Solved Repair and format Windows with HP recovery dvd's

[bertie11]

Hi, I'm having problems with my registry and after 4 years it is time to re-instal Windows 7 64bit
I do not have a Recovery partition now. I have C:\windows D:\HP Tools F:\Data H:\ Data I:\Data. These last 3 have different types of data , photos, music, personal and so on.

I want to do a format and re-instal of C:\ without touching any of the other partitions. I do have the 3 HP Recovery dvd's. Can I do this using them, or must I do it some other way. I do also have a Windows 7 dvd which is currently installed on a spare laptop.

Thank you

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Hi, I'm having problems with my registry and after 4 years it is time to re-instal Windows 7 64bit
I do not have a Recovery partition now. I have C:\windows D:\HP Tools F:\Data H:\ Data I:\Data. These last 3 have different types of data , photos, music, personal and so on.

I want to do a format and re-instal of C:\ without touching any of the other partitions. I do have the 3 HP Recovery dvd's. Can I do this using them, or must I do it some other way. I do also have a Windows 7 dvd which is currently installed on a spare laptop.

Thank you

Confusion: your system specs say you have a "Mesh" PC. What dat? Not an HP?

What happened to your recovery partition? I'm not sure what is in HP Tools---I thought that might be a recovery partition?

Assuming you actually have an HP PC, the HP recovery CDs will touch all partitions. You would end up with a machine configured as it was from the factory. All of your data would be gone if you didn't back it up.

You need to use a Windows DVD to do a legit clean install, but if that license is currently on a spare laptop, it can't also be used on another machine.

If your desktop came with Windows 7 and has a "Certificate Of Authenticity" sticker with a 25 character "Product Key", you CAN download a Windows 7 ISO, burn it to a disk, install from that disk, and activate--all at no charge. You could install to the current C and not affect any other partition, BUT you'd be a fool not to back up your data anyway.

If you don't have that Product Key, you are probably looking at buying a new license unless you want to restore to factory specs using your recovery disks and/or the recovery partition. That should work, but you'd end up with all that HP stuff that you may or may not want.

 

[bertie11]

Hi, very quick reply, thanks so much!

OK, apologies for the confusion. I did have a Mesh years ago but I now have an HP Pavilion DV6-2113SA. I just had forgotten to update my specs, which wasn't at all helpful!

I had deleted the recovery partition some time ago to reclaim the space, but I do have the recovery dvd's. I did not want to lose all my other partitions and data by doing a factory instal. I have a lot of my data backed up to an external 500gb and the cloud but even so I'm a bit nervous about getting latest data backfrom the cloud! I don't have enough spare space on the external to backup all of the three other partition, although I'm just about to try to reclaim some space.

I like the idea of burning an ISO, so I am now downloading this file which I think is the one I need. I do have the Product key on the laptop base and I have recovered the serial key as well.

• http://msft.digitalrivercontent.net/win/X17-24209.iso 2147483647 X17-24209.iso Windows 7 Home Premium x64 English

Again, thanks so much for the very quick response. I'm sat poised waiying to burn the ISO and get started!

 

[ignatzatsonic]

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html

Take a look at the above tutorial, particularly the special note to HP users, which may or may not apply to you. Check what you see when you hit F11 at boot.

Update your system specs to avoid further confusion.

Not sure you are downloading the right file. Home Premium 64 bit English is 58997.iso. You may be getting an earlier version that does NOT have SP1 integrated, which you should have. Get 58997 unless I mistake your version.

http://www.heidoc.net/joomla/technology-science/microsoft/14-windows-7-direct-download-links



If you are going to do a clean install, go to HP and download the NIC driver (Ethernet). Without it, you won't have an Internet connection. Windows normally will install it, but getting it from HP is a safety precaution.

 

[bertie11]

Ah OK. I will certainly need the SP1 version! I'm in the UK so I assume I will get a language choice using 58997? I will also download the Ethernet driver, I hadn't thought of that, I assumed it would have been installed from the ISO.

I will check the Clean re-install link too. It's a bit hectic here right now! I have (part) updated my specs, I need to find out what my cpu etc. are next.
Thanks.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Ah OK. I will certainly need the SP1 version! I'm in the UK so I assume I will get a language choice using 58997? I will also download the Ethernet driver, I hadn't thought of that, I assumed it would have been installed from the ISO.

I will check the Clean re-install link too. It's a bit hectic here right now! I have (part) updated my specs, I need to find out what my cpu etc. are next.
Thanks.

58997 is English, but you are asked to choose a language at the first installation screen when you do the install.

The Ethernet driver is almost always installed via the ISO, but I've seen occasional reports of failure on that, so take the precaution.

If your laptop's Windows DVD is an EXACT match for the version mentioned on your HP's Product Key, you could use it rather than a burned ISO. And I'm assuming it is a garden variety Windows 7 installation disk, rather than a "customized" version of some type from the laptop manufacturer??

When in doubt, use the burned 58997.iso.

I assume you want to end up with a clean install with a minimum number of partitions and later create new partitions as you had before. Any particular reason you are splitting your data up into several partitions. Nothing wrong with it, but it tends to be an inefficient use of space that can be avoided by simply using one data partition and a folder structure for various data types: pictures, video, mp3, whatever.

 

[bertie11]

OK, that's good, re language choice.

I will get the NIC.

I didn't get a Windows dvd with the laptop, I burned the three recovery dvd's. They would have chucked a whole raft of HP stuff and loads of unwanted trial software onto the disc. No thank you! I shall use the ISO.

Well, I'm hoping to do a clean install of windows, after formatting to get rid of rubbish, but I feel I want to keep my three data partitions as they are, it would be simpler for me to do that rather than having to move stuff around. One of the partitions is set up to up load to clouds so I want to avoid having to re-route stuff and 'recloud' it.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I didn't get a Windows dvd with the laptop, I burned the three recovery dvd's. They would have chucked a whole raft of HP stuff and loads of unwanted trial software onto the disc. No thank you! I shall use the ISO.

Well, I'm hoping to do a clean install of windows, after formatting to get rid of rubbish, but I feel I want to keep my three data partitions as they are, it would be simpler for me to do that rather than having to move stuff around. One of the partitions is set up to up load to clouds so I want to avoid having to re-route stuff and 'recloud' it.

OK. I was just going by this quote from your first post "I do also have a Windows 7 dvd which is currently installed on a spare laptop".

Disconnect all external stuff other than monitor, mouse, and keyboard before you begin the install. You particularly don't want any other drives connected--internal or external.

Do you intend to install to the current C?

Or do you intend to wipe out all partitions and then install Windows? This will create one large C partition, and you'd then re-create the other partitions and copy your data back from the backups.

You have to decide. You'll come to a screen where you are asked "where do you want to install Windows". That's the point of no return. You can delete all partitions at this point, or choose to install to C.

 

[bertie11]

Yes, I intend to instal to C:\, as before. I want to keep things as they were, it doesn't get any easier at 78!

I have released more space on my external drive by deleting Ocster system backups which I won't need as I'm doing a new install, and I also have a True Image backup which I couldn't get to as TI kept failing, and although I uninstalled it using thei cleanup utility, the system says it is still on there! Which is another reason why I want to do a clean install to get True Image to work, then, if all is OK, I might use their Cloud as it is way faster than i-Drive.

Partition wise, if I get to backup each one onto external, I can then do a complete format and re-create the partitions again. Or not. I'm making it up as I go along!

 

[bertie11]

Hi ignatzatsonic

Right. After discovering that my DVD drive was failing to read the burnt ISO, I remembered I had a USB drive and luckily the disk works on this laptop and my spare as well. That will be the third DVD drive to fail on this system. I very rarely use the drive so maybe that is why.

It's been a few years since I did a Windows install, so when the screen showed two options; 1. Install and 2. Lower down the screen, Repair, I couldn't remember now which option I take, bearing in mind I mainly want to format C: and install Windows. If I use Install, does that give me these options and is Repair like a Windows Repair disk? I'm thinking the format has changed since I last did this.

It was great being able to get hold of a Windows build, I didn't know that was available!

 

[ignatzatsonic]

"Install" choice should take you eventually to a screen where you are asked "where do you want to install Windows". That's what you should choose, but be sure to choose the correct partition when you get there, not one of your data partitions.

Yeah, that thing you burned works as a repair disk too, but that's not what you want this time.

You won't see an overt "format" choice, but Windows will do it automatically after you select where you want to install.

 

[gregrocker]

Iggy's got you going but we should remind you that your data should always be backed up against drive failure. And if you choose the wrong partition for install (happens all the time) and format that data is gone forever.

Here is a way to backup, store and sync your data to the cloud for free. You can at least send 7gb up there in your User folders so that its safe, then access it from anywhere on the web and if you want sync your other computers or devices to the same master set of data. Sync, Backup and Store your Files to the Cloud with Skydrive - Windows 7 Forums

 

[bertie11]

Thanks Gregrocker, I will checkout SkyDrive.

One thing bothers me about installing a fresh Windows, I willthen lose all the HP software that came with it? I had dumped a load of it already bust there are a few things I do ue. I tried to instal the latest HP Support Assitant but that failed to instal.

I just wondered if anything on the laptop were dependant on HP drivers.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Thanks Gregrocker, I will checkout SkyDrive.

One thing bothers me about installing a fresh Windows, I willthen lose all the HP software that came with it? I had dumped a load of it already bust there are a few things I do ue. I tried to instal the latest HP Support Assitant but that failed to instal.

I just wondered if anything on the laptop were dependant on HP drivers.

Yes: a clean install will leave you without the HP software. You may be able to download some of it from HP, but the fact is that you are likely better off without most of it and should be able to find free replacements for anything you need. Billions of people get along fine without HP software.

Name the few things you do use and maybe we can point you to replacements.

 

[bertie11]

I managed to get the Support Assistant installed on my new windows and I shan't bother with the rest of it, as I can't remember now what I used!

I did the Windows install and I'm up and running. I'm puzzled though, as when I clicked Instal there were no options for me to format C: or any drive rn partition. I did get a list asking me where to install it but nothing about formats. It didn't take long so I assume it did a quick one.

I'm missing an Infrared device but as I don't know what it was I can't try to download it so I shall leave that till later.

I want to thank ignatzatsonic and gregrocker for your brilliant support. I'm not sure I could have sorted it out by myself, maybe with a whole load of studying, but I needed to get sorted so I could have a decent image backu in place.

Thanks Guys!!

 

[gregrocker]

Bertie, the whole point of doing the Clean Reinstall over Factory Recovery is to get rid of the crippling bloatware which on HP is the worst in the industry, and which gives the worst possible install of Win7 one can have. The utilities like Support Assistant interfere with better versions like Windows Update built into Win7. Have you run all of your Important and Optional Windows Updates (with reboots) after enabling Automatically deliver drivers via Windows Update (Step 3) ??

I would uninstall the Support Assistant before it starts pushing through a bunch of crap that you don't need. You only need Win7 and the drivers it provides. If you notice a function missing from your laptop and if it isn't listed under Special note for HP Owners in the tutorial then let us know and we will help you. The infrared Device can be traced by finding its Hardware Identification. It may be the card reader under Storage Drivers at http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...en&cc=us&dlc=en&sw_lang=&product=4099779#N189 - try both to see which installs.

Every bit of HP crapware you install is going to diminish Win7.

If you couldn't find how to format the partition then Win7 did it for you. Apparently you weren't following the tutorial which clearly says to use the Drive Options link at the bottom of the Drive Selection screen.

 

[bertie11]

I shall take your advice and send Support Assistant to that great crapcan in the sky!!