HP Laptop upgrade from Vista - 4 frustrating failures!!

I am trying to install on an HP DV6-1063TX laptop computer.

I have runs upgrade adviser it reports 1 issue although I am not sure what it is,

In the System report I get two notices one about MS Mail & Web filtering and one suggesting a visit to HP website, everything else is green ticked so I don't think there are any serious problems here.

In the Devices section there is a ? againnst the HP DVB-T/Analog TV-Tuner but again all else is green ticked.

In the Software section I get a 'Yellow Triangle !' against Adobe Shockwave Player version 10.2.0.023, everything else has green ticks. The problem is that as far as I can see there should not be Adobe Shockwave version 10 as I have uninstalled not only this program but all the other Adobe software as well. I have tried updating to version 11.5, I have used Adobe's standalone uninstall tool for Shockwave but W7 UGA insists it is still on the computer. I have run CCLeaner but all to no avail. Is this the problem?

On the first attempt I had a problem with HPs Keyboard Filter which I understand is related to the HP Quick Launch Button software, I have uninstalled the software and have upgraded to the latest version.

I have tried the installation 3 or 4 times now with the HP software upgraded or fully installed. Each time the installation goes through all the on-line checks, system checks, file expansion etc... only to find that it fails during the final stage. During the last attempt I had the upgraded Keyboard Filters installed and this again caused a problem so I am going to uninstall the upgraded software and try another install although I hold little hope for success.

The fact that the W7 UGA reports a phantom Adobe Installation leads me to think the problem may be there but I have no idea how to solve this as it is not on the machine.

I would prefer to do the upgrade installation if possible as it will save many hours of software installation (after hours of time already wasted on W7 installation), and I am worried that being a laptop W7 may fail with some of the drivers it does not help that I cannot find this laptop on HPs website even though it was bought just over 12 months ago.

I really want to get rid of this Vista installation and hope that someone here can be of assistance, in the meantime I will be trying one more attempt to upgrade after uninstalling the HP Quick Launch Bitton software.

Happy Xmas and a Prosperous New Year to all

+1

If there was ever a time to clean install, it is when changing from the worst OS ever to the best OS ever. Why follow a corruption path into Win7?

The Win7 installer is driver-complete, with more added to the installer during install if you plug ethernet and select "connect to internet during install." You will want to boot the DVD to get the cleanest possible install, Custom with Drive tools to delete all, create new partition(s) as you wish, then format before installing Win7 to the first partition.

Afterwards more drivers will arrive via Windows Updates. Any missing in Device Manager can be found on the support Downloads page for your computer model, along with favorite apps.

Take your time installing programs to gauge performance after each install. This will clue you better to how they run in Win7.

We are here to help you at any time.

Thanks Jonathan,
I have to say I am pretty annoyed with MS since the Upgrade option appears to not be an option at all, especially as this is a laptop which I am sure will have some 'special' HP drivers. Hardly the way for MS to win friends back after the disaster that is Vista!

I am reluctantly coming to the conclusion that I will have to do a clean install but was wondering whether it would be better to first try to install Win 7 on a separate partition as a dual boot to Vista and if that install is 100% successful I could then either re-install all the software to the Win 7 Partition and delete then Vista partition or once happy that wll was working OK I could go the Easy Transfer Route, install Win 7 on my C drive over Vista and then remove the 'temporary' Win 7 partition.

This would at least save the existing Vista setup if there are insurmountable driver issues. Unfortunately the HP software to create a recovery disk does not work and the only recovery software is on a special recovery partition created by HP.

This really should not be that hard, shame on MS for making such a mess of the upgrade process with their last few OS's. I am begiinning to think that my normal policy of never upgrading MS Os's is the best option, normally I only get new OS's pre-installed on new machines.

The latest attempt at upgrade installation just failed after getting over 60% of the way through the transferral of settings stage!!!

If I use Easy transfer will it allow me to back up the existing HP drivers?

Here is the tutorial for doing a dual boot Vista/Win7: Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and Vista

The great thing about a dual boot is you don't have to back up files or drivers, because you can browse from your new Win7 installation to transfer your files via explorer, or even install drivers missing in the Device Manager by browsing from the Update Driver tab on the Device to your Vista windows/system32/drivers or /driverstore files where all the drivers live.

But the Win7 installer is mostly driver-complete, with newer ones inserted into the installer during install if you keep ethernet plugged and select "connect to internet during install". More drivers will arrive in Windows Updates. You can find missing apps/drivers on the Support Downloads page for your computer model.

When the time comes to remove Vista from your dual boot, we can help here - we've helped do over 100 dual boot extractions since WIn7 release.

Thanks Greg,
After failure 5, as my daughter said it's time for drastic measures!!! I think we are now at the clean install stage. I think most drivers will not be a problem the only one that may be a problem is TV card. I don't think that the loss of the HP 'Utilities (?)' will much of a loss but it would be nice to have all the hardware working.

I am thinking dual boot may be the safe option.

I consider HP utilities bloatware but you can find favorite apps and any drivers missing in Device Manager on the HP Support Downloads page for your model.

For example, a webcam driver may be delivered by installer or Windows Updates but more software sometimes still needs to be installed. You find it on the HP model Downloads page, or by googling the exact Device name from Device manager.

If you decide against dual boot, just back up C:windows/system32/drivers along with your files so you can browse there for any drivers not installed or delivered by Windows Updates.

Had you uninstalled your anti-virus when trying the in-place Upgrade? We really like MSE and Avast free versions here, completely unobtrusive and effective without the bloat of the paid programs.

Thanks for all the advice, I have now gt a dual boot system which has no driver issues as far as I can tell. I agree with Greg about the OEM software (described recently in my favourit mag as 'c**pware' a complete waste of hard disk space!

The drivers from the old System32 folder solved the problems with all the hardware that system manager flagged with errors and everything now looks fine. The only problem being of course that I don't currently have AV software (Vista OS has a new install of Kaspersky Internet Security 2010) and the MS Office software is also on Vista OS.

I think what I would like to do is to back up some directories from the Vista Partition (including System32) and then remove the Vista Partition or re-install Win7 as a clean install on the C: drive. I will then need to re-install Office and Kaspersky do you think there will be any issues with licences when I re-install these and other software.

Many thanks
Jon

Hi Jon -

Use Belarc Advisor to audit your keys if you dont' have them, a good hardware/software audit to keep on hand.

If you will post back a screenshot of your full Disk Management map, we can advise you the exact steps to remove the Vista installation and resize Win7 into its space. We do this all the time here with about a 95% success rate.

Back up your files externally and maybe a Win7 backup image depending upon how attached you are to that installation.

Consider the much lighter-weight free Avast Home or Microsoft Security Essentials for your finished job.