Repartition disk to allow upgrade, original vista disks lost

[xena]

I am preparing to upgrade from Vista Business to W7 Professional 32 bit, all my office 7 and vista original disks are lost. the disk partition shows that i need 16GB for the upgrade and available space is 11GB while i have enough disk space on the 2nd partition what to do?

 

[gregrocker]

Even if you run an in-place Upgrade you need to have all of your files and program installers backed up against faliure.

I would first audit my HD to read the installed Office and any other Product Keys: Belarc Advisor - Free software downloads and software reviews - CNET Download.com

Then you can find an Office Installer for your same version to clean reinstall if necessary with the Product Key.

A simple guide to a successful in-place upgrade - Windows 7 Forums

 

[xena]

I need a way to increase my disk space to allow for the upgrade anyway as i can't get the product keys anymore. does the proposed link provide a way to obtain the product keys from my HDD so i can downlod them later and perhaps make a clean install?

 

[whs]

If you run this program, you will find all the product keys on your system: http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

 

[xena]

Thanks, will check it now

 

[pebbly]

Xena, You could also try magic jelly bean KeyFinder | Magical Jelly Bean , another useful free program for finding product keys on your HDD

 

[xena]

Pebbly, does this new link apply to office 2007? as the other one does not!

 

[xena]

And what could i do to increase disk space by at least 7 GB to be on the safe side?

 

[xena]

How reliable is this application it found the keys needed! but i had the following at the bottom of the screen found 169 keys location, 6 identified: the one am searching for are included!

 

[pebbly]

Pebbly, does this new link apply to office 2007? as the other one does not!

Yes it does , Belarc advisor should also find the office key (and other 3rdparty apps)

 

[whs]

Belarc Advisor definitely shows the Office Key. I just checked it. All the program keys are listed after the list of updates.

 

[gregrocker]

Did you see my post where I linked Belarc Advisor hours ago, or was I wasting my time?

If you now want to do the clean reinstall, here are the steps to get it perfect - including using the booted installer to repartition however you want: Reinstalling Windows 7

 

[xena]

No need to be angry!
I ran the advisor report and it says that I need "at least 16GB" for the upgrade and I have only 11GB on my C while the other partition has 60GB free, and I am not sure that the upgrade will not halt if I don't accomodate the for the space required.
I still do not want to do a clean install, even though i have the product keys now, and don't know how to back-up the system!
I have saved all my data on an EDD.
So what next?

 

[gregrocker]

Why would you assume I'm angry? I just don't like to type up steps and have them ignored without comment. It's common courtesy to acknowledge help from volunteers.

Backup to external is best. Check that the data is intact then you can delete it on the HD to make space needed for in-place Upgrade.

First Run CCleaner to delete hidden temporary files - it won't delete anything important: CCleaner. Sometimes on really dirty systems it finds a gig of schmutz.

Then I'd run a Boot-time defrag and full Disk Check using Puran Defrag Free Edition to prepare your HD for smoothest upgrade.

 

[xena]

How to backup the system? and do I need to resize or do I risk halting the upgrade?
In the Advisor report they state to get updates for certain Toshiba Components: the updates should be for Vista or W7?

 

[xena]

After reading Toshiba's support on upgrade, it turned out that i will have to do a clean install afterall (i have a TecraA9 Mode) that was produced in 2007! So I will need to understand how can I obtain media for installation as simple downloads in our area of the world are not efficient.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

So I will need to understand how can I obtain media for installation as simple downloads in our area of the world are not efficient.

Do you have stores in your area of the world?

Or can you order Windows 7 installation media by mail?

 

[gregrocker]

Can you post up your Upgrade report so we can look it over? Just save it and attach with paper clip in Reply box.

If it says you'll need Win7 or Vista drivers, chances are they are available and we can help you find them. Any which are not in the installer should be available quickly via optional Windows Updates. Then any still missing can be found on the Support Downloads webpage for your model.

If you have an external HD you can back up a Macrium Reflect image of your Vista installation so you can always reimage it if the in-place Upgrade fails: Macrium - Image your system

Then follow the steps I gave you to prepare for an in-place Upgrade by deleting enough files you've backed up and programs to make the room needed.

If you want to clean Install Win7 you'll need to find an installer. Easiest is to borrow a disk for your version from a friend or ask a shop to make one for you. Or you can google Official Win7 ISO downloads from My Digital LIfe to download your version and burn to DVD or write to flash stick using Windows 7 USB-DVD Download Tool

 

[xena]

Here you go.
the problem is not in the W7 advisor report, but in Toshiba Support report. from link to link it turns out that the instructions for the Tecra A9 supports only clean install

 

[gregrocker]

Can you locate an Office installer for your version to clean reinstall Office with the Product Key you audited?

Do you have the other installers you need available?

If so I'd do the clean install: Clean Install Windows 7

If you want to try the in-place Upgrade first and can't make enough space, then post back a screenshot of your maximized Disk Management drive map with listings and we'll help you borrow some space from the adjacent partition. You can do this using free Partition Wizard bootable CD by resizing the adjacent partition from the left, then resizing Win7 partition from the right into the space you make. But let us see the screenshot first to be sure.

If you want to save a backup image of Vista externally, use free Macrium - Image your system
so you can start over if necessary or if you ever want to restore the original OS to the Toshiba to migrate Win7 elsewhere. I would also make my Toshiba Recovery disks since the Recovery partition may not work after a clean reinstall.