Unable to proceed OS installation on new hard disk

gregrocker said:

Is it a Win7 computer? Rightclick on the ISO and use WIndows Image Burner.

It was a Win7 computer only - but by default it had only Roxio to write when i right clicked it ....

Rightclick on ISO and select Open With. Do you see WIndows Image Burner? Choose that to burn DVD.

Now .... i am all set with the updates nearing to 95% ......

First comes First ...... Whats next?

Should i use the Backup discs which i created from the previous version of Win7 (before the laptop went for a toss) or will that corrupt the current installation? All my softwares and data are on those backup disks

I would follow these steps as closely as possible to assure you get a perfect reinstall: Clean Reinstall Windows 7 Factory OEM.

Hopefully the updates to which you refer are Windows Updates and you are getting any newer drivers in optional Updates as well as the other Updates installed smoothly. There may be repeat rounds taking several days.

Ideally you simply dragged your data to the disks in Explorer and didn't run the Easy Transfer program. If so I would place each disk in the drive, rightclick on the drive in Computer to scan with Malwarebytes which you install ahead. You want to make sure you don't import any infection. Then drag the data into its corresponding User folder (Documents, Pictures, Music, Downloads, etc) on the Explorer bar to the left, waiting until the bar finishes expanding and confirms it's being copied to the correct folder before releasing the left click.

Any installers can be Run as Admin from the Downloads folder where I would keep them.

If you used Easy Transfer I would import Settings of any sort as these are corruption paths into the fresh new install.

Greg
i took the backup thru the SONY VAIO tool and hence they are not just looking as files - instead they are comprised on a folder in a format may be understandable to a SONY VAIO format .... all the more, since this was a clean install - i am thinking whether to install those SONY related softwares or not ....

I don't know how Sony's bloatware backup works but hopefully it will put your User files back in their new folders and not import settings which are a corruption path.

I would decide what Sony software to reimport based on whether you use it or not. If you reimport everything then you are defeating the purpose of a clean reinstall which is to overcome corrupting factory crapware and useless utilties which have much better versions built into Win7.

For example, a cam will work with its driver delivered by Win7 or Sony website and any programs like Yahoo that you cam with. The Sony software package will only give extra features that you may not want, and likely try to start up with Windows which is unnecessary. Most factory bloatware isn't needed.

Thanks Greg.....

I may not need rest of the settings - but if i find a way to import my personal data back in - that should be helpful. But since the format of the backup is not allowing me to see files as files - am skeptic to copy it back .... i should have taken backup of files as files - instead of this .....

Look at the Sony software offered for your model to see if the backup app is available for download. You may need to google or chat/call Sony Tech Support to find out which software this is. Then I'd set a restore point, install it and see if backup will work.

If not next research how to extract your files from the backup. In the worst case scenario you might need to run Factory Recovery disks to get your files back and copied out of Explorer as they should have been.

You might also find someone with a Vaio (perhaps a store) who will let you do this just to get your data if it's critical to do so.

Ya, let me try those options ..... thanks for all your help !!!

Everything went on fine .... Installed the SP1 successfully. Did call up MS and activated the same as well. I still get the not GENUINE software message at times. But when i right click on the My Computer-> Properties - the WINDOWS activation shows that Windows is activated and i see the "ask for GENUINE MICROSOFT SOFTWARE" symbol

Whats wrong?