Win 7 recovery time?

Bare Foot Kid · 27 Mar 2011

Have a look at Step One of this tutorial at the link below substituting the clean command for the clean all, it will remove all the format configuration data giving you a clean start to install to the SSD.

SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

When Step One finishes you can close the command window to continue the installation but I would suggest you use the outline in Step Two #1 to create, format and mark active a single partition to do the install to, this will give you better results.

gregrocker · 27 Mar 2011

Pragmatist said:

I will get the program from a friend and install it and then use that number when prompted for it but it just does not make sense, the number is virtually worthless without a win 7 install disc and they don't give you one of them when you buy it. What do they expect you to do, go buy the program and then use the number on the side of your machine? That's ridiculous!

Another question. I bought the PC and paid for the OS. If I have no restore disc and the hard drive fails, how do you go to MS and say I want the OS on my new drive? Keep in mind there is nothing on the drive so there is no going to their site to download anything.

Manufacturers stopped providing Win7 Installation DVD's because the factory bloatware sponsors like Norton pressure them to enforce the bloatware and not make it easy to clean reinstall. Nevertheless most tech enthusiasts find an installer to clean reiinstall their version.

Borrow a Win7 installation DVD from a friend or find one another way, extract the ISO from the disk using ImgBurn, run the ei.cfg removal tool on it if you need to unlock all versions, then boot to install your version.

If you download from the web, be sure to check the comments on the ISO to make sure nothing was added, check the HASH if in doubt, then rightclick scan the iSO with your AV and Malwarebytes

The Product Key on the COA sticker will work if you use the correct version listed, although it may require a robocall to MS.

All the steps to get a perfect reinstall of factory OEM are here: Reinstalling Windows 7 - Windows 7 Forums

mjf · 27 Mar 2011

I believe the lack of an open source of install disks has nothing, or little, to do with piracy threats. In my opinion it's a commercial issue and not just on the part of the OEM. Without a valid key these disks are useless.

I have heard on other sites (MS Answers) that some OEM machines with a COA sticker cannot be clean installed. I cannnot recall the details. It would be useful for people who have failed to do a clean install this way to let us know.

Pragmatist · 28 Mar 2011

mjf said:

I believe the lack of an open source of install disks has nothing, or little, to do with piracy threats. In my opinion it's a commercial issue and not just on the part of the OEM. Without a valid key these disks are useless.

I have heard on other sites (MS Answers) that some OEM machines with a COA sticker cannot be clean installed. I cannnot recall the details. It would be useful for people who have failed to do a clean install this way to let us know.

Well I should have a Win 7 disc today and will attempt the install tonite. I will post back my success or failure. Thanks to all.

gregrocker · 28 Mar 2011

If the clean reinstall fails it will be due to one of the issues we sort here every day, all of which can be resolved through a series of troubleshooting steps.

In years of clean reinstalling Windows hundreds of times on every different make and model I have never come across a machine whose hardware is capable which cannot be clean installed - or as a last resort reimaged.

I have heard of BIOS locks but I have yet to come across one where the manufacturer specifically locks out anything but their bloatware install.

mjf · 28 Mar 2011

I'll try to dig out the details I referred to.

It's great if it works 99% of the time.
Interestingly I have 2 obvious keys
1) The OEM key with "OEM" in it
2) The 5x5 alphanumeric product key on the side label (COA)
and SIW reports 2 other 5x5 alphanumeric keys
3) Windows product key
4) Windows default product key

It's the difference between 2), 3) and 4) that puzzle me.

gregrocker · 28 Mar 2011

Hi Michael -

The number which contains "OEM" is the Product ID which is not the same as Product Key, but which can help MS look up a lost Product Key and helps them track the product.

The reason a keyfinder reports a different Product Key on factory OEM is because it is still being activated using SLP auto-activation method used for mass activations.

During clean reinstall use the Product Key on the COA sticker which will change the activation method to COA OEM, while Recovery Disks will auto-activate using SLP from a file in the installer.

The expert on this is Bill2 who will thankfully correct me if I got anything wrong.

Bill2 · 28 Mar 2011

mjf said:

I'll try to dig out the details I referred to.

It's great if it works 99% of the time.
Interestingly I have 2 obvious keys
1) The OEM key with "OEM" in it
2) The 5x5 alphanumeric product key on the side label (COA)
and SIW reports 2 other 5x5 alphanumeric keys
3) Windows product key
4) Windows default product key

It's the difference between 2), 3) and 4) that puzzle me.

No.2 ) That the COA key, thats your own unique key, nobody else has it. Its never been used before, its not the key that was used by the OEM to preinstall windows- it would have been but for the fact that OEMs use a different method to which I'm coming in the next para.

No.3) The windows product key is the OEM SLP key. Put simply thats a standard key (or one of the standard keys) that a particular OEM uses to preactivate windows on ALL its branded computers OFFLINE. This mechanism is convenient to OEMs because it saves them from activating 1000s of machines online individually with their respective sticker keys (see No.1 above).

No.4) The default windows key is the trial key embedded in the dvd. When you first install windows and dont activate it, this key is the one thats installed by default. Its also called the keyless install key. Trial keys are edition specific.

Pragmatist · 28 Mar 2011

Ok, reporting back that problems are solved. Did a clean install with a "single" win 7 disc. Used the authentication key on my PC and it worked like a charm. The installation was complete in 17 minutes and I have to think this new SSD drive helped.:)

Bare Foot Kid · 28 Mar 2011

Good to see you got it installed and thanks for the update.