Installing Windows after a complete format, just a few questions.

gregrocker said:

As it also says in the tutorial, you can try to rescue files from unbootable Win7 using Copy & Paste - in Windows Recovery Console with the Install DVD or Repair CD, or Paragon Rescue Kit Free Edition 11.0 Free CD. Just browse into C:\Users\Your User Name to see if they can be found to copy out to external, stick or another HD.

Look at Steps 7 and 8 of Clean Install Windows 7 to see how to use the Drive Options to Delete all Partitions during the reinstall. One of the partitions should be Recovery which won't run any longer anyway after reinstall. So if you didn't make your Recovery media yet you might want to run Factory Recovery so you can do that afterwards.



Once you highlight and Delete each partition at that step, click on the Unallocated Space, then Next to have the installer create and format a single install and small boot partition for you. If you want to do it yourself click New to make your desired partitions, Format each, highlight the first large partition for install, and then Next.

This makes more sense to me now, thank-you so much. I will go and back up my files when my external hard drive is finished defragmenting (it's pretty broke too but it will do for now) and then I'll burn off the ISO as it should be downloaded by then, hopefully if I don't run into any problems I'll be back here to say it was fixed and to start surfing the forums to learn some of the cool stuff on customisation etc. otherwise I'll be back with whatever went wrong... Thanks again for your help.

Keep us posted as you go.

With Samsung it is important to follow the steps closely as to how drivers are handled. Put your wireless driver from the Samsung Support Downloads webpage into your backup so if it isn't provided during install you can install it to get online. There is a 50% chance it will be, a 70% chance if plugged in by wire during install.

Once online immediately enable Automatically deliver drivers via Windows Update (Step 3) to run all rounds of Important and Optional Updates. After each requested reboot, go back to Check for Updates again until there are no more.

Then if any drivers are still missing in Device Manager import them from the Samsung Downloads webpage for your model - we can help you find any needed. There is also a Note to Samsung Owners at the end of Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 about steps which may be needed to make the function keys work again.

gregrocker said:

Keep us posted as you go.

With Samsung it is important to follow the steps closely as to how drivers are handled. Put your wireless driver from the Samsung Support Downloads webpage into your backup so if it isn't provided during install you can install it to get online. There is a 50% chance it will be, a 70% chance if plugged in by wire during install.

Once online immediately enable Automatically deliver drivers via Windows Update (Step 3) to run all rounds of Important and Optional Updates. After each requested reboot, go back to Check for Updates again until there are no more.

Then if any drivers are still missing in Device Manager import them from the Samsung Downloads webpage for your model - we can help you find any needed. There is also a Note to Samsung Owners at the end of Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 about steps which may be needed to make the function keys work again.

I don't know which driver I need, atheros or broadcom. I'm hooked up via ethernet, so I'll be able to find out when I install it right?

Chances are 70% if plugged in by wire that it will start up connected. Then you can get wireless and all other drivers via Windows Updates.

If Samsung Support Downloads webpage for your exact model offers both drivers, then since you can't get into Device manager to see which is installed just download them both to your backup and if it starts up needing a driver try each one.

gregrocker said:

Chances are 70% if plugged in by wire that it will start up connected. Then you can get wireless and all other drivers via Windows Updates.

If Samsung Support Downloads webpage for your exact model offers both drivers, then since you can't get into Device manager to see which is installed just download them both to your backup and if it starts up needing a driver try each one.

I will go ahead and download them both. I'm having issues backing up the files because of the issues with my harddrive. The files in it equal about 45GB but it says I only have 30/111GB available... It's making it very difficult to back up.

I would run a Disk Check on the HD now.

If it balks use Partition Wizard Check File System followed by Partition Wizard surface test

gregrocker said:

I would run a Disk Check on the HD now.

If it balks use Partition Wizard Check File System followed by Partition Wizard surface test

I ran a disk check and nothing came of it. I will fix it after I have my laptop up and running. For now, I'm moving all of my files off there and storing them on my Mum's laptop so that I can back up my files at least. Thank-you for the tips on that. For the record, should I post a new thread about that when I fix it or continue on from here?

I am finally posting from my own laptop, thank-you so much! I'm going through all the usual stuff of installing updates etc. It'll take some time but I've actually got access finally. Thanks to everyone who has contributed especially you gregrocker.

Keep us posted on how it goes.

Remember to keep going back for Updates after requested reboots, until there are no more. Which drivers are then missing in Device Manager?

I'd run the Disk Check using either method I gave you on the external when ready. If it fails then check the HD with maker's HD Diagnostic extended CD scan.

That is how my device manager is looking now. I will keep you updated. It's going to take some time unfortunately but I'll update as regularly as possible.

Just in case the image isn't working, the link is: http://tinypic.com/r/2j287pd/5.