireless driver on flash stick or CD so you can get online quickly. Then enable hardware driver auto-updating and check for optional Updates.

Any drivers still missing in Device Manager can be found on the Support Downloads webpage for your model computer or device. Driver Install - Device Manager

Install updates and then programs slowly over time to gauge performance after each. Don't let any programs write themselves into msconfig>Startup as they slow startup, become freeloaders on your RAM/CPU and can spy on you. I only allow AV and gadgets. Startup Programs - Change

Use a lightweight free AV like MS Security Essentials which works perfectly with Windows 7 Firewall. http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/

When it is finished, clean and order the HD perfectly using state-of-the-art free CCleaner then Auslogics Disk Defragger monthly.
CCleaner - Free software downloads and software reviews - CNET Download.com
http://download.cnet.com/Auslogics-D...-10567503.html

Then save a Windows 7 Backup image externally so you never have to reinstall again, just reimage the HD (or replacement) using DVD/Repair CD with the stored image. Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup

Manual how to use eRecovery Management here:
ftp://ftp.support.acer-euro.com/notebook/empowering_technology/NB%20ET2%20user's%20guide/Acer%20eRecovery%20Management%20English.pdf


You can Order Gateway Recovery Disks from here:
https://secure.tx.acer.com/RCDB/Main.aspx?brand=gateway

Hi guys,

I tried reinstalling Windows 7 from boot ( ie. pressing R and then running through that route ), but I ran into the same issue again with that dialoge box saying:

"please complete operating system setup process before doing system recovery".

So, maybe it is worth trying to create a universal install DVD and then just entering my product code.

If I go this route however, where do I actually get the download? Or where do I get the data to create the cd in other words?

I'm a bit of a nephyte on all this ...

We're not able to link to Win7 downloads here as it encourages piracy. If you do choose to download your version or another (to unlock with tool linked earlier) from the web, be sure to check the comments to make sure nothing is added, and rightclick>scan with AV and Malwarebytes immediately after download.

Then follow the steps I posted earler to wipe your HD (especially important since you have boot corruption) and get a perfect clean install which you can image after setup so you never have to reinstall again: Reinstalling Windows 7 - Windows 7 Forums