Cloning or Imaging Drive

Hello-
I've been through a nightmare with my HP Envy machine. It has Windows 7 Professional SP1 x64 installed, with all of the normal bloatware. I made a 4 disc set of a Factory Restore Image.

First of all, I have a Windows 7 disc I made from the old download at Digital River before Microsoft pulled it,
and the Checksum all checked out.

I decided to upgrade to an SSD and used the D-R generated disc to install Windows 7. I wiped the original 1 TB HDD that came in the machine and used that for my Storage drive- moving Docs, Pics, Music, Downloads, etc. over to it. We used Partition Wizard to prep the SSD, then installed Windows- the COA key on the case activated it just fine. I'll not go into the issues we had with Windows Update- not installing known bad Updates and the ones involving Windows 10. We also RAMmed the machine out with 32gb of G. SKILLS RipJaws of the correct speed and voltage.

All of a sudden, we started getting BSOD's, Display Adapter crashes, Mouse and Keyboard freezing, on and on. I began to wonder if there's something in the factory install HP did that ties in with the Mobo or something. Ran MemTest 86+ for 8 passes and that checked out OK. So, we've become so paranoid over every component in the machine and began to think something was wrong with the brand new Samsung 850 PRO SSD.

So, my question is, how do I burn a set of discs FROM the HDD with all the Updates, latest drivers, progs, etc. to install on the SSD?... And, how do I know if the SSD is faulty, or the Mobo, or PSU?... I have 3 mos. left on the warranty, and I really don't feel like packing the machine up and sending it back, as that could open up a whole new can of worms.

I'm tired of staying up 24-48 hrs. messing with this thing, and could sure use some ideas here. We welcome any and all educated ideas and suggestions on the matter.

Thanks in advance, and if anyone has any questions, please feel free to ask-

tim

Wait, did you do a clean install with the DR created disc or no ?

What doe sthe HP factory install have to do with anything ?

Did you download all the drivers for your machine (like the chipset driver) from the HP site and install them?

Hi,
Firstly you might post the bsod logs
Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) Posting Instructions

I haven't bought a retail computer in some time but back in the day you open the case and the warranty is void unless they ask you too
So just these upgrades you did might of voided it = refer to your can of worms statement

Also what size psu came with it
Most will have mediocre at best power supplies 500 watt if you're lucky :)

It would of been best to leave the factory hdd untouched and just replace it that way you wouldn't of had to do much of anything but to reinstall it and send the machine back if hardware issues popup.

AddRAM said:

Wait, did you do a clean install with the DR created disc or no ?

What doe sthe HP factory install have to do with anything ?

Yes, Brian- like we talked about in PM... the issues that eventually popped up are numerous. BSOD's indicating memory issues, but the G. SKILLS passed HP Diagnostics, Windows Memory Diagnostics, and MemTest 86+.
Possibly mobo or PSU?...

I wiped the SSD, took it out, installed the original 1TB Seagate, and reinstalled with the 4 CD set of Factory Image Installation. Now, I'm fighting with these damn Updates... FOREVER!

Thanks-

tim

strollin said:

Did you download all the drivers for your machine (like the chipset driver) from the HP site and install them?

Yes... I have them on a CD.

ThrashZone said:

Hi,
Firstly you might post the bsod logs
Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) Posting Instructions

I haven't bought a retail computer in some time but back in the day you open the case and the warranty is void unless they ask you too
So just these upgrades you did might of voided it = refer to your can of worms statement

Also what size psu came with it
Most will have mediocre at best power supplies 500 watt if you're lucky :)

It would of been best to leave the factory hdd untouched and just replace it that way you wouldn't of had to do much of anything but to reinstall it and send the machine back if hardware issues popup.

No, HP knows what I'm doing. I have been dealing with upper level support. They don't lock them down with one-way fasteners anymore- SSD, RAM, and Graphics Card upgrade doesn't affect warranty, unless you exceed PSU spec.

350w Max Chinese boat anchor... which if they glitch, will cause the symptoms I have experienced. Changed my mind on the EVGA one I was telling you about...eventually going to go with a Corsair RM750.

Already did that... Golden helped me. First time the diagnostics log indicated RAM issues, but that checked out, as mentioned above. 2nd log indicated Display Adapter driver. Went to HP site, latest is what I already had installed, but downloaded it and reinstalled.

It's in Factory Condition right now.

Thanks-

tim

Good to know h-p knows about all of this :)
I never saw any locked screws the ones I've seen just have a tape seal on it and if tampered with would show someone opened the case.

G-Skill :/
Some people love them others not so much :)

scr said:

Did you install the MS update KB3064209? This was an optional update from June 2015 "Intel CPU microcode update for Windows" It is known to cause a lot of problems for Intel Processors.

In addition to what strolin asked did you allow MS to update the display or audio drivers? They are offered as optional. They simply will not work.

No, it has not come through yet-now... however, it wasn't on my bad Updates list before... I have a great memory, and I don't recall installing it when I ran the SSD/D-R combination.

No, I do not take ANY hardware/driver updates from M$!... I know better than that... they may be the same, but the OEM driver signing code can mess things up.

The Windows 7 disc that I made- actually, I have 3 of them- came from 3 separate sources, and the Checksum and Hash are identical-

MD5 Checksum: ed15956fe33c13642a6d2cb2c7aa9749
SHA-1 Hash: 0bcfc54019ea175b1ee51f6d2b207a3d14dd2b58

One disc is from Digital River download, one is from a reputable source on this Forum, and the 3rd is from
here-

Download Windows 7 ISOs, Legally and for Free | PCsteps.com

Read the link and comments before you make a judgment and comment. The problem is that I didn't label the discs- my bad- but they are identical.

Thanks, 'scr'-

tim