Looking for tips and hints when doing Clean Install of Win 7 Ult

[ltrip]

I need to do a clean install of Win 7 Ultimate. I have the disks and COA. It is what is installed now.
I keep getting "unauthorized copy of Windows" message and can't solve that. In addition Office won't search properly. I am NOT looking to solve this. I NEED to do a clean install.

I have found several tutorials and threads on the steps for a clean install. I have read them, and will be studying them carefully this week to make a detailed plan.
These deal with the clean install of Win 7.

What other things/steps should I consider?
For example:
- I will do a full back up. Obviously I need to restore "My Documents" for my username. I am the only username. This has all my files. What else should I think about restoring?
- I will reinstall all my applications. Should I - do I need to - restore any files for applications? How will I know? Or simply start from scratch for all the applications - resetting preferences, etc. I know to find my Outlook files, my Quicken files. I assume applications put files in the "Program files" and "Program files x86" folders.
- I have a partition ( F: ) which has the original OEM (HP) recovery files. These are NOT Win 7 Ultimate. Do I need to save this/restore this when I am done? Or can I delete it?

In general, I am looking for advice and expertise as to what to think about and do, other than all the steps related to the clean install itself. My main programs are MS Office, Quicken, Chrome

Thanks!!!

 

[RolandJS]

- I have a partition ( F: ) which has the original OEM (HP) recovery files. These are NOT Win 7 Ultimate. Do I need to save this/restore this when I am done? Or can I delete it?

--Because you are not planning to ever do a factory spec restore, you can delete this partition.

 

[RolandJS]

Which Office version? Because I was using 3rd party firewall, antivirus, antispy/malware programs, my Office 2013 ceased working properly, went with Libre and Open Office.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I keep getting "unauthorized copy of Windows" message and can't solve that.

What other things/steps should I consider?

What else should I think about restoring?

Is there some remote chance that your Windows copy is not genuine? I wouldn't necessarily assume a clean install would solve the problem.

You should plan to back up your email and bookmarks/favorites if you have any.

If you do a clean install, you will have to reinstall and reconfigure all applications. You may as well get the most recent versions of any freeware/shareware applications that you use.

I don't know what your partitioning setup is, but now is the time to consider changing it if that thought has ever passed through your mind.

You might go to the HP website and download the newest versions of all drivers for your particular model. Put them on a USB stick. I would probably hold them in abeyance and use them only if I had some functional driver-related issue after the new install was up and running. At a minimum, I would go to HP and download the Ethernet/NIC driver.

After the install is complete, get anti-virus going and go to Windows Update and get at least all critical and important updates---in batches.

 

[AddRAM]

Where did you get this Windows 7 Ultimate dvd and COA from ?

It may give us a clue as to why it`s unauthorized

 

[ltrip]

Great advice...so far!!! The more the better!
I will put the drives on a USB stick. Thanks!!!
I will repartition, and scrap the original HP recovery files. Then create a boot/recovery disk when I am all done.

To answer a couple questions....
- I used to work for a vendor AT Microsoft in Reno, Nevada. I bought Win 7 Ultimate and Office 2010 Pro via a Microsoft employee from the Microsoft employee store. So I am pretty sure it is genuine! I have the boxes, disks and codes. These about 4 years old. Not ready for Win 8.x and don;t need any special features of newer Office.
- I am using Norton Secruity for my malware, anti-virus, performance, etc.

Win 7 Ultimate and Office 2010 have run perfectly fine for those 4 years until recently. One major change which MAY have been the culprit is - I installed a larger HDD and used a utility to clone the hard drive. The new HDD seems to work fine, but the "not genuine" message is appearing, and the search in Outlook doesn't work. I have tried other solutions to no avail.

Thanks again! Happy to hear more ideas!
I am now targeting Wednesday or Thursday to do the clean install.

Cheers,

 

[ltrip]

I took a long time, and will take more time, but I have completed the clean install.
Backup took a long time. But I did it all to be sure.
The clean install took about an hour. The updates, via MS Update, took about 18 hours.
And I had a problem getting update to work.
I installed all HP drivers. That took some time as well.
All seems to be working as I slowly install all my program and applications.

Thanks again!

I have a question about Outlook that I will post elsewhere.

Cheers,

 

[gregrocker]

Apparently you didn't see Clean Reinstall Windows 7 which over 1.5 million consumers have used to achieve a perfect install without a single complaint, because it would have steered you away from installing "all the HP drivers" to a driver-complete OS, and using Norton bloatware.

 

[AddRAM]

Run a system file check, you may be disappointed with the result.

In Command Prompt type sfc /scannow then hit enter. Let it run, let us know the results.

 

[ltrip]

SFC says it must be run by administrator running a console session....or something like that.
SFC won't run.
I am the only user on the system. I am the administrator.
I did a restart and tried again. Same result.
Thanks!

 

[gregrocker]

Type SFC into Start Search box, right click on the result above to Run as Administrator, then run SFC /SCANNOW Command

 

[ltrip]

OK, I did the SFC. It reported a few items that it could not repair.
I opened the log file. It is quite lengthy and does not provide an easy to read list of what was NOT repaired.
Any tips on how to isolate what I need to know? A key phrase to search for?
Thanks,

 

[gregrocker]

Zip up the cbs log from Windows\System 32\Logs and post it up here.

Or it might actually be easier to run a Repair Install which should take no longer than a few hours and then you have the OS reinstalled but with programs, files and settings all kept in place. Back up files anyway to be safe, read all steps and warnings.

THis time after the Repair install follow closely the steps in Clean Reinstall Windows 7
as no one has ever reported corrupted System files after doing one.

 

[ltrip]

Thanks!!
Log file is attached
I just did a clean install, so I prefer to not spend the time on a repair install.
Everything SEEMS to be working OK.
- I am not getting the "Windows not genuine" message anymore
- the search function in Outlook now works.
Those were the 2 main reasons for my clean install.

Cheers,

 

[gregrocker]

Compare the install you did with the perfect install compiled in Clean Reinstall Windows 7 which includes everything that works best in tens of thousands of installs we've directly helped with here, and has been used by 1.5+ million consumers without a single complaint or return with problems.

 

[ltrip]

I did follow a majority of those steps. That and 1 other tutorial from this forum is what I followed.
The difference I took, is to download and install most of the drivers from the HP website.
I have already been scolded for that
If SFC can tell me, simply and clearly, what needs to be repaired, then I can take action.
Otherwise, I will continue until I encounter a problem.
Cheers,

 

[DavidE]

NoelDP is the guru in the Windows Updates and Activations forum.
He is the best I've seen at understanding and fixing SFC problems.

I don't know if you want to PM/VM him to help with this thread, or create a new thread in the Windows Updates and Activations forum, where he hangs out.
I think he's always overloaded, but always willing to help, so it may take a while.

 

[NoelDP]

There should be NO scoldings for installing the drivers from the manufacturer - it's what you should do!

As far as SFC is concerned...


SFC -System File Checker - Instructions
Click on Start > All Programs > Accessories
Right-click on the Command Prompt entry
Select Run as Administrator and accept the UAC prompt - the Elevated Command Prompt window should pop up.
At the Command prompt, type
SFC /SCANNOW
and hit the Enter key
Wait for the scan to finish - make a note of any error messages - and then reboot.

 

[NoelDP]

... or to put it another way (which may be more descriptive)

Please follow the Windows Update Posting Instructions and post the requested data

If the file is too large (8MB compressed), remove the older CBSPersist cab files until the final file is below the limit - you can always post them separately after zipping them. (the forum doesn't allow the upload of bare CAB files, for a number of reasons)

Please also post the C:\Windows\windowsudpate.log file

 

[gregrocker]

There should be NO scoldings for installing the drivers from the manufacturer - it's what you should do!

No one was scolded by pointing out that OP needed to read and heed the driver steps in Clean Reinstall Windows 7 which are important enough they are printed in red. Surely this is no longer debatable after 1.5 million consumers have folllowed them without one single complaint.

The advice given is to see what drivers Win7 supplies via installer and Windows Updates before forcing drivers from any other source.

If the XP-era advice is to still force manufacturers drivers from a drivers disk which is outdated the day it is pressed, or from the manufacturer's website which are also often outdated, then what is the point of MS spending a fortune vetting drivers to load into installer and Windows Update to make Win7 the first driver-complete OS. It is these advancements in Win7 that paved the way for Windows 8/10 to be so driver-complete that it is all done in the background.