Solved Reformat gone bad - please help

[gregrocker]

Does it lose connection when you plug in by wire, disable Wireless adaper in Network And Sharing Center>Change Adapter Setting, right click the wireless connection to Disable? Does the wired tv screen icon appear in bottom right System tray and connect?

Does a wired connection remain stable? If not run troubleshooter.

If not, type Device Manager in Start button Search box, expand the Network adapters, what is the installed Driver for your Wireless connection? Compare it to the driver posted on the PC manufacturer's Support Downloads webpage for your exact model. If you need help post back the exact model name and number.

.

 

[arayfo1]

Yes, it says Upgrade on the disk. Yes, it came from the PC manufacturer - has Acer written on it. I'm not sure what MOBO means. I will google now.

Yes, I'm pretty sure that is why it didn't work to begin with, because it had no existing OS to upgrade.

I'm not sure I follow. Leave the key blank and install?

Perhaps I will have to try it again to see exactly what you're talking about. It could be I didn't have things set right in BIOS my first attempt. I will wait first to hear back from Slartybart before proceeding.

Step 3 - Thanks for the reminder.

Does it say Upgrade on the disk? If it was from the PC manufacturer it is likely an OEM version which locks to the mobo.

On the chance it is an Upgrade key, with a wiped HD it will not detect an OS to allow Upgrade version key so may reject the key during install. Leave the key blank and continue with install.

If it doesn't ask for key or accepts key then it's OEM version and you're good to go.

If it rejects the key and you're sure you are using Home Premium, then you only need to do the quick workaround in Option 3 of Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

 

[Slartybart]

The choice is yours.

We;re here to help solve computer issues, if your issue is the network connection, let's see what can be done about that.

I suggest seperating the two issues.

Could you create a new thread in Network & Sharing - Windows 7 Help Forums for the connection issue?

Update: I don't mean to sound as though I am trying to wriggle out of starting over again, but before we proceed I thought I should mention that I managed to establish an internet connection several times last night.
.....
Anyways, I keep getting sucked into 'troubleshooting my connection problem' when most likely you guys think I should start over again. So what do you guys think? Is it possible to use my upgrade disc to sort all this mess out?

 

[arayfo1]

Yes, I do have product key (outside of package).

When we get started, we'll go step-by-step all the way through.

OK?

One last question: Do you have the product key for the Win7 Upgrade disc?
The product Key is either on the pakage or inside the package.

 

[gregrocker]

OK I understand now you have an Acer Win7 Upgrade kit. I had two of them myself. Mine were a full version of WIn7 which will not require an OS to be seen on the HD to insert the Key during install.

However remember that if you are prompted that it is the wrong version, as long as you are using Home Premium you can ignore it, click Next and continue with install, then after install do the Option #3 workaround in Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

 

[Slartybart]

Good on the Prod Key. DO NOT post that information anywhere.

Mobo -> Motherboard

As Greg mentioned - an install might not fix the connection problem, so your the driver, where are we going?
Network (new thread) or Install?

 

[arayfo1]

Of course, thanks.

I'll post a new thread and give it a few hours before proceeding to the reinstall process.

The choice is yours.

We;re here to help solve computer issues, if your issue is the network connection, let's see what can be done about that.

I suggest seperating the two issues.

Could you create a new thread in Network & Sharing - Windows 7 Help Forums for the connection issue?

Update: I don't mean to sound as though I am trying to wriggle out of starting over again, but before we proceed I thought I should mention that I managed to establish an internet connection several times last night.
.....
Anyways, I keep getting sucked into 'troubleshooting my connection problem' when most likely you guys think I should start over again. So what do you guys think? Is it possible to use my upgrade disc to sort all this mess out?

 

[Slartybart]

Ummmm, wait

Either one, not both. People volunterr time here and it might upset a few if they spend time on a connection issue only to find out the user reinstalled directly after the connectivity issue was solved.

 

[Slartybart]

The thing is, no one can tell you if a reinstalll will fix the network issue, there's a high probablity that it will .... but there's no guarantee.

I don't want you to be frustrated if it doesn't. all it really means is that someone would have to help you with that AFTER the install.

Trust me, I'm not trying to talk you into a re-install.

So if you want to try to fix the network, that's fine. But don't undo work by re-installing after the network works.

 

[Slartybart]

This is the parent thread of http://www.sevenforums.com/network-...ndows-7-lost-connection-help.html#post2653735

I advised arayfo1 to open a new thread for the connection issue.

The resoultion paths are
re-install & test connectivity, fix connectivty if needed
or
fix connectivity, reinstall ONLY if unresolved.

I think I might have confused arayfo1 by the options. Hope this clears it up.

 

[arayfo1]

Update: I changed the boot device to dvd drive and restarted pc with upgrade disc loaded and nothing happened. By that I mean I was prompted to start windows normally as usual.

 

[arayfo1]

If one were to make the 'mistake' of leaving a DVD in the DVD drive while reformatting drive C: could it possibly erase what's on the DVD???

 

[Slartybart]

There's an 8 second window that asks you to press a key to boot the DVD. Maybe you didn't see itI'm not sure why you were prompted to start Windows normally

Update: I changed the boot device to dvd drive and restarted pc with upgrade disc loaded and nothing happened. By that I mean I was prompted to start windows normally as usual.

If one were to make the 'mistake' of leaving a DVD in the DVD drive while reformatting drive C: could it possibly erase what's on the DVD???

Not unless it is a RW DVD and you made the mistake of formmatting the DVD (that would be two mistakes)

 

[Slartybart]

what are you doing? Formating C:?

 

[arayfo1]

Right, of course. I tried booting the dvd 4 consecutive times but it just wouldn't boot. I was thinking the DVD may have been erased, because whenever I put the disk in I didn't hear anything at first, but then I could hear the DVD revving up and then I was prompted to download the upgrade wizard. I decided to try to reinstall via the wizard, but apparently the wizard is reading the other two Windows 7 downloads currently on my pc as though I have already installed Windows 7 via the wizard, because it was then skipping ahead to step 3 (which is the last step) prompting me to download drivers. In other words, it doesn't give you the option to back up and choose step 1 again. I suppose it's possible it could be reading that way because of the very first time I installed the upgrade.

I did take it upon myself to explore the file on the dvd which read "Common Drivers" and decided perhaps I should copy them to a folder on my desktop incase I should need them. There were approximately 5 gb worth of drivers there, but I'm not sure which of them I might need or if the half dozen drivers I downloaded from the Acer support site would be sufficient enough. I could of course take a picture of the list of drivers if you think they might be worth exploring.

So, I'm not sure if I should attempt to reformat the drive and attempt to delete both old downloads of Windows and try again to install with upgrade disc (I am actually a bit doubtful it can be done without having Windows Vista on this machine, not that I'm doubting you guys) or if there is some other way I can reinstall windows with the intention of reformatting both drives and ergo deleting both old downloads of Windows. I'm certainly open to suggestions.

There's an 8 second window that asks you to press a key to boot the DVD. Maybe you didn't see itI'm not sure why you were prompted to start Windows normally

Update: I changed the boot device to dvd drive and restarted pc with upgrade disc loaded and nothing happened. By that I mean I was prompted to start windows normally as usual.

If one were to make the 'mistake' of leaving a DVD in the DVD drive while reformatting drive C: could it possibly erase what's on the DVD???

Not unless it is a RW DVD and you made the mistake of formmatting the DVD (that would be two mistakes)

 

[arayfo1]

No, sorry. Reformatting C: is how I got into this mess to begin with. I have not reformatted either drive since.

I'm gonna go grab something to eat. Check in with you guys later. Thanks.

what are you doing? Formating C:?

 

[Slartybart]

Ok good.

Put the Acer Win7 upgrade disc in the Optical Drive (OD - also known as DVD drive)

Follow steps 1 through 6 in http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

Just follow the numbered steps - the boxes are extra information, there are pictures that will let you know that you're on the correct step

STOP at step 7, let me know if you have any questions

 

[arayfo1]

1. Boot the computer from your Windows 7 installation DVD/USB.
NOTE: Make sure that the CD/DVD drive is selected first and your HDD second in the boot priority order in your BIOS settings. Usually it is by default.

---------------------------------------

Is it absolutely necessary that the HDD be my second boot device? Because the way my BIOS is set up I can't make my CD/DVD drive my first boot device without making my HDD my third boot device.

 

[Britton30]

What is in 2nd place?

 

[Slartybart]

This is going to take a veryyyyy long time if you don't answer questions, ya know.

It is absolutely necessary to have the DVD drive boot first.

But what is in the 2nd boot order?