Solved Fresh install of W7 over existing W10

[Aardvarkly]

I just bought a S/H Asus laptop on ebay to replace an identical one that is becoming a bit flakey. It was originally sold with W7 installed which I wish to continue using. The problem is that the seller wiped the drive for security reasons (good idea) but instead of reinstating W7 he put W10 on it which I do not want.

Yes, I know W10 has new features, but I don't want them. And it can be tweaked to simulate W7 closely but there is still much I don't like about it and refuse to be bullied into moving into whatever Microsoft wants me to do. So here is my question.

Can someone explain in simple terms how to start a fresh W7 installation from my starting point? I managed to find a CMD prompt and tried Format C to clear the decks but it wouldn't recognise my input. This laptop has a CD/DVD tray so I can use that for the fresh installation.
Thanks in advance.

 

[torchwood]

Hi

have a look at this tutorial
Clean Install Windows 7


1) depending on what install media --- USB/CD
IT MUST BE THE PRIMARY BOOT OPTION in your Bios boot order


2) Do it offline

3) then use either Simplex or Dism to update it
Update your Win 7 installation media

4) It should auto activate, but if not use the product key in the battery compartment

 

[Aardvarkly]

Thanks. I have skimmed through the links and will have a go, once I work out how to access the boot order to make sure it is correct.

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OK. Job done. I have W7 running on the new (S/H) Asus laptop. I never did find a way to wipe the drive but the new installation shoved the old W10 installation into a folder called Windows.old where hopefully it will simply behave itself.

I then tried to make a start at installing software, beginning with an antivirus, etc. but hit a big snag. I can't get access to the internet. The wifi router doesn't show up as an available network to connect to. Further snooping around finds that there are no drivers installed for the networking adapter, and I can't even find the name or type of adapter anywhere to enable a search for suitable drivers. I have another up and running PC I can use to search and download but this is getting perilously near to the limit of my knowledge. Any clues what to do next?

 

[Megahertz07]

If you have an identical laptop you can clone the one you have to the "new" you bought.
After cloning, you can do a Factory Recover on it (If the old one still has the factory recover partition).

You can use Activation Backup and Restore (ABR) to extract the activation file from the old and apply to a Win 7 clean install on the new.

 

[SIW2]

Thanks. I have skimmed through the links and will have a go, once I work out how to access the boot order to make sure it is correct.

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I can't even find the name or type of adapter anywhere to enable a search for suitable drivers. I have another up and running PC I can use to search and download but this is getting perilously near to the limit of my knowledge. Any clues what to do next?

msinfo32>components>problem devices

you can export the ID to a text file


then search the internet for the driver using the device id

device id looks something like this:

PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_8168&SUBSYS_E0001458&REV_16


for example







- - - Updated - - -

:ar: you could save yourself a lot of time if you told us the exact model number of the machine.

unless you want to keep it a secret

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Can someone explain in simple terms how to start a fresh W7 installation from my starting point?

after you have installed the net drivers, you could use dism++ or simplix to do the updates.

 

[Aardvarkly]

No secret Amigo. Its an Asus K53E I have just installed W7 Pro 64bit
I5-2410m 2.3ghz
4gb RAM
Samsung SSD 840EVO 250gb

I found the info you suggested and paste it here: Do I just Google the VEN numbers?
System Information report written at: 05/08/23 19:24:51
System Name: XXXXX-PC
[Problem Devices]

Network Controller PCI\
VEN_10EC&DEV_8176&SUBSYS_11391A3B&REV_01\019181FEFF4CE00000
Error Code The drivers for this device are not installed.

Ethernet Controller
PCI\
VEN_1969&DEV_1083&SUBSYS_18511043&REV_C0\FF28491314DAE9FF00
Error Code The drivers for this device are not installed.

SM Bus Controller
PCI\
VEN_8086&DEV_1C22&SUBSYS_11471043&REV_05\3&11583659&0&FB
Error Code The drivers for this device are not installed.

Device PNP Device ID
PCI Simple Communications Controller PCI\
VEN_8086&DEV_1C3A&SUBSYS_11471043&REV_04\3&11583659&0&B0
Error Code The drivers for this device are not installed.

 

[SIW2]

Download Asus K53E laptop drivers for Windows 7 x64 | DriverPack

make sure to click the arrow on the right and then download the zip at bottom left

 

[Aardvarkly]

I think this is going to take some time. I have (I think) been downloading stuff from this list onto a USB stick and then trying to access it from the "update driver" functions in Device Manager. So far nothing happens. Nothing finds its mark or installs the driver. I have been beating my head against this brick wall all day and need to get some sleep and try again tomorrow.
Many thanks for all your efforts.

 

[SIW2]

you need to unblock the zip. then unzip it , then browse to the unzipped folder.

 

[torchwood]

Hi

Wifi driver appears somewhat problematic on W7....

Atheros AR9285 Driver Issues & No Wireless | Tom's Hardware Forum

 

[Aardvarkly]

torchwood It's an old thread but there is a lot of useful info and I will try some of the fixes in due course.
Thankyou.

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Download Asus K53E laptop drivers for Windows 7 x64 | DriverPack
make sure to click the arrow on the right and then download the zip at bottom left

View attachment 422818

It looks like DriverPack wants to download an exe that searches and downloads the missing drivers. I don't want it to do that with the desktop I'm using for my internet access. And if there was a way to get that software onto the laptop it wouldn't work anyway because it has no internet access at the moment because of the problem.
I did manage to find the ethernet controller driver direct from Asus and got it installed but even with an ethernet cable linking the laptop to my router nothing has changed. Still no internet or link. I assume the other three controllers need to have drivers as well.

 

[SIW2]

It looks like DriverPack wants to download an exe

You need to read the post. It specifically said to download the zip files. Even attached a picture

post#7

 

[Aardvarkly]

I download the zip into a usb stick, transfer the stick to the laptop. Move the zip into an empty folder and unzip it. (no idea what unblocking is)
Then the unzipped file shows four or five indivindual things. None of them is accepted by the laptop as suitable drivers.

Since the laptop won't communicate even with an ethernet cable direct to the router nor does it find the router (not hidden) I think maybe this machine is either faulty or has not had wifi or network adapter installed. If that is the case I will just have to cannibalise it for parts to keep the other one running.

Thanks to all for helpful suggestions. This isn't the first time I have posed a problem that could not be solved. On the plus side, I have learned not to fear looking into places I don't understand.

 

[Megahertz07]

First step is to look at BIOS as it can have a LAN and/ or WIFI enable / disable switch.
Second is to open Device Manager and see if LAN and/ or WIFI are listed under Network Adapters

 

[Aardvarkly]

First step is to look at BIOS as it can have a LAN and/ or WIFI enable / disable switch.
Second is to open Device Manager and see if LAN and/ or WIFI are listed under Network Adapters

I have searched the BIOS pages and there is no mention of an enable/disable switch. I do not find LAN or WIFI mentioned under Network Adapters, only things there are: Network Controller, PCI Simple Coms Controller, and SM BUS Controller. All three have the yello alert and say no drivers installed.

I received a message from the guy that sold the laptop to me and he says the WiFi and ethernet were working before he sold it. This leads me to believe something I did when I installed the W7 Pro over the W10 has caused the problem. I am now searching for a clearly explained method of how to wipe it clean and try again for a W7 installation. The laptop had W7 on it from new but was only changed to W10 before putting it up for sale.

 

[torchwood]

HMMMMM

its likely that Ethernet/Wifi are under the Other devices in that case.... also with the yellow allert

 

[Aardvarkly]

Nope. The only devices listed there are the three I mentioned above, all with the yellow alert.

Its getting a bit late in the day for my septagenarian brain cells so I'm gonna have a drink and get some sleep. Try again tomorrow.

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Hey Ho. A new day. Another installation. And still the same driver problems.
Device Manager shows the Yellow Alerts:
Ethernet Controller - Update: The ethernet controller yello alert has gone, and I changed the cable for a different one and the network thing
at the bottom says I am connected to the network with internet access. Untrue. Can't access the internet.
Network Controller
PCI Simple Coms Controller
SM Bus Controller

All say no driver installed and the built-in Search doesn't find any.
As before, I can't find any name or I.D. to use for an online search. I turned up a few VEN numbers yesterday but they didn't work when I tried to apply them.

 

[torchwood]

Hi

going a bit further too Mega's Bios option check
The Wifi option will likely be a drop down sub menu within Integrated devices
As the device is not showing its either not enabled or 1 of the connectors has popped off

can you run/post msinfo32, or use the BSOD posting link(contains a weath of info-- including pci/ven info)

Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) Posting Instructions

can you look in the details tab for any of those with the yellow blob what is the error code, likely 10 or 42

 

[Aardvarkly]

No luck searching out Mega Bios options in the advanced search. Too many Megas. Not sure I would know what to do if I found it anyway.
msinfo turned up the same three suspects with missing drivers but the additional info in the right hand panel was huge. Lots of driver numbers mentioned for each one. I have been trying four or five driver scanners that have been suggested now that I've got the laptop accessing the internet. They all say there are issues but won't let me get any further without agreeing to pay for a year or two membership. Not going there.

Signing off now to rest the brain. Looking out the window there seems to be a world out there that is still functioning with or without drivers.

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I have made great progress. I visited a site recommended on another forum and that site did a free scan for missing or outdated drivers. It listed over 60 and I selected one that mentioned wifi controller. It downloaded successfully and installed automatically. I now only show two more items on Yellow alert in the Device Manager but since everything seems to be working OK I'll leave it at that.
Thanks to all for helpful suggestions.

 

[Megahertz07]

If you don't want to have future problems, go to the ASUS K53E site and download ALL the missing drivers, specially the chipset drivers.

Correction on the link from 55A to 53E