Want to install fresh version on my laptop..

[ddiehl]

First off, apologies if this is not the proper forum..

My HP laptop has been giving me a little trouble lately, and I wish to do a fresh install of Windows 7. Rather then using the recovery method provided by HP, I was wondering if I could use the key printed on the laptop, and install a clean copy of Windows 7 Premium without all the pre-installed crap. Could I legally use a friends disc, or my own Ultimate disc? Would I just be better off using the HP method, and uninstalling all the crapware myself?

Thanks in advance..

 

[writhziden]

The opinions vary on this. I myself have no problems doing a recovery to factory settings and then uninstalling everything HP (including games). However, there are methods to do an OEM clean install. See http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/151566-reinstalling-windows-7-a.html#post1300819

Edit: I just noticed that since you are using an HP, you cannot do a clean install. I am able to on my HP because I upgraded to Win 7 from Vista through HP, so it is a little different. But I still am running my HP with the factory recovered image and the HP stuff manually uninstalled, and my computer runs great now.

 

[whs]

You can install with any installation disc and apply your COA key - provided it is the same edition (e.g. Home Premium).

 

[writhziden]

You can install with any installation disc and apply your COA key - provided it is the same edition (e.g. Home Premium).

Are you sure? gregrocker made an offhand remark in that link I gave about HP doing some squirrely things. I haven't had any issues with my HP, but I also bought it just before 7 came out and had the free upgrade, so I don't know if it applies to me.

 

[whs]

Possible, but I know of any special HP situation. But if Greg saya so, it is possible. He is always on top of installation issues.

 

[wanchoo]

That seems absolutely right. I have done it successfully once with XP but haven't tried it in Windows 7 so far. Why not just try it. In the rare event that it doesn't succeed you have only lost an hour or so.

And if you try out, do please post the results for the Forum's benefit.

You can install with any installation disc and apply your COA key - provided it is the same edition (e.g. Home Premium).

 

[writhziden]

That seems absolutely right. I have done it successfully once with XP but haven't tried it in Windows 7 so far. Why not just try it. In the rare event that it doesn't succeed you have only lost an hour or so.

And if you try out, do please post the results for the Forum's benefit.

You can install with any installation disc and apply your COA key - provided it is the same edition (e.g. Home Premium).

If you do go this route, make sure to make the recovery discs so you can do a recovery to factory settings if needed.

 

[AddRAM]

I would tell you to do a clean install. If you have a recovery partition or recovery discs you could always use those options in the future. If your laptop is not too old you shouldn`t have ANY driver issues, but maybe some HP software you liked but you should be able to get that at the HP site.

As mentioned install the same version you already have and you should not have any issues.

I`m going to assume you have the 64 bit version installed now, but make sure b4 you start your new install and God Luck

 

[profdlp]

Good advice above.

I'm with the gang suggesting you at least try the clean install. If it doesn't work you'll probably find out fairly quickly. Even if you get to the end of the installation process and it chokes it still wouldn't be too much wasted time. It might not hurt to test your recovery discs beforehand, though.

 

[whs]

I know at least one geek in the Netherlands who has done that twice very recently. And there it worked.

 

[jumanji]

....... I was wondering if I could use the key printed on the laptop, and install a clean copy of Windows 7 Premium without all the pre-installed crap. Could I legally use a friends disc, or my own Ultimate disc? Would I just be better off using the HP method, and uninstalling all the crapware myself?

Thanks in advance..

If you decide to do a clean install,

it has to be the same version as the factory installation.

I would suggest that you download that version with SP1 integrated from here and use it. Reason obvious. Does away with the pre-SP1 updates after a clean install and you start with a clean Windows 7 SP1 install.

 

[Murd3rd]

i have an HP (DV6000 series i believe) from NOV 2006 that i bought brand new right after joining the military, had several problems with it, dealt with them for years, then bought a Toshiba, and after i got the Toshiba i started experimenting with the HP a lil bit, i am now running on a 5+ year old laptop, windows seven ultimate 64 bit, it came with factory installed XP, i have yet to have any problems with it after installing seven, i liked XP, but to me seven runs a whole better, it also found all the drivers for the built in webcam, card reader, and wireless card, without me having to do anything to it, i.e hunting down the right drivers on the HP website...the only downside to my story is i dont back things up like most people i have seen here, i completely start from scratch, just save whatever documents, pics, vids to an external HDD and then format, clean install, every time i install seven (ive done it a few times now on my home computer and my Toshiba, cuz i like to keep things fresh, and being deployed gives you a lot of time to do stuff like that when your bored).

so i guess the moral to my story is that you "should not" have any problems doing a clean install of whatever you want, if and and if you are willing to give up ALL of the HP preinstalled bloatware. i know some of it can be had on the HP site, but i never cared to look into getting any of it back since i dont like nor use the stuff...my .02, clean install seven, done and done...

 

[gregrocker]

If ever a clean install is called for, it's on an HP which has the worst load of factory bloatware of any make, throttling Win7 from being it's native instantaneous self. The ghastly Wireless Manager crapware alone adds 30 seconds to boot time.

See http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/151566-reinstalling-windows-7-a.html#post1300819

Edit: I just noticed that since you are using an HP, you cannot do a clean install. I am able to on my HP because I upgraded to Win 7 from Vista through HP, so it is a little different. But I still am running my HP with the factory recovered image and the HP stuff manually uninstalled, and my computer runs great now.

What is said in those steps that would make you think you cannot do a clean reinstall on HP?

I only appended some additional info in Reinstalling Windows 7 about HP's new minimal Recovery which is very close to a clean reinstall, how Recov partition will still run after clean reinstalling to C if you want to keep it and how you can extract needed HP apps from the Recov disks.

Use this: Win7 Home Premium x64 SP1 English Official ISO download
Write to flash stick or burn to DVD using Windows 7 USB-DVD Download Tool

 

[ddiehl]

Thanks everyone for their help.. Much appreciated..

Use this: Win7 Home Premium x64 SP1 English Official ISO download
Write to flash stick or burn to DVD using Windows 7 USB-DVD Download Tool

Think I'm going to go this route.. Will I be able to use the product key printed on my laptop with this install?

Thanks again..

 

[jumanji]

Please read my post #11 above on how to backup and restore the OEM activation without any necessity for Activation by Phone which process you may have to go through if you enter the COA key and activate.



My Dell activation Backup:

 

[writhziden]

I only appended some additional info in Reinstalling Windows 7 about HP's new minimal Recovery which is very close to a clean reinstall, how Recov partition will still run after clean reinstalling to C if you want to keep it and how you can extract needed HP apps from the Recov disks.

I misunderstood thinking you were saying that was as close to a clean install as one can get with an HP. Sorry about that.

 

[ddiehl]

Please read my post #11 above on how to backup and restore the OEM activation without any necessity for Activation by Phone which process you may have to go through if you enter the COA key and activate.



My Dell activation Backup:

View attachment 192125

I read the links you provided as well, and just need to confirm something. I noticed that the key both utilities extracted was different from the one on the sticker on my laptop. Am I correct in assuming that one extracted is the Microsoft key, and the one on the laptop is a HP key, and the one I should use is the extracted one?

Thanks..

 

[gregrocker]

The key which was extracted is the OEM-SLP key which is used to mass activate offline at the factory. You can use the procedure you were given to back it up to reactivate if you use a retail Win7 installer, or it may be simpler to use the Product Key on COA sticker which switches activation to OEM-COA method but may require a quick robocall during activation to record the hardware signature in MS Activation servers - since activation then becomes managed online by MS.
Reinstalling Windows 7

 

[profdlp]

The key which was extracted is the OEM-SLP key which is used to mass activate offline at the factory. You can use the procedure you were given to back it up to reactivate if you use a retail Win7 installer, or it may be simpler to use the Product Key on COA sticker which switches activation to OEM-COA method but may require a quick robocall during activation to record the hardware signature in MS Activation servers - since activation then becomes managed online by MS.
Reinstalling Windows 7

You just answered a question I never even thought to ask.

Good info here.

 

[ddiehl]

The key which was extracted is the OEM-SLP key which is used to mass activate offline at the factory. You can use the procedure you were given to back it up to reactivate if you use a retail Win7 installer, or it may be simpler to use the Product Key on COA sticker which switches activation to OEM-COA method but may require a quick robocall during activation to record the hardware signature in MS Activation servers - since activation then becomes managed online by MS.
Reinstalling Windows 7

Thanks for the clarification.. Just started the install.. I'm going to try to use key generated by ABR, and Advanced Token Manager first, and see how it goes.. Left the recovery partition intact in the event it goes sideways.. Will keep you all posted..

Thanks again..