Format and clean Win7 install from hard drive?

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  1. Posts : 20
    Windows 7
       #1

    Format and clean Win7 install from hard drive?


    I'm going to do a complete format and clean install of Windows 7 Starter on my ASUS EEE PC 1015-PEM. It's now running 7 Ultimate. I did not back up the recovery partition when I put Ultimate on it (completely spaced.. smh,) have no external optical drive handy, USB not recognizing any flash drive I try, and refuse to pay ASUS $50 for a recovery DVD of drivers, programs, and OS I already paid them for.

    Clean Install Windows 7

    Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

    I was going to use these ^^ awesome tutorials with a bootable flash drive of the iso I've downloaded but as I mentioned above, USB is giving me problems. Do I have any options left to do the format and clean Win7 install? Can this be done from the HDD as opposed to a bootable CD/DVD or USB?
    Last edited by sagerj; 28 Jul 2014 at 22:30.
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  2. Posts : 16,129
    7 X64
       #2

    Yes. You will need to extract the contents of the iso onto another partition.

    Get your nic drivers from asus site also, just in case win7 built in ones don't work.Plonk them onto the same partition as above.


    http://www.helpjet.net/files-Asus-Ee....html#ANetwork
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 20
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Are there any tutorials like the two I posted except using the hard drive. Unfortunately I've only formatted and/or recovered hard drives in the past using pre-made recovery partitions and recovery programs/managers. Since I've never done it from scratch like this, i'd need step by step instructions.

    For example, in my computer it shows a C and D drive with 100GB each. I'm not even sure if the netbook has one hard drive with those two partitions or if it just has two HDDs. THEN, obviously I would need a slightly different course of actions, given which of those two options is actually correct. :/
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  4. Posts : 16,129
    7 X64
       #4

    Will have to answer this tomorrow. Very late here now.

    It isn't difficult, you just need the installation iso, which I assume you have already downloaded?
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  5. Posts : 73
    Windows 10 Pro
       #5

    If you mentioned that you don't have external CD-drive, and your USB ports aren't working, I very much doubt how you can reformat it within windows 7 itself.

    You have most, if not all the tools required to perform a reformat. Now all that's left is to perform the reformat from an external source(CD-rom, USB flash drive).
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  6.    #6

    If you have a flash stick then download the 32 bit Home Premium here: Win7 Home Premium x86 SP1 English Official ISO download

    Run the eicfg removal tool on the ISO file to unlock all versions.

    Then write the ISO to flash stick using tool in Step 2 of Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 which should not be a problem. But if it is use UltraISO Software To Create Bootable USB Flash Drive.

    You should then get a menu to choose your licensed version when you boot into the installer. If not delete the ei.cfg file from Sources folder on flash stick.

    Then follow the tutorial steps if you want to get and keep a perfect install for as long as you do.
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  7. Posts : 20
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Thank you very much SIW2. While I do appreciate the replies, the last two posters neglected the USB issue. I cannot trust the USB to work through the full install. Therefore I'll wait for your next reply. Thanks again, SIW2.
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  8.    #8

    How is it neglecting the USB issue to assure you have good install media which resolves about half these failures ?

    Talk about ungrateful...
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  9. Posts : 20
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #9

    "Talk about ungrateful..." I purposely wrote "While I do appreciate the replies" to avoid sounding ungrateful. I honestly appreciate it.

    Can you explain to me how doing the steps of your tutorial and (assuming) successfully creating the install media on a USB stick will help resolve about half of the issues? Is it because the USB should work fine since it's being booted from before the OS loads?

    Hopefully that will render the misunderstanding moot. Again, please don't think I'm being rude. This was not my intent. I'm very sorry I came off as ungrateful. :/
      My Computer

  10.    #10

    Yes. Just follow the steps as thousands have before and youll have a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 to the exact extent you do.

    There are special tools required to make the flash stick which are provided. I also gave you a custom steps to do this as well as a backup method so don't know why you would throw them back in my face. The flash stick is always the best method and can always be made to work.

    If you cannot get stick to show up in then make sure USB is enabled in BIOS or try a other PC.

    Once it's formatted correctly look in BIOS one-time boot menu under USB, Removable or Hard Drives. You may need to expand a listing to see it.

    If necessary Make sure USB is fully enabled in BIOS setup.
      My Computer


 
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