New laptop, changing partition disks?

[Corazon]

Wow... I see... :shock:

*just spent 20 minutes fruitlessly searching for alternative Elan touchpad driver downloads*

 

[NicoleUK]

Nicole can clarify it more thoroughly but she did indeed try the website's software and it wouldn't work correctly. The cam software and Elan touchpad lacked features that she wants. Samsung told her that the real downloads which work correctly are stored in the Recov partition which won't boot now after clean reinstall, and can't be reinstalled itself because she chose to backup Recovery image using external instead of DVD's.

They also absurdly told her they don't support clean reinstall even though they provide a Reinstallation DVD for a clean reinstall.

It's the shabbiest OEM setup I've ever seen, backed by "tech support" that appears to be a performing parody troupe. I would tell everyone to not even consider a Samsung PC.

Corazon, Greg is correct with all that he said here. Although Samsung do provide a page with the software and drivers, it was no good for me as I was having problems with them.

 

[NicoleUK]

Update, I received a replacement laptop as PC world deemed the other as faulty - no thanks to Samsung.
Upon starting the new laptop, the touchpad is working, the sound is a lot better than it was before and I have no other problems such as default user options.

I have decided not to do a clean install as by doing that in the first place and not having the relevant fixes caused these problems to begin with. I will be cleaning up the bloatware instead and removing anything I don't need. Before that I will be going ahead with what I learnt here, like the system repair disk and backups.

This has been a nightmare for me and sadly I won't even consider doing a clean install again. I thank everyone that has helped me over these past few weeks, especially Greg! I don't know what I would have done otherwise.

Now hopefully this replacement won't give me any issues but this will be the first place I come to for any tips and support if I'm still welcome

 

[dowoshek]

Summary

Sorry for refreshing 1 year old topic but I think it'd be nice to post here the final solution: how to make a clean Windows 7 installation on Samsung laptop without driver problems.

So, did I understand correctly, that it is possible to make it like below:
1. Make a copy of Samsung drivers using the 'System software backup' just like in the film:
Samsung Recovery Solution 4 - Creating a System Software Backup - YouTube

2. Install Windows 7 (and even delete the recovery partition if you wish so) using 'System recovery media':

It's clean Windows 7 HP SP1... am I right?

3. Install drivers from backup made in point 1.

Could anybody confirm that or maybe even did it this way?

 

[gregrocker]

To get a perfect reinstall follow the steps in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

I would use the installer with SP1 provided in Step 1 of tutorial since your DVD doesn't seem to have SP1 (read the fine print) and having it will save hours of updating. All that the Reinstallation DVD contains extra is self-activation and a Samsung logo on the System page - you can activate easily using the Product Key on COA sticker on PC.

Put your wireless driver in your backup so you can get online quickly if the installer doesn't provide it, to do all of your Important and OPtional Updates which will provide most drivers. THen any drivers still missing in Device Manager can be imported from the Samsung Support Downloads webpage for your model. Don't import any other software or hotfixes unless it is required for missing function(s).

Read the Samsung note at end of tutorial. A perfect reinstall depends on how closely you follow the tools and methods in tutorial.

 

[dowoshek]

I know your tutorial (although I can't enter the Samsung note at end - no permission).

But what I'd like to clear is: Nicole's problem were lack of drivers that would fully support her hardware (the ones provided at Samsung website were different than her notebook's original). Will I possibly have these problems if i make it in 3 steps above? Let's forget about wireless and any other stuff as it just worked for her.

 

[gregrocker]

What do you need to enter in the Samsung Note? It's just a link to a thread here in 7F like this one.

I have only seen the one case with Nicole where a Samsung or any other model OEM PC could not get certain features (touchpad gestures and cam features) to work properly using the Downloads which were in fact provided on their web page. I'd check to see if you have her same model, then if you decide to proceed save both the factory Recovery media and a Win7 backup image of the entire HD.

 

[dowoshek]

But, if I have the 'System recovery media' with clean OS and drivers backuped, doesn't it make the recovery partition just a waste of disk space and additional problems (when installing Linux for example)?

I have no idea why I can't read the end note. Maybe it's because I've just created my account here (BTW: Hello
I just get:

dowoshek, you do not have permission to access this page. This could be due to one of several reasons:

1. The page has been removed.
2. Your user account may not have sufficient privileges to access this page. Are you trying to edit someone else's post, access administrative features or some other privileged system?
3. If you are trying to post, the administrator may have disabled your account, or it may be awaiting activation.

 

[gregrocker]

I don't save Recovery partitions on my rigs because I have no need for the factory bloatware and wouldn't even impose it on someone I sold the PC to. However in some cases where PC is still under warranty their Tech Support will require having it on there to RMA for repair or replacement.

In your case having an image backup would provide a fall-back if a Nicole worst-case occurred where Clean Reinstall can't be made to function fully.

Thank you for alerting me to the Samsung Note thread having been moved to a private sub-forum, so I can change the link.

 

[dowoshek]

I don't save Recovery partitions on my rigs because I have no need for the factory bloatware and wouldn't even impose it on someone I sold the PC to. However in some cases where PC is still under warranty their Tech Support will require having it on there to RMA for repair or replacement.

That's definetely the enough reason as long as you 2 year warranty is still active.

In your case having an image backup would provide a fall-back if a Nicole worst-case occurred where Clean Reinstall can't be made to function fully.

That's what I'm asking here Will my drivers backup (made like in point 1) made with official Samsung software give me access to every driver i need just like in case of reinstallation from recovery partition. I could ask: and why wouldn't? It's designed to this isn't it?

 

[gregrocker]

By Recovery Partition I was referring to the factory image (late here). You can save it by making Recovery media, or maintain the Recovery partition which may or may not boot if you Clean Reinstall.

There's no worries about drivers. Drivers are already in the factory Image. For Clean Install Win7 is a driver-complete OS (you don't even interact with drivers in Win8) with latest delivered in the early rounds of Windows Updates. As I said you should only import those still missing in Device Manager and only from the Samsung Support Downloads page for your model.

Those disks are outdated the day they're pressed. If you read the tutorial they are not even mentioned.

 

[dowoshek]

I guess everything's clear now. Thanks