Solved Installing Windows 7 from External HDD

[Bare Foot Kid]

Would the secure erase with diskpart integrate all the partitions together?

Yes it makes the entire HDD unallocated space, then partitions can be created using either diskpart or the Windows 7 installer.

 

[SlasherIT]

Alright, so this is what I have to do. Boot up from the USB with Windows 7. Use DISKPART and run clean all, which will take approx. 2 hours for my 500GB drive (play the waiting game). When clean all is done, I exit from diskpart, and use the Windows 7 installer to create a partition for the entire drive, and install Windows 7 to it. Correct right?

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Sounds like a plan, though I would suggest a single 100GB partition to do the install to!

 

[SlasherIT]

Great, now I have to wait for the download... 2 hours left lol.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

You may want to have a look at Method One of this one for storage options using the remaining unallocated space, after you have Windows 7 installed to the 100GB partition.

Partition / Extended : Logical Drives


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[SlasherIT]

I'm not gonna do that lol, I just want one big C: Drive, nothing else. All my personal data is always on an external HDD. .

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

However you want to do it.

 

[SlasherIT]

Hey dude,

After finished copying to the USB, it says that it was unable to run bootsect to make the USB bootable.

Help please...

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Did you use this method to put the ISO on the USB stick?

Windows 7 Universal Installation Disc - Create

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[SlasherIT]

Nonono I used the dedicated Windows 7 USB Tool (the tutorial). http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31541-windows-7-usb-dvd-download-tool.html

Help lol.

 

[SlasherIT]

I'm trying to do this from this guide: Install Windows 7 Or Windows 8 From USB Drive/Pen Drive is this ok?

Slasher

 

[SlasherIT]

Alright, I found the problem. It says:

"This version of E:\boot\bootsect.exe is not compatible with the version of Windows you're running. Check your computer's system information to see whether you need a x86 (32-bit) or x64 (64-bit) version of the program, and then contact the software publisher."

Sigh, this is really annoying... What can I do about it? I don't have any other 64 bit computers...

Slasher

 

[gregrocker]

Tips for getting a perfect clean reinstall based on hundreds done here: Reinstalling Windows 7

Note that there is no reason to do a stressful secure erase except for security reasons to make data irretrieveable, or if installation problems crop up due to boot sector corruption - for which the Diskpart "Clean" command is sufficient.

 

[SlasherIT]

Alright I'll just skip that and just install Windows... Oh wait I can't lol. My DVD drive is bust and stopped working, the current installation of Windows 7 says Bootmgr is missing, I can't create a bootable USB because I don't have any 64 bit computers... What are my options here?

Would it be possible to use Ubuntu to fix the bootmgr problem?

 

[derekimo]

Alright I'll just skip that and just install Windows... Oh wait I can't lol. My DVD drive is bust and stopped working, the current installation of Windows 7 says Bootmgr is missing, I can't create a bootable USB because I don't have any 64 bit computers... What are my options here?

Would it be possible to use Ubuntu to fix the bootmgr problem?

Have a look at these,

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105541-startup-repair-run-3-separate-times.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/104341-bootmgr-missing-fix.html

 

[gregrocker]

You can write 64 bit ISO to flash stick using either tool from a 32 bit OS. The Universal tool doesn't even need to be installed.
Universal USB Installer – Easy as 1 2 3
Windows 7 USB-DVD Download Tool

 

[SlasherIT]

@derekimo - Irrelevant, those options are ruled out, won't work.

@gregrocker - The Windows 7 USB tool won't work for making a 64 bit Windows 7 USB on a 32 bit OS. Isn't the Universal USB Installer for Linux? Hmmm it has a Windows 7 option, let me try it...

 

[derekimo]

@derekimo - Irrelevant, those options are ruled out, won't work.

You're welcome.

 

[theog]

You could use this tutorial:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/58455-recovery-partition-create.html
If do make sure you backup ext drive.

Using the base of the tutorial above.
1) make a partition at the end of the drive.
2) mark ACTIVE.
3) make letter Z:
4) Copy & Paste, DVD to the partition.
5) Install Windows 7
6) When Windows is installed, delete partition, When you have your replacement DVD Drive.
View attachment 168223

View attachment 168224

Part two

6) When Windows is installed, delete partition.When you have your replacement DVD Drive.
7) mark Windows 7 drive ACTIVE.



Boot up using the Startup disk CD or Windows 7 DVD. (not the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disk) If you have a Netbook, you will need a CD/DVD drive.
Make sure no USB drives are plugged in.

8) Use the Rebuild BCD in this tutorial:
How to use the Bootrec.exe tool in the Windows Recovery Environment to troubleshoot and repair startup issues in Windows



9) Run Startup Repair
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/681-startup-repair.html?ltr=S
Note: You may need to do startup repair 3 to 4 times.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105541-startup-repair-run-3-separate-times.html

 

[SlasherIT]

@derekimo, theog, gregrocker, Bare Foot Kid and anyone else that helped me... Thank you all. The solution that worked for me, was using the Universal USB Installer to put Windows 7 64 bit onto the USB on my other 32 bit computer... Linux bootloader saved the day I guess? Anyways, I've repped all of you guys, so thank you very much for committing time to help me. I am typing this now from my laptop, thanks to you guys!

Slasher