Help with clean Win 7 Pro install on HP laptop requested

[gregrocker]

Is there some reason you cannot start with Step 1 and work through every step in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7?

We'll be glad to help you get the steps done if you'll only start with them.

 

[karlsnooks]

greg,
I understand very well.
I'm also up in the years and have a thick skull (and even a stubborn streak).

You are making excellent and rapid progress.

karl

 

[ignatzatsonic]

stallation, and store it as a backup on a flash drive or external hard drive. So when my SSD dies, I can just replace the SSD and copy the image to it, and be off and running?

No, that is not correct.

Image backups that are "copied" to a drive do not make that drive bootable.

An image is just a file and is not bootable.

Images must be "restored" to be useful. The drive to which they are "restored" is then bootable. You make the image file when things are going well, store the image file on antoher drive, and restore at a later date when you have a major problem of some type.

There are several programs that can make and restore images.

Windows includes such a program. Some use it, but it can be fussy and not easily grasped---there is a certain learning curve.

Macrium is another commonly used free imaging program and it is less fussy and more easily understood for a novice.

 

[cgregory4]

Yes!

Karl,

You have spent a lot of time getting me on the right path. Thank you. I am also beginning to understand that the two 'different' ways y'all are recommending, aren't really that different, after all. Just 2 paths that end the same place. Now I shall 'sally forth and slay the beast!'

However, now that I've discovered this forum and you helpful Gentlemen, I think my migration from XP to Win 7 on my 'dual boot' will happen much more quickly than I thought. You guys are a real blessing!

Greg

 

[karlsnooks]

glad that we can be of assistance.

 

[karlsnooks]

I just noticed you said dual-boot.

Do Not under any circumstances set up a dual-boot.

Dual-boot is guaranteed to give you heartaches, problems and maybe even a stroke (coupled with the Midland heat).

Remember XP is eXPired.

 

[cgregory4]

No excuse!

Is there some reason you cannot start with Step 1 and work through every step in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7?

We'll be glad to help you get the steps done if you'll only start with them.

Greg,

I have no excuse to offer! I'm just guilty ... and 'slow on the uptake'.

I appreciate your efforts, as well as Karl's. I learned a bunch this morning -- and all at the expense of your time. Thank you.

There are several ways to 'skin this cat' and it finally dawned on me that they both end up with a good up-to-date OS installation. Learning what the ISO is -- that helped a lot.

Thanks again, and I'll start right away.

Greg

 

[cgregory4]

Not to worry.

I just noticed you said dual-boot.

Do Not under any circumstances set up a dual-boot.

Dual-boot is guaranteed to give you heartaches, problems and maybe even a stroke (coupled with the Midland heat).

Remember XP is eXPired.

Karl,

The dual boot is in my new desktop with separate SSDs and HDs for XP and Win 7. It allows me to continue with my business using some XP 'legacy' programs. Now I'm wading into Win 7. And the XP to 7 migration will proceed much more easily because of this forum and people like you and Greg. Thank you!

Your advice is directed toward a small HP dedicated PC audio system. I just wanted the full Win 7 Pro 64 and a few other media-related programs on the laptop -- with none of the 'junk' software that came with the laptop.

Thank you for all your help. I've learned a ton from you today.

Greg