Can I Use a Win7HP ISO File for a Clean Install of an Older Vista Sys?

[sbuxman]

Compaq Presario SR5010NX
Celeron D processor 360
Vista Home Basic
512 MB RAM
120 GB HDD
Intel graphics media accelerator
DVD/CD w/Lightscribe

This system is so sluggish it either has multiple infections or is just overloaded given its puny 512 MB of RAM, so I can't really use the system specs utility at the moment.

Since I'm working on a similar clean install for an ACER notebook which is Win7HP 32-bit, what are the chances that the .iso file I'm burning to DVD can also be used for this much older technology. I have no problem upgrading the RAM to its max, unless it's already at its max?

If my idea is a pipe dream, is there another area that might be able to help me?

Thank you,

sbuxman

 

[derekimo]

Besides the fact you'll need a new win 7 product key for the new computer you can run this and see what it says,

Download: Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor - Microsoft Download Center - Download Details

It's the Windows 7 upgrade advisor and it will give you a good idea whether it can run win 7.

 

[DeaconFrost]

You can check on the memory capacity at crucial.com but I'm not sure I'd put any money into upgrading that system. Save it for something new. 512 MB is bare minimum for running XP comfortably, but I would want at least 2 GB for Windows 7 or Vista, just for a basic system.

 

[sbuxman]

Besides the fact you'll need a new win 7 product key for the new computer you can run this and see what it says,

Download: Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor - Microsoft Download Center - Download Details

It's the Windows 7 upgrade advisor and it will give you a good idea whether it can run win 7.

I'll do my very best, but I can barely get a pulse as it is...by that I mean, the pointer just turns and turns once the sys is finally booted up (5+ minutes). Could the advisor you reference run in Safe Mode, or maybe I should *attempt* (key word) running something like malwarebytes or another free malware/free AV from a flashdrive?

Thank you!

 

[derekimo]

Can you get into msconfig from the desktop?

If you can, see if unchecking a bunch of the startup hogs will speed things up a bit.

You can post back the list in the startup tab.

 

[x BlueRobot]

The memory is very low, have you tried running the Crucial Memory Scanner?

The program will scan the motherboard, and then detect what memory modules can be installed, the amount of memory the motherboard can handle and the amount of memory a per a slot.

Hope this helps,

Harry

This is from the other thread we were in.

 

[gregrocker]

I'd want at least a gig of RAM just to press forward seeing what you can get to run fast on it. The standard should be no hangs if not instantaneous, as Win7 should always be on adequate hardware.

You might benefit by trying these steps to Clean Up Factory Bloatware on the Vista.

If that's not enough then follow these same principles to get a perfect reinstall of Vista Basic, carefully compiling the ISO from the only source we have here that is reliable: Vista ISO download .

Anyone have a better Vista ISO source without going to torrents? If forced to do so be sure to read comments to assure it's not tainted. You may have to Unlock any version with eicfg removal tool

 

[sbuxman]

I think it's worth a try to clean install the same Win7 .iso file that I'm using for my ACER notebook. I was able to get my hands on two 512MB DIMMS and have installed them into the older computer, thus doubling the memory that was there before (woohoo, 1 whole gig now -- the max). I checked out the page I was referred to for a Vista .iso, and the notes say that if a user can run Vista on a system, the user can alternatively run Windows 7 on the same system. I'm not in a position to know if that's true or not, so I bow to your expertise.

That said, 1) running malwarebytes detected 11 objects, and 2) the msconfig startup is so full...when I unchecked all but Intel, which I figured would have to be important, the result was a much speedier boot, naturally, but I still had problems uninstalling Real Player, just for starters...it crashed, and I'm staring at half a gig of TrendMicro AV which would hopefully have a removal tool. The previous owner must have 3 or 4 players showing in Programs, ntm a host of AV and other memory hogs.

This is why I figure just a good gutting of the entire OS would be a good plan, but the above-mentioned notes re Vista and 7 also caution that the Vista SP's take longer to install than the program itself.

What do I have to lose by trying? It's old hardware, old technology and getting old as I wait for it to work This is not a reclamation project that must happen or else...I thought it might be good to try to rehab it, if only to leave it bare bones, but...

sbuxman

 

[whs]

I would use this oldie as is with a Linux distro. That should work very well and is a zero investment.

And if you absolutely want Windows, try the free Windows 8 - that will get you to Jan. 2013.

 

[sbuxman]

I would use this oldie as is with a Linux distro. That should work very well and is a zero investment.

And if you absolutely want Windows, try the free Windows 8 - that will get you to Jan. 2013.

I appreciate your help offering...I just don't know what a Linux distro is?

 

[whs]

These are the most popular ones: http://www.zdnet.com/the-5-most-popular-linux-distributions-7000003183/

Maybe you want to try Mint.

 

[gregrocker]

The reason I'd suggested Vista is you get comparable performance to Win7 without having to buy a new copy, since you own the copy of Vista that came with the PC for its life.

But you can also sample Win8 and Linux, or WIn7 but you'd have to buy a $100+ upgrade version if you want to keep it. That copy could then be moved to another PC later.

 

[sbuxman]

I think I may reluctantly donate this old rig to science...by that I mean, tote it over to the nearest Best Buy for a permanent dropoff.

I successfully burned the .iso file for the Win7HP upgrade downloaded previously from Digital River to a DVD, as documented in the other thread I have going in the forum for "Webcam drivers for acer aspire 1410 notebook (11.6")." Having toggled to boot from the CD drive in the Setup options, I should have seen the beginning of the process for a hoped-for upgrade to Win7HP, but the boot process still defaulted to the HDD, so I got my Vista sign in screen back instead. This honestly might not be worth any more of my time, and I can devote everything to the other issue.

Thanks to all for the assistance today!

sbuxman

 

[gregrocker]

Did you tap the ESC or F9 key to try to trigger DVD at boot? If that fails did you set DVD drive to boot first in BIOS setup.

If not prompted to Press any key to boot disk then the DVD may not be burned correctly. Try using ImgBurn at 4x speed.

 

[sbuxman]

Did you tap the ESC or F9 key to try to trigger DVD at boot? If that fails did you set DVD drive to boot first in BIOS setup.

If not prompted to Press any key to boot disk then the DVD may not be burned correctly. Try using ImgBurn at 4x speed.

I tapped the key to enter setup and change the boot sequence in the BIOS to boot from the CD/DVD drive...nothing doing.

As a last resort, I tried tapping the F11 key to enter the Recovery Program, nothing doing...booted right past my tapping the key.

 

[gregrocker]

Reset the BIOS to defaults: Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIOS

Will the disk boot successfully in another PC? If not confirm ISO or download another, burn using ImgBurn at 4x speed.

If that fails try writing ISO to flash stick using Universal USB Installer with Win7 in dropdown. Boot using one-time BIOS Boot Menu key under USB, Removable or HD's.

 

[sbuxman]

Did you tap the ESC or F9 key to try to trigger DVD at boot? If that fails did you set DVD drive to boot first in BIOS setup.

If not prompted to Press any key to boot disk then the DVD may not be burned correctly. Try using ImgBurn at 4x speed.

Success with the creation of the Win7HP Svc Pak 1 booting up my old rig...after reburning using the imgburn program you recommended. I've chosen a new installation which will create the folder Windows.old of the former Vista OS.

Installation is progressing nicely...so glad to be rid of that Vista dinosaur and its problems. My concerns now are 1) can any possible infections from the old OS be transferred to this new installation?, and 2) I hope the product key I have works. :huh:

 

[gregrocker]

Did you boot the installer to Clean Install Windows 7 , choosing Custom Install, using Drive Options to delete all partitions, create and format new as you wish or just click Next to have installer do it for you? This is the cleanest way if you have infection concerns.

I would not run the installer from Vista to create the windows.old folder containing the old installation as it may import the infection.

 

[sbuxman]

Did you boot the installer and delete all partitions, create and format new as you wish or just click Next to have installer do it for you? This is the cleanest way to do it if you have infection concerns.

I would not run the installer from Vista to create the windows.old folder containing the old installation as it may import the infection.

Ugh...I don't know. When the computer first rebooted, it wanted to install again, so I selected no, obviously, and was told to 1) remove the DVD, then 2) select the upgrade installation and the windows.old folder would not be created after all.

Right now I'm being told, "Completing installation..." I knew this wouldn't go smoothly.

 

[sbuxman]

Did you boot the installer and delete all partitions, create and format new as you wish or just click Next to have installer do it for you? This is the cleanest way to do it if you have infection concerns.

I would not run the installer from Vista to create the windows.old folder containing the old installation as it may import the infection.

Ugh...I don't know. When the computer first rebooted, it wanted to install again, so I selected no, obviously, and was told to 1) remove the DVD, then 2) select the upgrade installation and the windows.old folder would not be created after all.

Right now I'm being told, "Completing installation..." I knew this wouldn't go smoothly.

I'm seeing this:

check mark Copying Windows files
check mark Expanding Windows files
check mark Installing features
check mark Installing updates
(no check mark) Completing installation...

I wonder if this is where I run the DVD again ... when I was told to do an upgrade and not a full, I was old to remove the DVD, restart, and then run it again...

Stand by...