Solved Installing OEM inside Windows

[Funktank]

I can download all the drivers I need on Tuesday which will get my going, but it doesn't solve the problem.

I've got a cop of W7 on this recovery partition, there must be a way to access it.

Appreciate your help.

 

[gregrocker]

You likely only need the LAN driver as Win7 is driver-complete. This is not XP.

You'll need the 64 bit Repair disk to boot, select Recover Using an Image, then browse to the WindowsImageBackup file placed in the root of its storage drive. It can't be named anything else or be in a folder.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2083-system-repair-disc-create.html

You are booting the 64 bit Repair CD to reimage so it doesn't touch the 32 bit OS.

Since formatting erases nothing, I would wipe the HD with zeroes first to overwrite any corruption and get the cleanest slate to lay down the image: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91339-ssd-hdd-optimize-windows-reinstallation.html

 

[mjf]

It's not at all clear to me what you want.
It sounds like you
1) had a PC with windows 64 bit installed along with a recovery partition
2) You clean installed a 32 bit version of Windows but discovered you don't have all the drivers.

What do you want to end up with?
What do you want to get from the old recovery partition?

 

[Funktank]

Well, if it's sitting there enjoying 16gb og my hard drive Iwould like it functional!

All I want is connectivity so I can get the rest of the drivers I need. So I thought the best way would be to restore the Acer install (64 bit) and then I could use the 64 bit back up image which I assume has all my drivers in it.

I'll get a 64bit vanilla install and use my backup.

It's not a solution to using the recover partition without using alt F10 though.

 

[mjf]

Are you expecting 64 bit drivers to work on a 32 bit system?

 

[Funktank]

Look I've made it very clear what the problem is and what I am hoping to achieve. This is a support forum isn't it?

Some advice has been helpful, so thanks.

 

[Lomai]

Look I've made it very clear what the problem is and what I am hoping to achieve. This is a support forum isn't it?

Some advice has been helpful, so thanks.

Go with what Gregrocker suggested above
Keep us posted on your progress and regards

 

[Funktank]

Will do, thanks a lot.

 

[Tews]

Here is a link to download the recovery disc that will allow you to access the recovery partition and restore your Acer to factory condition ... Hope it helps....

Windows 7 Recovery Disc

NeoSmart Technologies is hosting a copy of the Windows 7 Recovery Disc for your convenience. It's a 143 MiB download (165 MiB for the 64-bit version), and in the standard ISO format, ready to burned directly to a CD or DVD. Don't wait until your PC crashes to download a copy! Download and burn your recovery disc today, so that when the time comes, you'll be ready!

What it does: The Windows 7 Recovery Disc can be used to access a system recovery menu, giving you options of using System Restore, Complete PC Backup, automated system repair, and a command-line prompt for manual advanced recovery.

What it doesn't do: You cannot use the Windows 7 Recovery Disc to re-install Windows - it only fixes (not replaces!) Windows.

 

[Funktank]

That looks great! No connectivity at the moment, but I'll download it as soon as I can.

Thanks, that looks like just the thing.

 

[Tews]

Let us know how it comes out!

 

[Funktank]

Ok, so I just worked round it.

I used another laptop to download the WLAN driver from Acer. Installed, connected and installed everything else directly on the machine.

I would still like to know how to activate the recovery partition though.

 

[gregrocker]

If you've consulted your Manual (posted above) for the exact steps to run Recovery from boot and it will not run following those exact steps, then you can browse the partition with files unhidden in Control Panel>Folder Options>View tab, find the .wim files to either mount them or copy them out to mount them later. Then you can delete the Recovery partition to recover its space since it is not functioning with the new install.

Your other options if you need to recover to factory condition are to order Recov disks from Acer for cost, or find a Vista installer to clean reinstall with the Product Key on COA sticker.

 

[theog]

Ok, so I just worked round it.

I used another laptop to download the WLAN driver from Acer. Installed, connected and installed everything else directly on the machine.

I would still like to know how to activate the recovery partition though.

You need to download the stratup disk from:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2083-system-repair-disc-create.html

than run your system backup to restore the Acer install.

 

[Funktank]

^ that seems like the best solution, thank you.

I now need to decide if it's worth running the current 32 bit or pre installed 64 bit. But that's a whole new question.

Thanks a lot.