Solved Clean Install of Win 7 Pro fails in HP Folio 13- 2000

[secutorum]

I'm hoping that someone here can help. I've tried everything I can think of and searched the Internet all day trying various solutions.

I just received an HP Folio 13- 2000 laptop. This laptop has NO CD/DVD ROM drive. It has 2 USB ports, 1 2.0 and 1 3.0.

So, while it currently has an OS, I need to reformat it with a clean install of Win 7 x64 Pro for actual use. I have tried several different ISOs of Win 7 x64 Pro SP1, and all have failed to install. After clicking Install Now, I get the dreaded:

A required CD/DVD drive device driver is missing. If you have a driver floppy disk, CD, DVD, or USB flash drive, please insert it now.

A few more things:
There is no CD/DVD drive on this laptop, it's a small form factor EliteBook. It's not missing or damaged, there isn't even a space for one.
I have read that Win 7 has no native USB 3.0 support, and this is the actual cause of the error.

What I have done:
Downloaded the fresh clean ISO files from Digital River for Win 7 x64 Pro
Created bootable USB drives and placed the image on them (both using the command prompt to clean, partition, format and make active as well as PowerISOs automated bootable USB drive function)
I have booted into the current Win 7 install and used Drivermax to rip all the drivers on the system (including the functioning USB 3.0 driver) and placed them on a separate USB drive.
Swapped out between the 2 USB ports, the 3.0 on the left and the 2.0 on the right. After I get the error message above, I can no longer see the flash drive on the 3.0 port, but can on the 2.0 port. I've pulled the drives following many different instructions and in every possible combination.
I've disabled CD/DVD booting in the BIOS and set the only 2 boot options as USB and HDD, in that order.

When it asks for the drivers, I swap in the driver disk and go through every single folder. It finds nothing, even though I can verify the files are all there. It reacts so quickly that I don't even think it's checking.

I can't begin to express how frustrated I am after spending literally all day trying to get this up and running. Any help or ideas would be appreciated greatly!

 

[Ztruker]

According to the Maintenance & Service Guide, you can restore it to Factory state from the built-in Recovery Partition:

To restore the computer from the recovery partition, follow these steps:
1. Access HP Recovery Manager in either of the following ways:
● Select Start > All Programs > Security and Protection > HP Recovery Manager > HP
Recovery Manager.
– or –
● Turn on or restart the computer, and then press esc while the “Press the ESC key for
Startup Menu” message is displayed at the bottom of the screen. Then, press f11 while the
“F11 (System Recovery)” message is displayed on the screen.
2. Click System Recovery in the HP Recovery Manager window.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions.

Edit: Also, see here: http://www.sevenforums.com/installa...ows-7-after-reformatting-ssd.html#post1763864

 

[secutorum]

Thanks for the reply, but unfortunately, HP Recovery Manager is not installed on the current image. And when I access the Startup menu doing boot up, f11 just proceeds with the boot. I have noticed in playing around that there is an X drive (recovery drive I assume) but it cannot be accessed from within the current OS install in any way (doesn't even show in disk management).

As for the port switch, I've tried it probably 50 times today, right before hitting Install Now, and it's never made a difference. I still get the same error message.

 

[gregrocker]

Everything you need is here to get a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 including the latest ISO and tool to correctly write it to flash stick installer. Read the Special Note for HP Owners at the end of tutorial. I'd delete all partitions during install.

 

[secutorum]

Hi Greg, I've followed that forum thread precisely, at least 5 times with no change in the error message I receive.

I know there is a recovery partition, but I can only tell it's there when I am prompted for the missing required CD/DVD device driver. It shows up in the list as X: when I hit browse. But when I log into the current win 7 enterprise install, it is not visible even under the disk management mmc console. I am logged in with full local admin rights.

I know these things get reimaged all the time for my client. But I also know they have custom WIM files. I fear that's the road I'm going down...

 

[theog]

   Information

We always assume you have made your Recovery Disks using the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Media Creator app the first day you had your new PC.
& made the Startup Repair CD.
startup repair disc-create
​

Did you make the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disks?



You can order OEM Recovery disks from your OEM manufacturer's website.
Most OEM's will ship Recovery DVD's for FREE, (may be a postage fee)


You can Order HP Recovery Disks from here:
Country-Language Selector | HP® Support

 

[DavidE]

I don't mean to butt in here, but if this didn't get noticed...

In post #5 the OP stated

But when I log into the current win 7 enterprise install

In post #1 the OP stated

I need to reformat it with a clean install of Win 7 x64 Pro for actual use.

Was this PC purchased with Enterprise installed...?
Is it a work PC, are they are changing "company" licensing from Enterprise to Professional?

 

[gregrocker]

Good catch, David.

Where did you get Win7 Pro and how exactly is it written to flash stick installer? How is it being activated?

Does the current Enterprise version mean the PC is company owned? Is the company's IT aware that it is being overwritten? I would check with them first to be sure this is a legal use of their machine.

The error almost always means the installer is bad. Write a new installer to flash stick using UltraISO Software To Create Bootable USB Flash Drive which always works. Be sure to use the format button first, then Write.

Use the USB 2.0 port.

If this fails wipe the HD first with Diskpart Clean Command accessing DISKPART At PC Startup.

 

[secutorum]

Good catch, David.

Where did you get Win7 Pro and how exactly is it written to flash stick installer? How is it being activated?

Does the current Enterprise version mean the PC is company owned? Is the company's IT aware that it is being overwritten? I would check with them first to be sure this is a legal use of their machine.

The error almost always means the installer is bad. Write a new installer to flash stick using UltraISO Software To Create Bootable USB Flash Drive which always works. Be sure to use the format button first, then Write.

Use the USB 2.0 port.

If this fails wipe the HD first with Diskpart Clean Command accessing DISKPART At PC Startup.

For the Win 7 Pro, I grabbed several of the available 'official' MS copies from Digital River in ISO format. I've tried using the MS DVD/USB tool, but it doesn't like those ISOs. I've also used UltraISO to write the ISO to a bootable USB stick.

As far as company policy goes, we have MAK licensing for everything MS makes. I'm free to use activation keys for any flavor of Windows. IT has said I can do whatever I want with the laptop, but that I'm on my own with supporting it.

I guess this means that I need to find another source for a vanilla Win 7 x64 Pro and try again.

 

[gregrocker]

Just follow the steps in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 using the provided Pro ISO written to stick with tool and your Product Key and you will end up with a perfect install.